There are few shows that can reach the heights Batman: The Animated Series. It pushed the boundaries of what children’s entertainment could get away with at the time, with its dark tone, complex characters, and iconic art style. With an all-star cast of writers and voice actors, it has become for many the definitive version of Batman and his villains.
Nearly every character on the show has had a developed and complex backstory, often taken straight from a classic. Batman comics. Some of the show’s best episodes (those that score the highest on IMDb) focus on the drama of a particular character, hero or villain, and are sure to play up the tragedy of their situation.
10 “Feat of Clay: Part 2”
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Actor Matt HagenRon Perlman) was exposed to an overdose of skin-altering chemicals from corrupt business executive Roland Daggett’s thugs (Ed Asner). Instead of killing him, the chemicals turned Hagen into a sentient mass of clay that can change his appearance. Hagen plans revenge by killing Daggett, which brings him into conflict with Batman (Kevin Conroy).
With the setting taken care of in the first part, this episode dives into the tragedy and horror of Hagen’s transformation into Clayface. Themes of addiction, abuse, body image, and loss of identity are fully explored, and Pearlman perfectly conveys the rage and desperation of Hagen’s plight. The real star of this episode is the animation from TMS Entertainment, which reaches cinematic levels of detail and fluidity when Clayface transforms.
9 “Reckoning Robin: Part 1”
IMDb rating: 8.7/10
Stopping the thugs, Batman and Robin (Lauren Lester) interrogate one who reveals that he works for Billy Marina. Batman then tells Robin to stay in the Batcave while he hunts down Marin alone. Robin then checks the Batcave’s computer and learns that Marin is Tony Zucco’s alias (Thomas F. Wilson), the man who killed his parents.
The episode earned the series an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. The flashbacks are some of the show’s most dramatic moments, from the shocking death of Dick Grayson’s parents to the tender moment when Bruce Wayne offers solace through his own experience of loss. Even the production team felt that this episode was too good and that the second part would inevitably disappoint.
8 “The Man Who Killed Batman”
IMDb rating: 8.8/10
Little thug named Sid (Matt Frewer) wants to win respect in the criminal world. While working, he accidentally knocks Batman off a building and blows it up. All of a sudden, everyone hails Sid as the man who killed Batman, but with that fame comes new problems, especially when the Joker (Mark Hamill) hears about it.
This episode began life when Bruce Timm And Paul Dini wondered if they could do an episode where Batman wasn’t in the spotlight. The answer was a resounding yes, and Sid, one of the best secondary characters, appeared on the show. The Joker moments are some of the best in the entire series and have changed since Kevin Conroy’s death in November 2022.
7 “Perhaps to Dream”
IMDb rating: 8.9/10
After being knocked out while chasing criminals, Batman wakes up at home and discovers that something is wrong. Both of his parents are alive, he is engaged to Selina Kyle (Adrienne Barbeau), and someone else plays the role of Batman. He tries to enjoy this new life, but cracks continue to form and remind him that it’s all a lie.
Conroy has said that this is his favorite episode and it’s easy to see why. He perfectly conveys Bruce’s confusion and anger at this confusing reality, and even voices Thomas Wayne. His best moments come during the climax when Bruce confronts Batman and discovers the truth about who is behind this and why.
6 “Beware of the Gray Ghost”
IMDb rating: 8.9/10
A new villain named the Mad Bomber is haunting Gotham City demanding a million dollars. Batman realizes that his attacks are repeating attacks from the episode gray ghost, a superhero show he watched as a teenager. With the archives destroyed in a fire, Batman searches for the Gray Ghost actor, Simon Trent (Adam West).
West is best known for playing Batman in the 1966 television series, and this episode is built around that fact. Hearing Conroy’s Batman talk about how the Gray Ghost inspired him is a tribute to West’s time under the hood and allows viewers to see a new side of the caped crusader. The episode also contains a strong message regarding typecasting and how the actor rediscovers his love for the role.
5 “Two-Face: Part 2”
IMDb rating: 9.0/10
Newly Appeared Two-Face (Richard Moll) made a name for himself by attacking the empire of crime boss Rupert Thorne (John Vernon). However, he yearns to be reunited with his fiancée Grace (Murphy Cross), which Thorne intends to use to track him down. Meanwhile, Batman is wracked with guilt over the loss of his friend and vows to help him.
This episode does not ignore the tragedy of the situation of the villainous Two-Face. Batman’s guilt-fueled sleep is one of the series’ most intense scenes, while Grace’s attempts to reach Harvey’s humanity serve as a strong anchor to keep him from descending further into madness. In typical Batman vogue, the ending is bittersweet, but still hopeful that a happier ending is possible.
4 “Frozen heart”
IMDb rating: 9.0/10
After a string of GothCorp heists, Batman encounters Mr. Freeze (Michael Ansara), an armored supervillain who uses a freeze ray. He digs through the GothCorp archives and finds out that Freeze worked for them as a scientist. When he used company money to try to save his terminally ill wife, CEO Ferris Boyle (Mark Hamill) shut down and confronted him with unstable chemicals, turning him into what he is now.
“Heart of Ice” is perhaps the most famous episode of the show. He transformed Freeze from a villain with a gimmick to a Shakespearean tragedy, shown through sharp lines and legendary Ansara acting. DC Comics has taken advantage of this backstory, recreated in many comics, video games, and films.
3 “Two-Face: Part 1”
IMDb rating: 9.1/10
Harvey Dent is running for re-election as Gotham District Attorney and is determined to topple Rupert Thorne. Unfortunately, his temper becomes quite short-tempered and he violently lashes out at anyone who makes him angry. Harvey is revealed to have developed a split personality called Big Bad Harv, which is a lifelong repressed anger.
Dent was established in earlier episodes, allowing viewers to get to know him and his relationship with Bruce Wayne. This makes the revelation of his demons and the contrast between him and Big Evil Harv all the more shocking. The imagery in this episode is some of the best in the series, such as Dent’s dream sequence where he confronts Harv, or Two-Face’s reveal at the end.
2 “Trial”
IMDb rating: 9.1/10
Janet Van DornStephanie Zimbalist) Gotham’s new district attorney. She accuses Batman of creating her various criminals, a sentiment shared by the villains of Arkham Asylum. They kidnap Van Dorn and Batman to put the latter on trial, with the former as his defense attorney, the Joker as judge, and Two-Face as the charge.
“The Trial” is a brilliant episode, but the great sin is that it ended too soon. It’s amazing to see so many Batman villains in one episode and everyone has a moment to shine in one way or another. The ending is one of the series’ best, both because the court’s verdict confirms how complex the show’s antagonists are, and because of Van Dorn’s own changed opinion of Batman.
1 “Almost hit”
IMDb rating: 9.2/10
In a shady nightclub, Joker, Two-Face, Penguin (Paul Williams), Killer Croc (Aron Kincaid) and Poison Ivy (Diane Pershing) sit down to play poker. Naturally, the conversation turns to Batman, which of them came closest to killing the Dark Knight. The Joker states that he is the best, but first lets others tell their stories.
“Almost Caught” is the perfect storm for the episode. All of the individual stories are imaginative and showcase the villains’ strengths, and the dialogue is full of catchy gags, jokes, and playful quips. The twist at the end is one of the greatest of the series and adds so many subtle details that you can pick up on re-watching.
Source: Collider
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