There are few shows that can reach the heights of Batman: The Animated Series. It pushed the boundaries of what children's entertainment could get aw
There are few shows that can reach the heights of Batman: The Animated Series. It pushed the boundaries of what children’s entertainment could get away with at the time with its dim tone, elaborate characters, and iconic art style. Thanks to an all-star cast of writers and voice actors, it has become many people’s definitive version of Batman and his villains.
Nearly every character in the show was given a developed and elaborate backstory, often pulled straight from classic Batman comics. Some of the show’s best episodes focus on the drama of a particular character, hero or villain, and make sure to play up the tragedy of their situation. These are the best BTAS episodes, ranked.
15
“Harley and Ivy” (Season 1, Episode 56)
After a failed heist, The Joker (Mark Hamill) decides to kick Harley Quinn (Arleen Sorkin) to the curb. She decides to prove herself by performing a heist of her own, and happens to run into the eco-terrorist Poison Ivy (Diane Pershing) robbing the same museum. The two work together to evade the police and team up to become the modern Queens of Crime.
“Harley and Ivy’s” biggest strength comes from the camaraderie that forms between the titular criminals. Their complementary personalities and abilities lead to plenty of fun conversations and artistic action sequences, and it’s cold to see how effective Harley could be if she broke away from the Joker. The team-up proved to be so popular that they would do it many more times, both in this show and other DC properties, like 2019’s Harley Quinn.
14
“Birds of a Feather” (Season 1, Episode 47)
After his most recent arrest, Oswald Cobblepot (Paul Williams), known to Gotham City as the Penguin, decides that he’s done with a life of crime and wants to reform. At first, it seems nobody believes him, but he eventually meets socialite Veronica Vreeland (Marilu Henner), who begins spending time with Oswald with the intention of inviting him to a high society party as a joke. However, the more time she spends with Oswald, the more Veronica comes to appreciate him for real.
“Birds of a Feather” is one of the show’s many villain-centric episodes that makes you empathize with their humanity. The Penguin is ultimately doomed in his attempts to reform, yet when you see how difficult he’s trying to reform, and Veronica’s changing opinion, you get really invested in his story and want to see him succeed. It shines a delicate on the very real issues that people face when they leave prison and try to return to society, and also shows the pain that can come from stringing someone along for your own selfish entertainment.
13
“On Leather Wings” (Season 1, Episode 1)
When a bat-like figure attacks a pharmaceutical company, detective Harvey Bullock (Robert Costanzo) gets permission from the mayor to lead a task force to bring down Batman (Kevin Conroy). Meanwhile, the Caped Crusader begins his own investigation, which brings him into contact with Dr. Kirk Langstrom (Marc Singer). As it turns out, Langstrom tested a modern formula based on bat DNA on himself, and now transforms into a horrific hybrid called Man-Bat (Frank Welker).
“On Leather Wings” is the perfect episode to start the show. It captures the show’s dim, gothic aesthetic, establishes several key characters, and demonstrates how tight the writing is on both a pacing and character front. Man-Bat also makes for a great choice for the first villain, especially thanks to how well animated he is, both in flight and during the horrific transformation sequence.
12
“Dream in Darkness” (Season 1, Episode 28)
Batman stops a man from poisoning a spa’s water pipes, but gets exposed to a chemical gas created by the Scarecrow (Henry Polic II). This causes Batman to experience violent hallucinations, and while there is an antidote, it would leave him incapacitated for two days. Batman puts off taking it until he’s stopped Scarecrow, but as the visions get more violent, Batman soon finds himself admitted to Arkham Asylum.
“Dream in Darkness” is one of the most visually stunning episodes of the show. The animation was done by Studio Junio, and they went all out in bringing to life Batman’s hallucinations in colorful detail, which include seeing Bruce’s parents walk into the barrel of the gun that killed them, to a horrific sequence of Batman’s rogues morphing into one another to attack him. Aside from the visuals, it’s also a compelling episode that demonstrates the depths to which the Dark Knight is willing to push himself for the sake of the city, and Scarecrow makes great operate of his narrow screen time.
11
“Feat of Clay: Part 2” (Season 1, Episode 21)
Actor Matt Hagen (Ron Perlman) has been exposed to an overdose of skin-altering chemicals by thugs of corrupt business executive Roland Daggett (Ed Asner). Instead of killing him, the chemicals have transformed Hagen into a sentient mass of clay that can change his appearance. Hagen plans to get revenge by killing Daggett, which brings him into conflict with Batman.
With the setup taken care of in part 1, this episode dives into the tragedy and horror of Hagen’s transformation into Clayface. Themes of addiction, abuse, body image, and identity loss are on full display, and Perlman perfectly captures the fury and desperation of Hagen’s plight. The real star of this episode is the animation by TMS Entertainment, which reaches cinematic levels of detail and fluidity when Clayface transforms.
10
“Robin’s Reckoning: Part 1” (Season 1, Episode 32)
After stopping some goons, Batman and Robin (Loren Lester) interrogate one, who reveals he is working for Billy Marin. Batman then tells Robin to remain in the Batcave while he tracks down Marin alone. Robin then checks the Batcave’s computer and learns Marin is the alias of Tony Zucco (Thomas F. Wilson), the man who killed his parents.
This episode earned the show a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program. The flashbacks are some of the series’ most dramatic moments, with the shocking death of Dick Grayson’s parents to a tender moment where Bruce Wayne offers comfort through his own experiences with loss. Even the crew felt this episode was too good and that the second part would inevitably feel like a disappointment.
9
“The Man Who Killed Batman” (Season 1, Episode 51)
A small-time goon called Sid (Matt Frewer) wants to gain respect in the criminal underworld. While on a job, he accidentally knocks Batman off a building and into an explosion. Suddenly everyone is hailing Sid as the man who killed Batman, but with that fame comes modern troubles, especially when the Joker hears of him.
This episode began life when Bruce Timm and Paul Dini wondered if they could make an episode where Batman wasn’t a major focus. The answer was a resounding yes and gave the show one of its best minor protagonists in Sid. The moments with the Joker are some of his best in the entire show and hit differently after the passing of Kevin Conroy in November 2022.
8
“Perchance to Dream” (Season 1, Episode 30)
After being knocked out while pursuing some criminals, Batman wakes up at home to find that things are amiss. Both his parents are alive, he is engaged to Selina Kyle (Adrienne Barbeau), and someone else is fulfilling the role of Batman. He tries to enjoy this modern life, but cracks continue to form and remind him this is all a lie.
Conroy said this was his favorite episode, and it’s uncomplicated to see why. He perfectly captures Bruce’s confusion and anger over this confusing reality and even got to voice Thomas Wayne. His best moments come during the climax, where Bruce faces off against Batman and learns the truth of who is behind this and why.
7
“Beware the Gray Ghost” (Season 1, Episode 32)
A modern villain called the Mad Bomber has been plaguing Gotham City, demanding a million dollars. Batman realizes his attacks mirror those of an episode of The Gray Ghost, a superhero show he watched in his youth. Since the archives were destroyed in a fire, Batman seeks out the Gray Ghost’s 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 say how the Gray Ghost inspired him is a fitting tribute to West’s time under the cowl, and lets audiences see a modern side of the caped crusader. The episode also has a mighty message regarding typecasting and an actor rediscovering their love for a role.
6
“Two-Face: Part 2” (Season 1, Episode 11)
The newly emerged Two-Face (Richard Moll) has been making a name for himself by attacking the empire of crime boss Rupert Thorn (John Vernon). However, he longs to be reunited with his fiancé, Grace (Murphy Cross), whom Thorn intends to operate to track him down. Meanwhile, Batman is wracked with guilt over the loss of his friend and vows to support him.
This episode does not shy away from the tragedy of the villainous Two-Face’s situation. Batman’s guilt-fueled dream is one of the most intense sequences in the show, while Grace’s attempts to reach Harvey’s humanity serve as a mighty anchor to keep him from sinking deeper into madness. In typical Batman fashion, the ending is bittersweet while still hinting that a happier conclusion is possible.
