Episode #041 - Tyger, Tyger
Original Airdate - October 30th, 1992
Selina Kyle is kidnapped by genetic engineer Dr. Emile Dorian and
becomes his latest experiment to provide his man-cat hybrid named Tygrus
with a mate. Batman learns of this and comes to the island to rescue
Selina. He is captured and forced into a deadly game of
cat-and-flying mouse as Tygrus hunts Batman through the island's
jungles.
Media by Bird Boy
Reviews by Gaunt, Robin III |
Credits
Story by Michael Reaves and Randy Rogel
Teleplay by Cherie Wilkerson
Directed by Frank Paur
Music Composed by Todd Hayen
Animation Services by Dong Yang Animation Co., LTD.
Voices
Kevin Conroy as Batman
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as Alfred
Adrienne Barbeau as Catwoamn
Jim Cummings as Tygrus
Joseph Maher as Dr. Dorian
Marc Singer as Langstrom |
Screen Grabs
Pans
Quotes
GARTH: The doctor don't take kindly to uninvited guests.
GARTH GRABS BATMAN AND PICKS HIM UP.
DORIAN (from the lab below): Garth! Bring him down here!
BATMAN PUNCHES GARTH, GRABS HIM BY THE NECK AND LEAPS THROUGH THE
SKYLIGHT.
DORIAN: That's one way to do it.
--
DORIAN: Doesn't he remind you of Blake's poem? "Tiger, tiger, burning
bright in the forests of the night. . ."?
--
DORIAN: I want to test Tygrus' reflexes and feral strength and who
better to pit him against than you? I'll give you a generous head start
before I release Tygrus. If you defeat him, I shall relinquish this, the
antigen to reverse Catwoman's mutation.
BATMAN: How do I know you'll keep your word?
DORIAN: You don't. The clock is ticking, Batman.
--
BATMAN: So, you can talk.
TYGRUS: My father taught me.
BATMAN: Your father was a test tube.
--
DORIAN: I only wanted you to be strong! To show no weakness! No pity!
TYGRUS: As you wish, father!
--
CATWOMAN: Wait! Won't you come with us? There's nothing for you here.
TYGRUS: There's nothing for me. . . anywhere.
BATMAN (voice over): "Tiger, tiger, burning bright in the forests of the
night. What immortal hand or eye dare frame thy fearful symmetry."
Review (Gaunt): Introduction
Tyger Tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger Tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Tyger, Tyger is usually defined as a love/hate episode. Some pointed out
Langstrom’s cameo, Batman’s relationship with Selina, and Tygrus as
reasons of why the episode is good. Others claimed it was a blatant
rip-off of The Island of Dr. Moreau, as well as a bad portrayal of
Catwoman.
Personally? I love the episode. It was a favorite in my childhood and
remains that way today. As for the review, I’m going to try something
different…..
You see, many people recommend reading the poem (“The Tyger”) before
judging “Tyger, Tyger,” claiming that it gives better insight to the
entire meaning of the episode. With this in mind, I’ve decided to
incorporate my analysis of the poem AND the episode combined, as well as
my theories of what the episode is about.
Plot
“The Tyger” was one of the poems in the book Songs of Innocence and
Experience. Partnered with “The Lamb” (another poem in the said book),
“The Tyger” ponders the nature of God and man’s perception of him.
Christianity generally portrays God as an all-loving and forgiving being
(with exceptions, such as Calvinistic and Puritan thought). Blake,
however, argues to the contrary, in “The Tyger.”
And what shoulder, & what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? & what dread feet?
The first thing to note is the qualities of a tiger. The tiger is a
predatory mammal, best known for its killing ability.
What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What
the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
The second thing to note is the imagery of this specific part. Quite
obvious, Blake is referring to a forge. By doing so, Blake parallels the
dangerous capabilities of a tiger with that of a weapon, inferring that
the tiger was designed with death as its main focus. To finish it off…..
When the stars threw down their spears And water'd heaven with their
tears: Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Here is where the ideas come together. God, the “benevolent” creator of
all things, had the “audacity” (notice how the first and last parts of
the poem differ. “Could” is replaced with “Dare”) to create something as
deadly as a tiger.
So what does this have to do with a cartoon episode? Well, the story
starts with the abduction of Selina Kyle by Dr. Emile Dorian. Dorian is
a genius, better known for his work in genetics prior to his
“self-exile.” Dorian mutates Selina into a half-cat hybrid, hoping to
provide a mate for Tygrus, his ultimate creation. Batman, hoping to save
Selina, is forced to match wits with Tygrus on Dorian’s jungle isle.
The parallel between the poem and the episode is quite obvious. Dorian
experiments with living things, changing things from one thing to
another. Literally, he is “playing God.” By doing so, he wades into the
ethics regarding this role. But it is here that the plot makes a
mistake. The episode is missing a critical aspect of the poem: the lamb.
No, I’m not suggesting a half-sheep hybrid (that would be wrong on so
many levels). I’m talking about the central meaning of the poem. The
quote reads:
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
To those not familiar with Christian thought, the Lamb represents Jesus
Christ. Its inclusion in the poem is Blake’s means of discussing the
moral ambiguity of God. God, the all-powerful, creates the Lamb, a
symbol of peace and love, yet also creates the Tyger, a symbol of death.
The episode clearly points out how unethical Dorian’s work is. What it
doesn’t state is the positive aspects of Dorian’s work. It doesn’t tell
of his accomplishments in gene-splicing and the possible benefits of it.
It just rams a message down your throat, which is contrary to what the
poem is about.
Now, I can stop the review right now. I did connect the poem to the
episode. But I believe that there is more to the episode then meets the
eye. Thus, I will explore the other possible symbols in the next
sections. Take note that these are just my personal theories!
Character Symbolism
Dr. Emile Dorian: Again, Dorian is a representation of “God” in
the episode. Listen to some of his lines and his voice. Do you feel the
feeling of pride he radiates? Do you notice how he views his work as a
miracle, a blessing of which he bestows to those he deems as worthy?
Regarding the cats, do you find it fitting that he chooses one species
as the perfect blueprint and seeks to apply it to everything he wishes?
And, of course, there are the promises. Dorian PROMISES Tygrus love and
respect. Dorian PROMISES Tygrus’s union to Selina Kyle. Dorian, you see,
is confident in his control, most likely due to his success in gene
splicing. He commands respect and punishes those who disobey him. After
all, for “I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of
them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love
me, and keep my commandments.”
Tygrus: Tygrus is a symbol of evolution. It makes perfect sense,
really. Remember, Darwin was originally training for the clergy before
going on his fateful trip to the Galapagos Islands. In fact, Darwin
would incorporate religion into his theories. In real life, religion
birthed evolution, which is thus incorporated in “Tyger, Tyger.” As for
the qualities that place him as a symbol of evolution, examine his
relationship with Dorian. Whereas Dorian adores Tygrus, remarking that
he is the “perfect organism,” created by his “blessed” touch, Tygrus has
motives fitting of animals. Tygrus seeks to best Batman, thus proving
him to be the strongest, and thus gain the right to breed with a female
(Catwoman).
Batman and Catwoman: Ironic, isn’t it? The show is about the Dark
Knight and he (and his female companion) is the hardest to analyze. Not
surprising, considering that the poem only discusses the nature of God.
But that doesn’t mean I have an idea of what they represent. After all,
the episode itself deals with several moral/ethical issues. I grouped
both Batman and Catwoman here because I believe they represent the same
thing, albeit different aspects. I believe they represent humanity as a
whole. Catwoman is the insecure aspect, the one seeking truth in a
world. When she reveals her transformed state, she is confused, unsure
of her nature or her place. Meanwhile, Batman represents the ethical
side of humanity. He doesn’t err or waver in his quest. He remarks of
the crimes Dorian has committed, ignoring any possible rationalization,
stubbornly sticking to his moral guidelines. His determination to see
justice done is what drives him throughout the series. Such thoughts are
displayed very clearly here.
Character Conflict and Relationship
Dorian vs. Tygrus: Religion vs. Evolution
Historically speaking, evolution is the child of religion, just as
Tygrus is the child of Dorian. For many years following its birth,
evolution has attempted to fit in with religious thought, only to be met
with blind defiance. After so many attempts, evolutionary thought had
broken off. Such is the case in “Tyger, Tyger,” in that Tygrus attempts
to fit the conditions Dorian sets on him (or at least compromise) only
to fail. Tygrus then lashes out, destroying what linked him to Dorian
and going his own lonely path.
Dorian vs. Batman: Practicality vs. Ethics
Though understated in the episode, Dorian has an underlying motive. He
does what he wants, justifying it by any benefit the experiment can
bring (or by his excessive pride). Batman, however, allows a degree of
morality in his thought, not wanting “crimes against nature.” Such an
issue is clearly shown today, in such topics like cloning, stem-cell
research, or GM foods. One side believes the ends justify the means
whereas the other believes that one should not willingly compromise the
soul of society.
Batman vs. Tygrus: Superego vs. Ego
In keeping tune with evolutionary thought, Tygrus is self-motivated. He
does not care for the repercussions of his actions, focusing only on his
genetic survival (by breeding with Catwoman), a representation of the
ego (the part of the mind that dictates thoughts for the survival of the
individual). Batman, however, represents the superego (the part of the
mind that dictates thoughts for the survival of the species). His
motives are to bring Dorian to justice and restore Catwoman to her true
form, things not necessarily to his own personal benefit.
Catwoman vs. Dorian vs. Tygrus: Free Will vs. Fate vs. Instinct
Both Tygrus and Dorian represent force of creation. God (represented by
Dorian) had created a species for the purpose of worshiping him and
doing his bidding. Evolution views everything in terms of adaptability,
allowing the weak to be culled and allowing only the strong to survive.
Caught between the two forces is man. Does man choose a life of
devotion, never realizing any true potential or development? Or does man
embrace evolutionary thought, despite any moral repercussions in this
somewhat cutthroat existence? In the end, humanity chooses its own path.
This conflict is extremely flexible, as it can be modified to other
viewpoints. For example, the Catwoman vs. Dorian vs. Tygrus conflict can
be seen as a parallel to the treatment of women. God (represented by
Dorian) had created Eve (represented by Catwoman’s mutation) to serve
man, thus justifying there lower-status (God blames Eve for the
corruption of man, represented by Dorian’s attempt to kill Catwoman).
Tygrus believes that he can win a mate (Catwoman) by a show of strength
and obvious genetic superiority (by killing Batman). Catwoman, however,
chooses neither. She will not be controlled by “biblical justification”
or a “primal instinct.” She will choose her own path. This is
essentially a parallel to the treatment of women which, in the past,
have been defined as either a lower being (for the exile from paradise)
or a breeding tool (for the propagation of the species) and how the
women’s rights movement changed that (in America, at least).
But again, this particular conflict can be fitted to many other
viewpoints.
Character Portrayal
Batman: Excellent portrayal. It balances out Batman’s frosty
exterior (“Your father was a test tube.” That was cold.) with the warmth
underneath. You really see him care for Selina, and the inner rage of
the actions of Dorian.
Catwoman: People complain that Selina was only the “damsel in
distress” in this episode, but I don’t mind. If my character conflict
analysis is correct, then she does show a degree of independence
symbolically. My only complaint was her breaking into a zoo to talk to a
tiger (DAMN YOU, SEAN CATHERINE DEREK FOR MAKING CATWOMAN INTO AN ANIMAL
ACTIVIST!!!!).
Oh, and regarding her transformation, let’s just say I…..liked it.
Moving right along……
Dr. Emile Dorian: My only complaint was that this was his only
episode. He could easily fit in with the Rogue’s Gallery. I see him as a
combination of Langstrom’s genetic brilliance, Maxie Zeus’s delusional
pride, and Scarecrow’s malicious nature.
Tygrus: Easily one of the most tragic figures of the animated
series, Tygrus has no place in the world. Nature shuns him, for he is
unnatural. Dorian shuns him, for Tygrus does not comply with Dorian’s
vision. Catwoman shuns him (well…..), because she cannot fit in his
lifestyle. So Tygrus abandons his search for acceptance.
“There's nothing for me...anywhere.”
Whereas Mr. Freeze had gained Nora (the only figure who loved him) and
lost her, Tygrus had nobody who would accept him, forever alone.
Animation
I am extremely happy that the animation quality was this good. Many a
good episode was cheapened due to bad animation (“Joker’s Wild” a good
example). The superb animation helps add an epic flair to “Tyger, Tyger.”
What Could’ve Been
I believe that “Tyger, Tyger” should’ve been handled as a DTV rather
than a single episode. This would’ve solved a lot of problems.
If they increased the time frame, the story could’ve filled in a lot of
plot holes. Recall my complaint in the plot section regarding “the
lamb.” The author could easily expand Dorian’s character, by showing the
benefits of his research or displaying his origins.
The story could’ve also benefited if they explored Selina’s relationship
with Tygrus. Watch the part of the episode where Batman discovers
Selina’s transformation and attempts to break her out. After a brief
scuffle, Tygrus looks to Selina (I assume for approval), and Catwoman
replies with a dirty look. Then watch the parts where Catwoman stops
Tygrus from attacking Batman. Notice how he is very gentle around her?
At their first encounter, they didn’t meet on the best of terms, yet
there is some understanding that suggests more to the relationship. I
realize that if they did this it would lessen the shock the audience
experiences when we see Catwoman’s transformation for the first time,
but the potential benefit is far worth it. It would help the audience
feel more for Tygrus (who mostly grunts and growls through the episode)
when the ending rolls around.
And what about the confrontation between Batman and Tygrus? It was
stunning, but rushed. Imagine a longer sequence, with Tygrus hunting
Batman. It could be work through the course of DAYS. Imagine the
suspense as Batman, running low on supplies and gadgets, having to rely
more on his wits and cunning to survive. Meanwhile, there would be a
similar hunt occurring elsewhere, with Dorian and Garth hunting the
escaped Catwoman in the jungle.
And what about Batman’s relationship with Catwoman? “Tyger, Tyger”
didn’t offer anything new to their relationship. But what would’ve
happened if “Tyger, Tyger” was a direct-to-video movie, one with more
time and more lenient standards? It’s not an outrageous thought. Mystery
of the Batwoman had a lot of sexual overtones despite a bland and
uninspired romance between Bruce and Kathy Duquesne. Mask of the
Phantasm actually had Bruce sleep with Andrea Beaumont! And it’s not
like Batman minds half-cat women (he smooched Cheetah in an episode of
JL). Take into consideration that Catwoman is extremely vulnerable
during the course of the episode and that there are at least two
instances where Batman and Catwoman embrace rather closely. Imagine the
ramifications it would have on both characters…
But nevertheless, if “Tyger, Tyger” was made into a DTV, I can see a
backlash. The story plays with some touchy subjects, from religion to
evolution to sex. Remember what happened with Return of the Joker?
“Tyger, Tyger” could’ve, in a sense, been the Batman Returns of the
animated series. A beautiful symbolistic tale that would nevertheless
cause serious problems to the franchise.
Conclusion
“Tyger, Tyger” is perhaps THE episode in the animated series with the
most potential. To me, it stirs the mind, asking questions of philosophy
and ethics. Though, the story is incomplete, that doesn’t ruin the
episode for me.
Score: 100/100
Review (Robin III): An excellent twist on the classic poem
"Tiger, Tiger". This episode was very poetic in showing what the poem
was all about. If you have ever studied the poem, you will truly
appreciate this episode. If you haven't studied it, you will think this
is trash.
The animation was also excellent in this episode, some of the best there
is, with great facial expressions, animal movements, and athletic
accuracy. More episodes should be done this way.
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