Top 10 Darkest Batman: The Animated Series Moments
#10: Unwelcome Visions
“Double Talk” On paper, the Ventriloquist and Scarface may seem like a silly duo; one is a puppeteer while the other is a crime boss dummy. But the creators knew how to make even this compelling by tapping into the former’s damaged mental state. “Double Talk” follows the Ventriloquist after he’s released from Arkham and attempts to turn over a new leaf. Unfortunately, he’s plagued by visions and conversations with his dangerous alter ego, eventually reaching his breaking point. It’s later revealed these were faked by Scarface’s goons. But it shows how difficult it can be for a mentally ill person to function without a proper support system. He feels there’s no escape from his old life, making the viewer feel deeply sympathetic.
#9: Letting It Out
“I Am the Night” Superheroes are usually pretty sure-footed in their cause, and that’s especially the case with Batman. However, a moment where the hero questions his entire purpose is one his lowest points on the show. After rescuing a boy in need, Batman is late to a crime scene, which turns out to be a setup in order to get to Commissioner Gordon. One of Gotham’s finest is put in the hospital, and both Batman and Harvey Bullock place the blame on the caped crusader’s shoulders. Returning to the Batcave, he destroys much of his equipment in an explosion of guilt and rage. The episode’s buildup is handled so well that this reaction is both natural and sorrowful.
#8: Waking From a Dream
“Perchance to Dream” Many fictional characters have had to escape from simulations of carefree alternate realities designed to keep them there. However, Bruce Wayne has some very good reasons to be tempted. The majority of this episode is a dream concocted from the Mad Hatter’s tech, and focuses on Bruce’s life had his parents never been murdered. Not only that, but he’s also engaged to a crime-free Selina Kyle. However, his mind won’t let him forget that something’s wrong. Batman has always had to sacrifice his own happiness to keep Gotham safe, and this episode is one big reminder of that. It reaches peak darkness when Bruce must throw himself off a building just to wake up.
#7: House of Mirrors
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“Baby-Doll” An original villain to the show, Baby-Doll was born with a condition that keeps her young. She starred in her own sitcom, but life grew increasingly harder after the show ended. It leads her to kidnap her co-stars in a twisted way to recapture those better days. Being an adult trapped in the body of a toddler sounds like a nightmare. The creators perfectly summed up this despair in the final moments of Baby-Doll’s first episode. As Batman chases her through an amusement park, the two enter a house of mirrors, each of which warp Baby-Doll’s appearance. She has an emotional breakdown at the sight of her as an adult. Sobbing, she hugs Batman and utters her signature catchphrase with far more emotional weight.
#6: Annie Returns Home
“Growing Pains” With his ability to shapeshift, Clayface is undeniably one of Batman’s craftiest rogues. However, his levels of disturbing reached new heights in this episode of “The New Batman Adventures.” For most of the runtime, Tim Drake helps a sweet girl named Annie, who’s being followed by a new criminal in Gotham. By the end, it’s revealed that this new criminal is Clayface in disguise, and he’s hunting Annie because she’s actually a part of him. Even still, this part has clearly developed sentience, and Robin does his best to defend her. Unfortunately, it’s him who needs rescuing, and his new friend sacrifices herself to save him. Her “death” is all kinds of disturbing, as she’s swallowed up with no chance of a goodbye.
#5: Big Bad Harv
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“Two-Face, Part 1” Harvey Dent’s descent has been adapted through many different mediums. But the version seen in “The Animated Series” remains one of our favorites. The DA is hellbent on cleaning up Gotham, drawing the ire of crime boss Rupert Thorne. Through therapy, we see that Harvey has always tried to keep his anger bottled up, manifesting in a dangerous case of dissociative identity disorder. Unfortunately, Thorne blackmails Dent, leading to a confrontation at a chemical plant. Despite Batman’s best efforts, he’s unable to stop an explosion that leaves half of Harvey’s body disfigured and his entire mind broken. Viewers saw the DA as Bruce’s close friend early on, so his transition to villainy would already sting. But detailing Harvey’s mental state made it more impactful.
#4: The Death of Robin’s Parents
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“Robin’s Reckoning, Part 1” The series establishes Dick Grayson as Batman’s sidekick long before his backstory is revealed. This allows viewers to care for him and the duo’s relationship, which in turn makes his origin much sadder. Through flashbacks, we see how Dick and his parents worked for the circus when he was a boy. Sadly, a gangster named Tony Zucco tried to shake down the ringmaster. He ended up cutting through some rope used in the Flying Graysons’ act when he didn’t get paid. The subsequent death of Robin’s parents is already tragic. The fact that Bruce saw himself in the young boy, who then had to leave the only life he’d ever known, just makes everything worse.
#3: The Cycle of Abuse
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“Mad Love” Throughout the series, we see that Harley Quinn is clearly in an abusive relationship with the Joker. No matter what he does, she always comes back. “Mad Love” flashes back to how she met the villain, while present-day scenes show her trying to off Batman so that she and Puddin’ can settle down. But the Joker makes it clear that only he should be the one who does it, greeting his lady love with immense anger instead of gratitude. It’s hard to single out one moment as the darkest since the whole episode is pitch-black. However, Joker tossing Harley out a window just for trying to make him happy is a big contender. Sadly, by the end, she shows she’ll still forgive him.
#2: Barbara Gordon’s Nightmare
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“Over the Edge” Despite its reputation as one of the darker superhero cartoons, viewers aren’t usually confronted with the death of a main character. However, “Over the Edge” shows how that might play out. The episode opens with Gordon and his police hunting Batman and Robin, while an eventual flashback explains why. During an attack on City Hall led by the Scarecrow, the villain hits Batgirl from behind, sending her unconscious body to the streets below. Surprisingly, no one comes to her rescue and she collides with her father’s own car, dying in his arms moments later. In reality, the episode is her worst nightmare, brought on by Scarecrow’s fear toxin. But the episode’s structure makes it feel real and scarred many kids in the process.
#1: Nora’s Fate
“Heart of Ice” Prior to appearing on “The Animated Series,” Mr. Freeze was far from the deepest supervillain. Thankfully, the showrunners reinvented him through a backstory equal parts compelling and heartbreaking. “Heart of Ice” follows Batman investigating a string of robberies at GothCorp offices. This leads him to Victor Fries and, eventually, the reasoning behind his hatred for the company’s CEO. While watching old security footage, he learns Fries was a scientist who cryogenically froze his wife, Nora, when she grew terminally ill. He then watches in horror as Fries’s funding is cut, and a confrontation leads to him becoming the future villain. Not only did this moment completely alter everyone’s perception of the character, but it proved the show was willing to take risks with darker storylines.