This series depicts Batman's early years. At first, The Batman is at odds with the Gotham City Police Department.
By Season Two, however, Commissioner James Gordon has appeared on the scene (voiced by Mitch Pileggi of The X-Files and Stargate: Atlantis.) The Commissioner has a child . . .
. . . a daughter named Barbara.
This Barbara Gordon, though, is only a teenager, just old enough to be getting her driver's license. A natural redhead, she is also an Olympic-class gymnast.
During the origin of Poison Ivy, Barbara springs into action to save her father. She converts her gymnast's outfit into a Batgirl costume. She soon proves her worth to the Caped Crusader and, with no Dick Grayson, Tim Drake or Robin in the picture, is grudgingly accepted as The Batman's sometime sidekick.
In her first episode after her two-part origin, Batgirl is captured by the Penguin. Although at first glance this deathtrap might seem more appropriate to be sprung by the as-yet-to-be-introduced Clock King, a close examination of to what Batgirl is tied makes this an appropriate Penguin plot.