Batgirl Begins, Part Two

**"Batgirl Begins, Part Two"** is the second part of the two-part episode which acts as the premier of the third season of *The Batman*. It is also the twenty-eighth episode overall.

## "Batgirl Begins, Part Two"

### Writer

Michael JelenicAdam Beechen
Richard Pursel (unc.)

## Synopsis

Continuing her story, Barbara recalls how Pamela's chemical accident during the fight between Temblor and Batman, caused her body to mutate and give her power over plants and spores that can mind-control men. Becoming Poison Ivy, she soon continues her attacks against waste-dumping corporations, but when she kidnaps Commissioner Gordon and places Batman under her control, Barbara, inspired by the caped crusader, becomes her own hero in the form of Batgirl, the only one capable of turning things around.

## Plot

En route to the hospital, Pamela revives, and a giant plant knocks the ambulance over, takes out the guards, and pulls her out of the vehicle. It takes her to a greenhouse, near Gotham's Central Park, and embraces her in a healing plant cocoon.

Batman investigates and finds traces of plant life, while Gordon is chastising his daughter. Gordon receives a report on Pamela's disappearance, while Bruce analyzes the leaf sample. A recovered Pamela awakes to find she is part plant and fully healed, and that she can cause plants to grow and obey her mental commands. Barbara is considering her career as a future crimefighter when the plant in her room comes alive and then Pamela arrives.

Pamela toys with Barbara then announces she plans to launch a new wave of eco-terrorism and is taking the name "Poison Ivy." She departs and Barbara decides to help her friend, but can't call in her father since he'll just arrest Pamela. Barbara uses the Batsignal to contact Batman and brief him on the situation. Batman takes off without her. while Poison Ivy breaks into Chlorogene and uses plants to cover the entire building. Batman confronts her and Barbara, dressed in a bat-like costume, jumps in to save him. They both end up captured and Ivy drops them off the building. Batman manages to rescue them both while Ivy escapes, and Batman tries to warn Barbara off and reveals he knows who she is

Poison Ivy goes on a rampage astride a giant plant, confronting Commissioner Gordon and the police. She discovers she has the ability to give off spores that makes the police obey her every command. She takes Gordon prisoner and takes off back to the greenhouse, where she dangles the Commissioner over an acid vat. Barbara returns to her apartment and hears the news about her father. Batman tracks her down but Ivy is ready and attacks. Batman is equipped with wrist-mounted "weed cutters" and goes to work.

Barbara is back to fighting a mind-controlled Batman long enough for him to shake off the pheromones. Ivy is lowering the Commissioner into the acid and Barbara goes after him but is grabbed by Ivy's plants. Batgirl frees her father with an expert Batarang throw and Batman uses explosives to knock the villainess out. Batman frees Barbara,but Ivy returns on an even larger plant. Batman tries to freeze her with freeze grenades while Batgirl deals with Ivy's mini-plants. Ivy deflects the freeze grenades, but Batman dumps her into a pond before getting ensnared. Batgirl grabs one of the freeze grenades and tosses it into the pond,freezing Ivy once and for all.

Gordon thanks his daughter, who reluctantly accepts the name "Batgirl" rather than "Batwoman." She makes her exit and fortunately Gordon (missing his glasses) doesn't recognize his daughter. Later Batgirl and Batman meet, and Batman lets her decide to tell her father. She departs, but it's clear she plans to continue her new career as a crimefighter. Batgirl then narrates the closing moments, saying that it's just the beginning as she swings on her Batrope through Gotham, feeling happy about her new career.

## Cast/Characters

* Rino Romano as Bruce Wayne/Batman
* Alastair Duncan as Alfred Pennyworth
* Danielle Judovits as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl
* Piera Coppola as Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy
* Mitch Pileggi as James Gordon
* Temblor (recap only)

## Events

- Batman meets Barbara for the first time after being mentioned by Gordon in *Night and the City*.

- Barbara becomes Batgirl.

- Pamela turns into Poison Ivy.

- Batman discovers Batgirl's identity.

## Trivia

* Before it aired, this episode was originally titled "No 'I' in Team".
* After learning about Batgirl, Alfred offers to put a dog door in the bat cave in case bat-hound joins the team. Ace the Bat-Hound was part of the Batman comics in the 1950s and 1960s.