Top 20 Greatest Batman The Animated Series Episodes
#20: “Riddler’s Reform”
Edward Nygma always has a chip on his shoulder, and in “Riddler’s Reform,” he’s determined to prove his worth. After getting released from Arkham Asylum, he quickly gets back to his old Riddler antics and sets up numerous elaborate traps for the dynamic duo. It’s an episode that not only puts Batman and Robin through the wringer, but also perfectly encapsulates who Riddler is. He’s not some average crook in it for the money, he’s doing what he does because he wants to show to the world that he’s the smartest person in the room. Unfortunately, it’s also that egotistical way of thinking that thwarts him in the end. Sorry Nygma, you might be smart, but Batman is one riddle even you can’t crack!
#19: “Old Wounds”
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We all love Batman, but he’s not exactly a perfect person. In “Old Wounds,” it gets pretty hard to look past the holes in his armor. The episode sees the new Robin, Tim Drake, run into the original Robin, Dick Grayson. Dick (now operating as Nightwing) spills the beans on why he left. Flashbacks reveal Batman intimidating a criminal in front of his wife and kid. Later, Dick learns that his girlfriend Barbara is Batgirl and that Bruce knew about it. Batman’s extreme methods plus the clear lack of trust are finally enough for Dick to quit. “Old Wounds” is iconic not just for showing the flaws of Batman’s ways, but also for establishing how Dick became his own hero.
#18: “Legends of the Dark Knight”
What do kids think Batman is? In “Legends of the Dark Knight,” we get to see various distinct perspectives on the Caped Crusader. These include versions where he’s a slapstick superhero from the '60s all the way to a version straight from Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns.” Eventually, the kids we follow in this episode get to see Batman for real as he fights Firefly. Though the stories shown may be different in both art style and tone, they're all still wildly entertaining regardless. This is a great episode that pays homage to other Batman depictions while examining how Gothamites view his impact.
#17: “Harley and Ivy”
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One of DC’s most iconic friendship-turned-romances got its start in this series. In “Harley and Ivy,” the gals spend an iconic night out on the town. Their antics include robbing the Peregrinators Club and committing other crimes that make them Gotham’s newest crime queens. In addition to marking the first time these ladies met, the episode also does an insightful job examining Harley and her problematic relationship with the Joker. If you think about it, this episode helped plant the seeds for Harley’s eventual emancipation.
#16: “P.O.V.”
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In “P.O.V.,” various GCPD officers provide testimony about what happened following an operation that went bad. But the stories that Bullock, Wilkes, and Montoya provide don’t exactly add up. Aside from giving us a glimpse into the lives of the GCPD officers, we see Renee Montoya later team up with Batman to stop the bad guys. There’s no debate that this show was always Batman-centric. Yet the willingness to occasionally shine a spotlight on the lesser-known characters helped make the city of Gotham feel that much more fleshed out. Since everyone gives their own side to the story, you don’t know who or what to trust at first, making the story all the more exciting.
#15: “I Am the Night”
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This episode is legendary for its introspective look at the Dark Knight. When Commissioner Gordon gets injured on the anniversary of the Waynes’ murder, Batman starts to doubt himself. The show was always amazing with how it captured the tortured soul that was Batman and this had to be one of the best episodes at doing that. Watching Batman feel so helpless and ineffective is intense. But it’s those moments of self-doubt that make his moment of triumph when he later saves Gordon from being attacked in his hospital room that much more special. Point is: Batman does work.
#14: “Trial”
In “Trial,” Batman faces the music! When new D.A. Janet Van Dorn begins openly criticizing Batman and blaming him for crime, his rogues hatch a plan. They capture Batman and put him through their own trial. But to make things more interesting, they force Janet to defend him. “Trial” hits the mark in pretty much every way. It has silly moments with the rogues and poses questions about the ethics and efficiency of Batman. It even examines whether he’s responsible for the creation of these villains. Whether you want to see Batman be criticized or just want to see villains teaming up in truly inventive ways, this episode has something for everyone.
#13: “Feat of Clay”
“Feat of Clay” is a tragic two-parter that introduces Matt Hagen, a troubled actor who would become arguably the most popular version of Clayface today. When Hagen is left disfigured after a bad car wreck, he goes to desperate lengths to try and repair his image. This leads to him getting hooked on Renuyu. It happens to be a volatile cosmetic cream that eventually transforms him into the hideous Clayface. “Feat of Clay” is a masterpiece in how it depicts Hagen’s tragic transformation into Clayface. It’s raw, emotional, and at times it even feels like it leans into the body horror genre to evoke extra chills. This is an episode that was molded for greatness.
#12: “The Demon’s Quest”
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Batman was brought out of his element entirely during the gripping two-episode saga called “The Demon’s Quest.” Ra’s al Ghul makes a grand entrance to reveal that both his daughter Talia and Batman’s sidekick Robin have been kidnapped. The investigation into the kidnappings leads them across the world. There’s more than a fair share of twists and turns during this story that’ll grab your attention. But the intriguing appearances of Ra’s, Talia, and the Lazarus Pits are what make this such a standout. Plus, we get to see Batman wielding a badass sword. What’s not to love about that?
#11: “The Laughing Fish”
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We were all aware that the Joker was big on mayhem and madness, but who knew he was also an entrepreneur? After creating a new breed of fish, which bare his signature smile, Joker seems to be trying to start a business selling these little monstrosities, even going so far as to make his own commercial! But, of course, there’s a much more sinister plan afoot. Luckily, Batman’s knowledge of undersea life ensures that Gotham doesn’t meet a fishy end. The episode also sees Batman channeling his 1960s’ counterpart as he battles a shark - minus the repellent this time.
#10: “Perchance to Dream”
What if Bruce Wayne’s life had never been struck by tragedy? The answer to that question isn’t as simple as you’d think. In this mind-trip of an episode, Bruce awakens to discover that everything in his life is perfect. His parents are alive, he’s engaged to Selina Kyle, and someone else is keeping Gotham safe as Batman. But all is not as it seems. Bruce struggles to accept this personal paradise, resisting this reality and questioning whether it’s all an illusion or if he’s actually going insane. It’s not often you see Alice trying to climb her way out of the rabbit hole.
#9: “Beware the Gray Ghost”
Turns out that Batman is just like us - he too had a childhood hero who dressed in tights. It just so happens that this hero, The Gray Ghost, is voiced by Adam West! Simon Trent, much like West, is an actor who played a superhero on a popular television show. He’s sought out by Batman to help solve a string of crimes that resemble episodes of the Gray Ghost television series. Providing some insight into what may have inspired Bruce to turn to a life of crime fighting and vigilante justice, this episode teachers us that even our heroes need heroes of their own.
#8: “Joker’s Favor”
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We imagine owing anything to the Joker is pretty much the worst kind of debt you can get into. An average Joe by the name of Charlie Collins inadvertently finds himself on the wrong side of the Clown Prince of Crime, but is spared when he promises to do anything the villain asks of him. Two years down the line, the Joker comes a-calling. Forced to assist in an attempt to assassinate Commissioner Gordon, Charlie is driven to his wits’ end, leading to a confrontation with his tormentor. We won’t ruin the brilliant ending, but all you need to know is that Batman finds it so funny that he let out a few laughs. You don’t see that every day.
#7: “The Man Who Killed Batman”
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Fans have long speculated on who would be the one to finally get rid of Batman for good. Usually, characters like Scarecrow, Bane, or Joker are pretty solid guesses, but the real man who would end up striking down the caped crusader would be none other than… just some rando? This episode follows Sidney Debris, the low-level crook who seemingly kills Batman. It’s not really what happens, but for a good while, the episode makes you think maybe it’s true. Besides the interesting premise, the scenes of Joker realizing Batman is gone and arranging a funeral for him are hysterical. Sidney might not have killed Batman, but he (along with this episode) will live on in infamy.
#6: “Robin's Reckoning”
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When does a quest for justice turn into a quest for vengeance, and is the line between the two ideas all that clear? Robin struggles to remain on the side of good when confronted with the man who arranged his parents’ murder. What follows is a moral crisis, not only for Robin, but also for Batman himself; the story of what happened to Robin’s parents parallels what happened to Bruce Wayne’s folks, leading him to try to shelter his sidekick and help him avoid the road to revenge. This episode not only presents us with the origins of the Boy Wonder, but also brilliantly explores the relationship these two crime fighters share. While they both still bear the scars of their pasts, their losses have only made them strive to become better heroes. No wonder this episode won an Emmy.
#5: “Mad Love”
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Oh Harley, why do you stick by this creep? You could do so much better! While showing us the origins of how Harleen Quinzel goes from renowned psychiatrist to the Joker’s devout partner in crime, this episode also goes to some pretty dark places as it explores the depths of their abusive relationship. We see how the Joker masterfully manipulates her into a becoming a submissive punching bag, and one that he’s all too happy to toss out a window. It’s all the more upsetting to know that she’ll keep coming back to him again and again. Harley may be awesome and fun, but she’s living proof of the depths of Joker’s cruelty and warped sense of humor.
#4: “Two-Face”
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One of “The Animated Series”’ greatest accomplishments is its portrayal of Harvey Dent, whose downfall would lead to the rise of the infamous Two Face. Harvey’s presence as Gotham’s hotshot lawyer and a friend to Bruce had been established several episodes before this. Unfortunately, it’s clear that he’s dealing with some demons of his own, suffering from a violent split personality dubbed “Big Bad Harv”. After clashing with a criminal overlord, Harvey is left horribly scarred, allowing his ruthless persona to take over. Now broken and vengeful, Two Face’s new lease on life ultimately leads him into conflict with the Dark Knight. Losing a friend and gaining an enemy, Batman is haunted by Harvey’s fate for the rest of the series and beyond.
#3: “Over the Edge”
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This is among the most heartbreaking stories in Batman’s long history. During a scuffle with the Scarecrow, Batgirl is killed, but not before Commissioner Gordon discovers her secret identity – Barbra Gordon. Overcome with grief due to the death of his daughter, Gordon declares war on Batman. From that point onwards, everything goes haywire. The Batcave is overrun, Alfred, Robin and Nightwing are arrested, and Gordon turns to Bane to help take down the Dark Knight. It all culminates in a rooftop battle between Bane and The Bat, with the rug once again pulled out from under our feet. With its brilliant pacing, “Over the Edge” is one of the most unique and ambitious episodes in the “Batman: The Animated Series”’ historic run.
#2: “Heart of Ice”
Continuing with the theme of sympathetic villains - enter Mr. Freeze. Only able to survive in sub-zero temperatures, Freeze’s burning drive for revenge makes him one of Batman’s deadliest and in some cases most relatable enemies. This Freeze-centric episode emphasizes the sometimes-hollow nature of Batman’s crusade for justice. Freeze remains a victim in his own icy hell, trying desperately to cure his cryogenically frozen wife of her fatal affliction, while we’re left questioning what it means to be truly good or evil. Mr. Freeze was nothing more than a second-rate villain in the comics, but “The Animated Series” provided a new origin story and motivation that made him a staple of Batman’s rogues’ gallery. No surprise this one was another Emmy winner.
#1: “Almost Got 'Im”
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The premise of this episode is so simple; it’s genius. The Joker, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, The Penguin, and Killer Croc reminisce about the time they almost killed the caped crusader…while playing a game of poker. Not only are each of the stories action-packed and filled with brilliant moments, but the comedy is spot-on as well. As is to be expected, the banter is also superb, each of the villains are on point, and the final twist couldn’t be more fitting. We even get a sweet little moment with Catwoman. It seems that not even the Princess of Plunder can snag the World’s Greatest Detective.
What do YOU think is the best “Batman” episode? Let us know in the comments!
