Batman: The Animated Serieshad some low points during its run, but even in those moments, they helped to improve the show overall. In 1992, Batman embarked on a new adventure in the form of an animated cartoon series. With Kevin Conroy voicing the Gotham Guardian, andMark Hamill delivering the iconic Joker, this series was special from the start.
It ran for a total of four seasons, with 85 episodes, and ignited excitement about this character for a new generation of superhero fans. However, while the series consistently put out strong episodes that could be enjoyed by audiences of all ages,there were some moments when the show fell flat.
Despite this, it’s clear looking at the entire run, and the shows and films it went on to inspire, that even in the moments whenBatman: The Animated Seriesfaltered,it still managed to be a total game-changer for Batmanand his associated universe of stories.
6Batman: The Animated Series' Worst Episodes Are Still Better Than Many Other DC Shows
DC has not been a brand that is shy about getting shows made. While Marvel and other comic book publishers have slowly increased the number of shows they release,DC has been experimenting with the TV formatfor decades.
And in that time,DC has created some incredible showsthat reinvent popular characters, likeSmallville, or an expansive TV universe, like the Arrowverse, and so much more. But, this has come at a cost, as there have been many DC shows that falter and stumble with ill-defined stories, or weak character development.
However,Batman: The Animated Serieswas largely consistent in the type of adventures it put out, with the worst episodes still seeing The Dark Knight go up against tough rivals, and save the day. As a whole,the series outperforms many other DC TV projects.
5The Batman: The Animated Series Episodes The Creators Didn’t Like Helped Make Others Better
Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski were the two men serving as the driving force behindBatman: The Animated Series, but even they understood thatnot every episode in the series was perfect. Both have spoken publicly about their least favorite episodes.
For Timm, he has shared in public forums likeAnime Superherothat “The Terrible Trio” is his pick for the all-time worstDC Animated Universe TV episode.He also lists several other episodes he felt failed to live up to the usual standard, showing that he was at least aware of areas to improve.
Meanwhile, Radomski highlights “Appointment in Crime Alley” as his least favorite, citing several issues he has with the episode. From the overplayed ‘Bruce’s parents killed in an alley’ narrative, to the waythe episode feels like a filler storyrather than adding to the larger narrative of the show.
For both creators, they were able to objectively look back on their work, and make reasonable arguments for what could have been better. This shows a tremendous amount of self-awareness, whichpays off in the show’s later seasons.
4Batman: The Animated Series Wasn’t Afraid To Get Creative
Some of themost popular characters in the Batverseof stories only exist because ofBatman: The Animated Series. Harley Quinn was created as an original character for the show, and when the original series concluded andBatman Beyondbegan, Terry McGinnis opened the door to a whole new Gotham.
However, not every creation was equal in terms of their reach and popularity. Throughout the series' run,there were dozens of villains introduced to fight against Batman, and when the show ran out of classic Rogues Gallery icons, it moved on to some less than stellar additions.
Characters like Boss Biggis, an unnecessary and considerably less intimidating mob boss than other Gotham crime lords, and Condiment King,a literal walking joke of a villain, added nothing to the series apart from lame, disappointing stories.
3Episodes With Lacking Plots Still Expanded The Character Of Batman
Often,Batman: TASis criticized for some of the more comedy-focused episodes. But I believe that even worse are the episodes with maddeningly thin plots. Take for instance “Night of the Ninja,” astory about Batman fighting a ninja, with some flashbacks thrown in.
This episode doesn’t even have the decency to include a lot of action, instead opting to fill the runtime with flashbacks. And the villain isn’t special,nor do they present a real threat to Batman, with most of their half-baked fights being interrupted early on.
However,the flashbacks actually did provide insights about Batman, looking at his origin story, and making this filler episode into something more worthwhile. And in many other comedy-centered episodes, the story still moves forward, helping to round out the series.
2Even The Lackluster Villains Help Establish How Messed Up Gotham Is
Returning to “The Terrible Trio” briefly, the plot of that episode follows three bored rich kids who decide to wreak havoc on Gotham. While this seems like a very low-effort class of villain, and the stakes didn’t feel all that high, nor was it much of a challenge for Batman,it does highlight an important detail about Gotham.
Gotham is corrupt. It’s full of people who are one bad day, and occasionally, one bored day, away from becoming monsters. Thecity sinks deeper and deeper into a pit of greed, destruction, and disappointment, as the locals all participate in its downfall either by their actions, or their inactions.
In “The Terrible Trio,” it’s three rich kids with nothing to do, but this episode helps to draw attention to the fact that anyone in Gotham could pick up a mask and begin causing trouble. Whichultimately leads to their need for a Dark Avengerlike the Batman to step up and protect them.
He may not be the hero they wanted or asked for, but he is the hero they deserved, and the one Gotham needs. AndGotham’s abundance of villains, from the lowest-level crooks to the elite supervillains, makes this profoundly clear.
Finally, there are a handful of episodes that have a bad reputation for being the absolute worst that the series has to offer. Episodes like “I’ve Got Batman in my Basement,” and “The Underdwellers.” But, these episodes aren’t actually that bad when viewed in context. The truth is,they are just aimed at kids.
ConsideringBatman: The Animated Seriesstarted its life as a literal Saturday morning cartoonon Fox Kids, it makes perfect sense for the show to cater to a younger audience. Now, the series has a more mature fanbase who have grown up since the series began, but that doesn’t change that this was a show for kids.
When Batman gets knocked out and a team of kids come together to save the day, it’s clear that this is meant to appeal to the target demographic. While older viewers find itinauthentic for Batman to rely on children to save the day, younger viewers insert themselves into the action with their imaginations.
Batman: The Animated Seriesmay have some episodes that fail to capture the imagination of adults, but ultimately, theshow’s popularity with older audiences was not the driving force behind its creation. So, when these episodes are criticized by adults, it’s worth remembering that kids are probably still enjoying the content.
Across the board, the biggest weaknesses and low-points to come out ofBatman: The Animated Seriesstill stack up to make it a genuinely groundbreaking and versatile show. It’s popular with a broad audience, and the show has improved over time. With that,Batman: The Animated Seriesremains one of the best DC projects ever made.
