Before The Dark Knight, Batman: The Animated Series was the best Batman story ever told. Some would argue that it still is.

The landmark series celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018 and sent legions of fans down a nostalgic trip revisiting the series’ literal black-on-black animation style that perfectly serviced its darker tones and dynamic characterizations. For a 2D cartoon aimed at the FOX Kids after-school audience, TAS featured three-dimensional characters with hopes and fears – outside of the ones fueled by the guy dressing up as a Bat and kick-punching crooks on rooftops.

With a celebrity-packed ensemble cast that included the voices of Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as Joker, the series’ behind-the-scenes talent would be the standard bearer that all future DC animated ventures would follow for years to come.

As Batman: The Animated Series enters its 26th year, we’ve raided the Bat Archives to rank every episode of the show – including those that aired when it was re-titled in Season 3 as The Adventures of Batman & Robin. Our ranking, from worst to first, follows below:

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96. “The Underdwellers” (Season 1)

The one where Batman goes into the sewers to stop an annoying villain with too many pet alligators, who is also running a child slave ring. It’s a shoulder-shrug/meh of an episode that you can’t believe made it through production – let alone got past the pitch stage.

95. “Critters” (Season 3)

Even on the episode’s commentary, Bruce Timm admits “Critters” is a “crummy” episode of Batman worthy of the fans’ hate – even though Timm claims he and his fellow collaborators kind of like the episode (even though Timm disapproved of the first story outline). We’ll believe that a man dresses up as a bat and fights crime before we’ll believe adults can like an episode where Batman fights… giant chickens.

94. “The Forgotten” (Season 1) 

While undercover as a hobo to help solve the mystery behind members of Gotham’s homeless community disappearing, Bruce suffers a blow to the head and wakes up with amnesia. Worse, he’s a prisoner in a chain gang that has links to the missing homeless. This episode is a largely “skip it” affair – minus those incredible dream sequences depicting Bruce/Batman’s true self battling with his presumed identity.

93. “Moon of the Wolf” (Season 1)

Batman vs. a Wolfman? Batman vs. a Wolfman. Fans remember this episode primarily for two things: Batman fights a werewolf (which, you know, isn’t the worst thing ever) and that cheesy AF guitar stinger whenever our werewolf is on the scene (which IS in the running for the worst thing ever). Trivia: Writer Len Wein adapted his own comic for this story.

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92. “The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy” (Season 1)

This episode’s story is familiar to comic book fans, who previously read a version of it in Detective Comics #450. Writer Elliot S. Maggin adapts his story here into an overly-plotted episode that finds Batman engaging in a long, long con to trick Riddler into confessing to a crime that does not warrant such an elaborate ruse.

91. “The Mechanic” (Season 1)

This had the potential to be an all-timer; Batman and Robin total the Batmobile in a chase and are forced to take it in for repairs. They can’t go to the local body shop, so they take it to Earl Cooper – whose ties with Batman and his ride go way back. The flashbacks showing how Batman and Earl first hooked up are fun, but the rest of the episode is a very mixed (and at times poorly animated) bag.

90. “The Last Laugh” (Season 1)

This is the action-heavy episode that finds Batman beating the crap out of Captain Clown, a robot aboard Joker’s garbage scow-turned-delivery system for his brand of nerve gas. The April Fool’s Day setting allows Hamill’s Joker to really (no pun intended) ham it up.

89. “The Terrible Trio” (Season 2)

What happens when Gotham is plagued by three over-the-top rich thugs, armed with excessive, Bruce Wayne-level wealth? Nothing too memorable, despite an inspired premise. The low-quality animation for most of the back half doesn’t help matters, either.

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88. “Girls’ Night Out” (Season 3)

This entertaining diversion involves heroes from both Metropolis and Gotham, as Supergirl enters the fray when Livewire escapes from custody and shows up in Gotham. “Girls' Night Out” stands out for being the series’ only episode to be headlined by an all-female cast driving the story in the roles of protagonists and antagonists. Best scene? Batgirl literally runs into Livewire while out on patrol in the Batmobile.

87. “If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich?” (Season 1)

As kids, we got a huge kick out of that crazy maze at the end that Batman must battle his way through. This episode serves as an origin story of sorts of Edward Nygma, who we learned was conned out of much-deserved royalties for his hit video game “Riddle of the Minotaur.” The Riddler resurfaces to strike back at those that ripped him off, Batman gets caught in the middle, and a fun, base-hit of episode unfolds.

86. “The Cat and the Claw: Parts 1 & 2“ (Season 1)

“Part 1” was the first episode to air of the series back in 1993, and it was a jarring introduction. Audiences were dropped into a story that finds a fully-formed Selina Kyle/Catwoman crossing paths with Batman and terrorist Red Claw. The latter is a very forgettable, low-stakes baddie that the episode doesn’t feel too inspired by either.

85. “Cat Scratch Fever“ (Season 1)

Selina Kyle goes full Catwoman on the wealthy and problematic Roland Dagget’s latest scheme, which involves infecting stray cats with a virus that only his company has the cure for. As rainy day diversions go, you could do worse.

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84. “The Lion and the Unicorn” (Season 2)

Fans wanted Alfred to get his own solo outing for a long time, and this episode delivers on that. Until Red Claw, from “The Cat and the Claw,” shows up and the action peters out almost as fast as our interest. But the ep gets points for its not-so-subtle nods to ‘60s spy yarns.

83. “Mean Seasons” (Season 3)

This “okay” installment made a name for itself by introducing the character of Calendar Girl into the Batman mythos -- a much more fascinating and gripping version of the Caped Crusader’s classic villain, the Calendar Man.

82. “Torch Song” (Season 3)

What starts with Bruce out on yet another arm-candy date that goes nowhere, ends with Batman teaming up with a pop star to stop a revenge-seeking foe with a Ph.D in pyrotechnics. Moving on…

81. “Avatar” (Season 2)

Who wants to see Batman try to stop Ra’s al Ghul from resurrecting a mummy? Anyone? Bueller…? This attempt at an Indiana Jones-y adventure is a misfire. The sorcery and magic at play here doesn’t shake hands with the series’ emphasis on more grounded exploits.

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80. “Zatanna” (Season 3)

As big fans of the DC Comics magician, we loved that she was the first DC character outside the Batman stable to make a formal appearance in the world of TAS. It’s too bad she didn’t get an episode worthy of her potential. A rare “just okay” outing from writer Paul Dini, the plot spins its wheels for too long as Batman struggles to prove Zatanna’s innocence after she is framed for using her act to steal a fortune. The best parts about this uneven episode are the flashbacks revealing how Bruce Wayne and Zatanna crossed paths some time ago.

79. “The Worry Men” (Season 1)

It’s your classic tale of Mayan artifacts wreaking havoc on Gotham’s elite – along with a small squad of half-naked Mayans stalking the city’s rooftops. A less-than-effective script from master Paul Dini, “The Worry Men” feels like a filler episode needed to satisfy production orders instead of being an essential piece of Batman’s story. Also, the tribesman and their depiction does not hold up in these very PC times.

78. “Eternal Youth” (Season 1)

Hell hath no fury like a Poison Ivy scorned… or just living her life/objecting to how the wealthy live theirs. Ivy is more scary than usual here (and it’s great!), as she oversees a spa that lures attendants with the promise of the episode’s title. Bruce passes on his invite to Alfred and Alfred’s romantic interest, Maggie, only to have to put on the cape and cowl and go himself when his man servant is in danger.

77. “Prophecy of Doom” (Season 1)

Nostradamus, er, Nostromos is a self-proclaimed future seer who targets Gotham’s wealthy in an elaborate plot to rip them off. Batman gets involved in one of his lowest-stakes missions ever – stopping a con man who somehow has turned a planetarium-sized diorama of the solar system into the perfect place to stage a climatic battle. What could have been a final showdown on par with the ones Bond usually has with his villains is shakily executed thanks to uneven animation from AKOM studios – a company whose inconsistency often irked series creator Bruce Timm.

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76. “Terror in the Sky” (Season 1)

Man-Bat returns! The Animated Series appreciates a good “difficulty with duality” drama, and Dr. Langstrom’s Jekyl/Hyde struggle with his wing-flapping alter ego surely fits the bill. The action here overcompensates for a thin-ish plot, but at least we get to watch Man-Bat take on a 747 full of passengers mid-air.

75. “Deep Freeze” (Season 2)

Too many robots and not enough compelling drama turn this follow-up to Paul Dini’s Emmy-winning “Heart of Ice” into an overcooked action-fest revolving around Mr. Freeze trying to replicate the freeze suit’s tech to ensure a very wealthy man can live as close to forever as possible. Most of this goes down in a sea-based utopia by the way, because reasons. How Dini could write this after writing the quintessential Freeze tale is a head-scratcher.

74. “Showdown” (Season 2) and “Bane” (Season 2) – TIED

“Showdown” is a Valentine to Jonah Hex fans, as it brings the Wild West figure into Batman’s world. The episode is an under-praised highlight, full of some of the genre’s best action scenes. As for “Bane,” it was only a matter of time before the show did its version of the infamous villain. More intelligent and cunning than the brute instrument some fans are accustomed to, this Bane is inspired by the threatening menace that made Knightfall such an essential read. Best scenes here include: Batman’s interaction with Alfred over learning that Bane used only his fists to total the Batmobile and Bane’s sinister phone call to Bruce.

73. “The Demon Within” (Season 3)

It’s your classic story of Batman being forced to dabble in magic because of a demon unleashed from an ancient occult artifact. This is a serviceable episode, but it mostly feels like filler.

72. “Chemistry” (Season 3)

How many wolves in sheep’s clothing, posing as potential love interests, will it take for Bruce to finally realize that finding true love is too good to be true? Susan Maguire is the latest heartbreaker in a long line of them to make Bruce forever question if he can ever truly be romantically happy. The episode does score points for, after Bruce proposes to Susan, he breaks the news to the Bat Family in the Batcave. For a small moment, we actually believe the show will take off in a new direction. We believe its committed to the bit. But then our hearts, like Bruce’s, slowly ache at the realization that it is all for not. (Bonus points though for the story weaving in both Poison Ivy and her horrific genetic engineering plot from “House & Garden.”)

71. “The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne” (Season 1)

Hamill’s work as Joker here really helps the mostly pedestrian proceedings from stalling out completely. Hugo Strange is our baddie here, as Bruce Wayne follows a lead on a case to a resort where Strange employs a machine capable of visualizing its subject’s innermost thoughts. Strange is able to dig deep enough into Bruce’s subconscious to find out he really is Batman – despite no one believing for a second that Bruce would expose himself to such a machine whose one job is to literally root out that which you want to keep hidden. Any episode that draws comparison’s to Riddler’s device from Batman Forever isn’t a good sign, but “Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne” is more successful than that maligned film, however. 

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70. “Tyger, Tyger” (Season 1)

The Animated Series attempts its version of The Island of Dr. Moreau with a Catwoman-focused story that sends her and Batman to an island home to genetically-modified man-creatures and… yeah, that’s pretty much it. Lots of fun and weird animation to be found here.

69. “Make ‘Em Laugh” (Season 2)

Joker’s most out there scheme yet is executed by writers Paul Dini & Randy Rogel with a plot that clicks like safe tumblers. The tone is a refreshingly light and comical one, as Joker seeks revenge on a troupe of comics that rejected him once via Mad Hatter’s device that allows him to wipe the minds of his victims. The identities Joker convinces his prey they have are *chef’s kiss.

68. “Be a Clown” (Season 1)

Upon a recent rewatch, this episode holds up less well than our inner 12-year-olds would like. (Especially Batman’s groan-tastic “Joker, get ready for a little bat-magic!” line.) Mayor Hill finds himself targeted by the Joker when the politician made the mistake of saying Batman and Mr. J are similar in terms of them both being problematic for Gotham. Joker’s plot ropes in Hill’s son and what could have been a mid-level Joker episode is elevated thanks to that plot being weaved through the thematic tentpoles of identity and fatherhood.

67. “Joker’s Wild” (Season 1)

How can fans forget this episode for introducing the Jokermobile to the Bat Unvierse? That, along with some entertaining voice work, are really all that is memorable from “Joker’s Wild,” as Joker sets out to punish a newly-opened casino themed around his likeness.

66. “Love is a Croc” (Season 3)

Bringing back Baby-Doll and pairing her with Killer Croc is a combo we didn’t expect, but it works more often than not – especially on the character-level.

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65. “Fire from Olympus” (Season 1)

Written by Star Trek: Enterprise vets Judith Reeves-Stevens & Garfield Reeves-Stevens, “Fire from Olympus” lacks focus and relies too much on plot-driven stakes to spin a story about a wealthy shipping tycoon who snaps and deludes himself to believing he is Zeus, King of Mount Olympus. What feels like a Batman-y homage to the classic Star Trek episode, “Who Mourns for Adonais?”, “Fire” is a mid-level entry with a lot to say and not enough run time to get it all out effectively.

64. “Cold Comfort” (Season 3)

“Cold Comfort” perverts Mr. Freeze into a violence-happy baddie with a very nihilistic bend, with questionable results. Batman and Batgirl joining forces to stop him is this misguided episode’s only saving grace.

63. “Beware the Creeper” (Season 3)

Jack Ryder, AKA the Creeper, has the potential to be an interesting wrinkle in the Joker-Batman dynamic but this episode doesn’t fully harness that potential. Intrepid TV reporter Ryder, who is overseeing a special on the Joker’s origins by way of being dropped in a vat of Ace Chemicals, becomes the story as Joker turns up at the remote broadcast to re-enact his origins with Ryder’s help. The transformation Ryder undergoes, and the Joker-ization of his psyche, is interesting but overall half-baked.

62. “Animal Act” (Season 3)

This episode is an outlier in the canon; yay to more Dick Grayson-centric episodes (which was a studio mandate during this run of the series) but who wants to watch Dick go back to the circus life to uncover who is responsible for mind-controlling the Big Top’s animals?

61. “Appointment in Crime Alley” (Season 1)

Some fun trivia for this gritty and thematically rich episode: An early story break for the episode was to incorporate a villain from Tim Burton’s Batman Returns: Max Shrek. In his place, we get Roland Daggett and his greed setting their sights on gentrifying Crime Alley by scamming with an arsonist/mad bomber to first burn it all down. Adapted in part from Denny O’Neill’s “There is No Hope in Crime Alley” comic book story, this episode showcases the strong drama to mined from any interaction between Batman and Leslie Thompkins. And we’re big fans of Bruce’s visit to the site where his parents were murdered.

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60. “Blind As a Bat” (Season 1) 

What could have been Speed starring Batman, but swap out a bus for a high-tech prototype helicopter from Wayne Tech, is an intermittingly engaging outing that falls a tad short of delivering fully on its action-packed premise. But Batman being temporarily blinded in his efforts to retrieve the chopper (The Raven) from Penguin is a nice touch.

59. “What is Reality?” (Season 1)

The Riddler pulls a Virtuosity here and employs virtual reality to once again prove to himself his is the superior intellect. The excuse to use VR allows the show’s animators to flex their imagination with impressive results as Batman finds himself caught in the middle of another elaborate plot by Edward Nigma.

58. “Lock-Up” (Season 2)

Another Batman episode that introduces viewers to a new villain, this one named Lock-Up – Arkham’s former head of security with more than just one screw loose. After his less-than-acceptable methods for keeping Arkham’s inmates in line are exposed, six months go by before Batman encounters him again – only this time in the form of a very deranged alter ego. If fans recall anything from this episode, it’s the four-star final showdown set inside Lock-Up’s personal prison.

57. “Baby Doll” (Season 2)

Ironically, the nostalgia that inspired this article is seen as grounds for a cautionary tale in this poignant installment written by – shocker – Paul Dini. That tale starts with Mary Dahl, an all-but-forgotten child star of an old sitcom where she played Baby Doll. Dahl suffers from an ailment that prevents her from aging like the rest of us, so she spends her adult life looking like the child she once was and will sadly forever look life. Batman intervenes in her sad story when she resorts to kidnapping former cast mates in a tragic attempt to rekindle her glory TV days. One of the saddest episodes the series ever produced, with one of the most haunting final shots: Baby Doll sobbing in defeat before a looming Batman

56. “Pretty Poison” (Season 1)

The Animated Series excelled at taking its time to set up important figures in both Batman and Bruce Wayne’s life, especially in regards to Bruce’s best friend Harvey Dent. Before he would become Two-Face, Harvey would cross paths with the mysterious vixen Pamela Isley. The future Poison Ivy poisons Harvey, and Batman is up against a ticking clock to find the cure for his friend. None of the Batman live-action movies come close to executing Batman’s detective skills as well as this episode does.

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55. “Joker’s Favor” (Season 3)

Everyone’s been cutoff in traffic before. But what happens when someone decides to confront their offender and it turns out to be the Joker? Writer Paul Dini milks this intriguing premise for its worth, delivering some clever twists along the way.

54. “Paging the Crime Doctor” (Season 1)

When fans talk of the show’s more underrated outings, “Paging the Crime Doctor” should be high on that list. One of the more talk-y and dramatic installments of the series, “Crime Doctor” affords Leslie Thompkins and Batman himself Kevin Conroy several meaty scenes as the brother of crime boss Rupert Thorne – the disgraced Dr. Matthew – tries to escape his exclusive practice treating crooks. Unfortunately for the good doctor, innocent lives and very bad men complicate that exodus. Thankfully, and with a dose of the bittersweet, Batman shows up to help sort it all out.

53. “Day of the Samurai” (Season 1)

Ninja and Bruce’s pre-Batman rival, Kuodai Ken, returns to finish what he couldn’t in “Night of the Ninja.” Armed with his version of Kill Bill: Vol. 2’s death blow, Ken sets out for more vengeance in an episode that packs in a level of anamorphic-worthy scope that is nothing short of impressive.

52. “Judgment Day” (Season 3)

Looking for dark-on-dark storytelling? “Judgment Day” is for you. Two-Face is often the source for the show’s most psychological-driven episode, and this one is arguably its most complicated as Harvey creates a third personality – the Judge. Instead of a gavel, Judge wields a sword and takes it upon himself to be executioner by targeting Batman’s villains – including Two-Face. The show’s final episode bookends Batman/Bruce Wayne’s personal struggle with the arc that started in the Season 1 “Two-Face” two-parter.

51. “Joker’s Millions” (Season 3)

The last thing a cash-strapped Joker and Harley need is another failed robbery on their hands. But that seems like a golden age compared to Joker inheriting a Scrooge McDuck-level fortune from Mr. J.’s old nemesis, King Barlowe (RIP). “Crime doesn’t pay” takes on a new, clever meaning in one of the Joker’s more resonate outings. 

 

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50. “Dreams in Darkness” (Season 1) 

One of the series’ best opening hooks, “Darkness” drops us in on a straightjacket-ed Batman confined to Arkham Asylum. The episode then flashes back to how the Dark Knight got himself locked up in the place he usually sends his villains to. The episode seems hellbent on breaking out of the mold, as it also features Batman’s great voiceover. This is the episode that gave fans the brain-searing image of (gulp) a leaking sewer tunnel morphing into a pistol’s bleeding gun barrel.

49. “P.O.V.” (Season 3)

Only a show as ambitious as this one would do its take on Rashomon. The end result is a satisfying detective yarn that unfolds from multiple vantage points. Trivia: This episode introduces Officer Montoya to the DC mythos, a character created by TAS.

48. “Off Balance” (Season 1)

“Off Balance” sets up the series’ version of the League of Shadows, here known as the lamer-named Society of Shadows. Count Vertigo is Batman’s threat here, following an exceptional prologue sequence about Ra’s that you won’t be faulted if, after watching, you wanna revisit Batman Begins. In fact, Vertigo wreaks havoc on Batman’s equilibrium with a stolen piece of Wayne Tech – another (totally coincidental) precursor to Chris Nolan’s first Dark Knight adventure.

47. “Read My Lips” (Season 1)

Batman’s reaction when he realizes that a cookoo-for-Cocoa-Puffs ventriloquist is the one made out to be the puppet is proof that this show gets us. Scarface is an interesting gangster villain, one that somehow straddles the line between silly and serious without going too far over into camp territory.

46. “Time Out of Joint” (Season 2)

This timey-wimey episode is an all-out sci-fi affair, the most Batman has played in the genre since the days of HARDAC. The first episode to get the “Adventures of Batman & Robin” rebrand, “Time” marks the second appearance of baddie The Clock King, who picks up where he left off in pursuit of taking out Mayor Hill. Time travel is a tricky concept to pull off, especially in a show built on the back of a hero who uses grappling guns and his fists to do his job. But somehow the episode finds an action-packed, entertaining balance between the two.

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45. “Catwalk” (Season 2)

Selina Kyle is trying to live her best life here at the start of this Dini-scripted episode. But the one-percent crowd she’s trying to assimilate with disagrees with her, so Scarface’s offer for one last job comes at the perfect time. Like with his Harley Quinn episodes, Dini also excels whenever he is tasked to add dimension to Catwoman, which he and the animation staff pull off admirably.

44. “Night of the Ninja” (Season 1)

No one is surprised that at some point in Bruce Wayne’s past, he crossed paths with a ninja in Japan. That ninja is yet another baddie created by the series, Kyodai Ken – a rival of Bruce’s during his pre-Batman days. Ken seeks that which fuels Batman’s crimefighting – revenge – and he realizes that nothing self-serving ultimately comes of it. Too bad this fight-heavy episode missed an opportunity to underscore that conceit for Batman.

43. “The Ultimate Thrill” (Season 3)

An exciting opening entry to the series’ The New Batman Adventures moniker, Batman takes on one of his more unique adversaries: A former stuntwoman-turned-Gotham’s newest threat. While that is a cool conceit, her name – Roxy Rocket – is as far from cool as one can get.

42. “Shadow of the Bat: Parts 1 & 2” (Season 1)

The Animated Series slow walked Barbara Gordon fully embracing her alter ego of Batgirl, with the character not sporting her signature vigilante attire until this two-parter. This storyline introduces us to a Batgirl that, while independent, she still aligns herself with Batman and Robin when the job requires. But she’s not afraid to go around them when they try the whole “we’ll-take-it-from-here” approach, especially when her father’s integrity is at stake. “Shadow of the Bat” holds up very well -- especially in 2019 -- giving us one of the most fleshed-out and commanding takes on Batgirl in the history of the character.

41. “Old Wounds” (Season 3)

This Robin-centric outing serves as connective tissue between Batman: The Animated Series transitioning to The New Batman Adventures. With great pathos and heart, we learn why Dick Grayson decided to hang up his mask after the events of TAS. We also uncover why Barbara/Batgirl is now such a valuable and essential member of the Batman’s extended crime-fighting family.

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40. “Vendetta” (Season 1)

Whenever the series fleshed out the ranks of Gotham’s finest, we were in for a treat. “Vendetta” centers on the gruff Detective Bullock struggling to prove his problematic innocence in the face of corruption charges that may or may not link him to crime boss Rupert Thorne. The only one capable of getting to the bottom of this is the guy Bullock has made a career out of loathing: Batman. Making permanent enemies temporarily allies is the stuff of great drama and tension, and this episode delivers on both in spades.

39. “The Clock King” (Season 1)

The Animated Series gives the titular C-list villain a complete reboot, and it is for the better. The Clock King here becomes a force Batman will regret reckoning with; he’s a routine-obsessed foe that wields punctuality and good timing as weapons. His plot to foil those who would question his dedication to being on time will make you feel bad for ever being late in your life.

38. “You Scratch My Back” (Season 4)

Most notable for showing off a badass look at Nightwing, this episode is a fan-favorite for its take on Nightwing’s role in the Bat-family.

37. “Harlequinade” (Season 2)

One of the series’ funniest episodes, “Harlequinade” is a two-hander that finds Batman recruiting Harley Quinn to help him stop the Joker’s latest tirade. While Joker flies solo, this unlikely pairing frequently finds Harley mocking Batman’s “why-so-serious” demeanor in ways where the audience always laughs with, but never at, the story.

36. “Mad As a Hatter” (Season 1)

Jervis Tetch, AKA the Mad Hatter, gets an unsettling origin story here that culminates in a kind-of-creepy climax at an Alice in Wonderland theme park. We can’t think of a better site for a showdown with the Batman, or an episode that better services the Mad Hatter and his obsession with mind-controlling hats.

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35. “I’ve Got a Batman In My Basement” (Season 1)

There isn’t a kid alive who saw this episode upon first airing and didn’t wish their after-school lives lead to them getting caught up in a Batman adventure. That’s just what happens for two Gotham kids – Sherman and Roberta -- when they are forced to take an incapacitated Batman back to Roberta’s house after his run-in with The Penguin and his goons. Sure, the elevator pitch is Batman’s Home Alone, but don’t let that detour you from one of the show’s more underrated one-offs.

34. “It’s Never Too Late” (Season 1)

A gangster story with a strong heart and even strong anti-drug message, “It’s Never Too Late” is unique among the stable of episodes for its deliberate pacing that, in lesser shows, would be a strike. Here, it is an asset, thanks to a dramatically compelling script – more than any other kids show would ever even think to have.

33. “I Am the Night” (Season 1) / “Sideshow” (Season 2) – TIED

“I Am the Night” is a darker-than-dark exploration of the costs Batman’s vigilantism has on what’s left of his soul. For a kid’s cartoon, it’s surprising how deep the story digs into Batman’s psyche and gets away with it. “Sideshow” adds a tragic element to Killer Croc, when he pulls a Richard Kimble and goes on the run after surviving a train derailment. While a fugitive, Croc finds fellow “freaks” that are hiding in a forest on the edge of Gotham and fans finally sympathize to the baddie’s plight.

32. “House and Garden” (Season 2)

Diane Pershing, the voice of Poison Ivy, is one of the most talented and underrated performers in the show’s voice actor arsenal. She arguably achieves career-best work here in this entertaining episode that – like all the best Ivy showcases – finds the character confronting the theme of patriarchy through action. When Ivy is allowed to leave the walls of Arkham behind in exchange for a husband and white-picket fence, she finds herself confined to another prison. When Ivy lashes out in the form of a truly (no pun intended) batsh**-crazy body horror show that would make Cronenberg blush, Batman intervenes to save the day -- but Ivy’s already too far gone.

31. “Holiday Knights” (Season 3) / “Birds of a Feather” (Season 1) – TIED

“Birds of a Feather” finds the series once again tackling the idea of criminal reform through one of its more underused villains, The Penguin. Oswald Cobblepot’s attempt to re-enter civilian life is so painful to watch because of how hard Oswald is trying only to find out that the arms welcoming him back to the highlife are also laughing behind his back. “Holiday Knights,” from The New Batman Adventures, is one impressive way to premiere this rebrand of the series. It plays out in three vignettes, over three different days in December – culminating on Dec. 31. The first part finds Batman on the trail of Ivy and Harley Quinn. Batgirl encounters Clayface while out shopping for her father in the second vignette and the New Year’s Eve-set final chapter depict how Batman vs. Joker would ring in the new year.

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30. “Batgirl Returns” (Season 2)

There is a lot of moving parts to this episode which, on the surface, seems like just a fun excuse to pair Batgirl with the trust-deficient Catwoman as they search for a stolen MacGuffin. Selina’s cat burglar skills that usually get her in trouble are an invaluable asset here, as they help her and Batgirl close in on the thieves with some impressive banter along the way. The episode also serves as a milestone in Catwoman’s arc, as she finally gets some sense of resolution involving her second-most problematic nemesis: Daggett. This episode is so damn fun, we’d give folding money for spinoff featuring the two. Make this happen, DC Universe!

29. “Double Talk” (Season 3)

Batman’s underused villain, the Ventriloquist, gets the spotlight here as the Dark Knight helps him break the cycle of crime and incarceration that so many other members of the Rogue’s Gallery are trapped in.

28. “His Silicon Soul” (Season 1)

This exciting sequel to “Heart of Steel” has a killer hook: When Batman is injured, he doesn’t find flesh and blood, but rather metal and circuitry. He’s the android duplicate HARDAC created and from there, the episode gives Batman a very well-written identity crisis and an equally-great brawl between the real Bats and his tin-can doppelganger.

27. “Christmas With the Joker” (Season 1)

This episode should have a permanent slot in your holiday viewing rotation. What better way to spend Christmas than by watching the Joker celebrate breaking out of Arkham by kidnapping folks and stealing airtime to broadcast a very deadly holiday special? We’re big fans of the very meta “Jingle Bells, Batman smells…” song Joker sings here.

26. “A Bullet for Bullock” (Season 2)

A detective thriller that lives in the same zip code as Raymond Chandler, “Bullet for Bullock” lets the grizzled detective stroll around in his own film noir as someone wants the GCPD-er dead. Once again, and much to his chagrin, Bullock has to lean on Batman to uncover who is gunning for him and why. Easily a high point for Bruce Timm and Company.

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25. “Heart of Steel, Parts 1 & 2” (Season 1)

H.A.R.D.A.C is a building-size A.I. responsible for creating androids and putting them in human skin suits – which is basically Batman meets Blade Runner. The end result is a two-parter almost as exciting as Ridley Scott’s seminal sci-fi film. Trivia time: Audiences first meet future Batgirl Barbara Gordon in this installment.

24. “Fear of Victory” (Season 1)

Some fans really embrace this episode’s all-out animated take on the consequences of Scarecrow’s fear gas on Gotham’s football team. Their transformation into nightmarish creatures is a true animation highlight for the series, along with some tweaks to Scarecrow’s appearance. We still get chills watching the scene where Robin, high on panic fumes, teeters danger-close to the ledge of a building. Batman also is served a very impressive final battle inside Arkham; seriously, we could watch this fight for days.

23. “Mudslide” (Season 1)

Clayface returns for another trip down tragedy lane. Matt Hagen’s last appearance (ish) in the series is a fine sendoff, with the baddie struggling with an inventive consequence to his ability to shapeshift. He’s suffering from advanced cellular decay and on the verge of turning into formerly-sentient mud unless he can find a cure. Hagen turns to Dr. Bates, a tech advisor on some of the actor’s films, to help him and what he finds is more than he – or Batman – bargained for. (Hagen/Clayface would return, much to the surprise of Batman and Robin, in “Growing Pains.”)

22. “Legends of the Dark Knight” (Season 3)

Bruce Timm, who shares a “Story by” credit on this episode, swears on the episode commentary that he came up with the idea without knowing about or even reading a comic by Frank Robbins with a similar story. That story is broken up into three vignettes done in three different, iconic styles from Batman’s history – including a near-perfect rendering of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Rises. The three different animation styles, while lacking the level of detail afforded the earlier episodes in the series, contribute to a stand-out episode among fans. (Timm also says on the commentary that the episode idea came to him one Sunday after watching one of his “favorite Batman movies”: Batman Forever. We wish we could tell if he was kidding or not.)

21. “Sins of the Father” (Season 3)

This gripping episode introduces fans to the show’s take on Tim Drake – a mix of Jason Todd and Tim from the comics. His interactions with Batman are as rich and meaty as any previous Batman and Robin pairing, which leads to a dramatically sound choice on Tim’s part to take on the Robin mantle.

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20. “Nothing to Fear” (Season 1) / “Never Fear” (Season 3) - TIED

“Nothing to Fear” is a Scarecrow storyline so well executed, it could inspire the plot for a feature film. Our first intro to the iconic baddie, this episode is most famous for the gut punch of a revelation Batman has while suffering from the hallucinogenic effects of Crane’s fear gas. While under the influence, Batman’s darkest fear manifests itself to him: That he failed to measure up in the eyes of his slain parents that he swore to avenge. That he fell short of their, and his own, expectations. It’s okay if that body blow also tugs on the heartstrings – it’s supposed to.

The show endured a major reboot design-wise for Season 3, and as seen in “Never Fear,” Scarecrow receive quite the visual upgrade. “Never Fear” starts with Batman on the trail of someone swinging through and between Gotham’s buildings that, inititally, the city believes to be Batman. But once the real thing catches up to him, the plot thickens and his strings are being pulled by Scarecrow. Voiced by Jeffrey Combs, Scarecrow next-levels his fear-based plots by attacking Batman in such a way that Tim Drake/Robin is forced to step up and save the day – and Batman – from one of the scariest plots they’ve ever faced.

19. “Second Chance” (Season 2)

Two-Face proves himself again to be Batman’s most dramatically rich villain, because he comes between both Batman and Bruce Wayne. Both the Dark Knight and Bruce have something at stake when a surgical procedure avails itself to the villain that can fix him. “Fix” means ending the darker part of Harvey’s personality to save the “better half.” The episode stays true to Two-Face’s character when he chooses a path that breaks Batman’s heart.

18. “Trial” (Season 2)

The best compliment we can give this episode is that we wish we came up with it. Another compelling script by Paul Dini, “Trial” finds Batman trapped in Arkham by the very people he put in there and forced to endure a show trial. The case? Is Batman responsible for all of Gotham’s threats – the most frequent occupiers of this asylum’s courtroom? Is he, as the episode posits, a drug that the city’s citizen can’t stop abusing? Years before The Dark Knight would address the fallout of Batman’s theatrics leading to “escalation” among the criminal element, “Trial” tackled the dramatically-rich subject matter first. (Fun trivia: This ep features the most Batman villains ever assembled together on-screen for the show.)

17. “Riddler’s Reform” (Season 2)

Like the Joker episodes, shows centered on the Riddler proved to be highlights and “Riddler’s Reform” is no exception. John Glover (Smallville) delivers another inspired performance as his Edward Nigma challenges Batman to another complex scheme designed to prove that the Dark Knight’s intellect is no match for the Riddler’s. Spoiler: Riddler’s wrong.

16. “Harley’s Holiday” (Season 3)

In “Harley’s Holiday,” the show asks “what would happen if Arkham actually did their jobs and rehab’d their inmates?” The first to receive such treatment is Harley Quinn, and we are treated to a (shocker) tragic-comedy outing that finds Harley sane and free of crime – but not for long. Circumstances spiral and, despite Batman and Robin’s best efforts, Harley’s out-patient life on the right side of the law is short-lived.

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Image via Warner Bros.

15. “Mad Love” (Season 3)

An alternate title could be “Harley Quinn Begins.” Based on Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s comic of the same name, “Mad Love” doesn’t hold back in providing a tragic context for what sparked Harley’s emotionally abusive relationship with her Mr. J. One can’t help but sympathize with the slippery slope the vulnerable Harleen Quinzel found herself on, which led to her sliding into Joker’s clutches. The tonal shifts between comedy and sad drama would be tricky for any other show, but TAS pulls it off effortlessly.

14. “Beware the Gray Ghost” (Season 1)

The late Adam West voices the Gray Ghost, a noir-esque fictional crusader that Bruce Wayne grew up watching as a kid. Batman teams up with his inspiration for a case in this sentimental fan-favorite that is surprisingly heartwarming.

13. “See No Evil” (Season 1)

The first episode on the production schedule to feature Lucius Fox, “See No Evil” introduces fans to The Animated Series’ version of the Invisible Man. Lloyd Ventrix is a mid-level crook in the possession of a stolen high-tech fabric that makes him invisible. His criminal abuse of that tech puts him in Batman’s crosshairs. It also exposes Ventrix’s family -- especially his young daughter, Kimmy -- to Batman’s complicated brand of justice. There’s a sweetness to this plot-heavy episode, thanks to the touching bond that forms between Bats and Kimmy – which culminates in one of the series’ most heartfelt endings ever.

12. “Over the Edge” (Season 3)

This is the darkest the show ever got; we’re honestly surprised the series got away with this. “Over the Edge” explores the themes of fear and grief and how the latter fuels the former when it appears that Scarecrow has killed Barbara Gordon -- AKA Batgirl. The fallout of her demise ripple effects every aspect of Batman’s life and his Bat-family, ultimately pitting themselves against Barbara’s dogged dad, Commissioner Gordon. Sure, we finally realize Barbara isn’t dead – it’s all an illusion, thanks to Scarecrow’s toxins – but the damage is already done. Batman’s vulnerabilities and Batgirl’s issues with self-identity are exposed in ways that leave a lasting impact long after the end credits roll.

11. “Perchance to Dream” (Season 1)

Another tragic-ish episode (seeing a pattern here?), this one is Batman’s version of the classic Alan Moore story “For the Man Who Has Everything.” Bruce finds himself in a “reality” where he is engaged to Selina Kyle and his parents are still alive. But because happiness isn’t a standard part in Batman, and the hero can’t escape the feeling that something is off, he goes digging around his subconscious and denies himself the illusion in favor of the only real world the Dark Knight has ever known.

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10. “The Man Who Killed Batman” (Season 1)

This underrated gem makes for a great double-bill with “Almost Got ‘Im.” (Shocker to no one, since both eps share the same writer – Paul Dini). The meek and mole man-y Sidney Debris is a low-level lookout for drug runners in Gotham. So it’s even more impressive when word gets out that Sid got the drop on Batman at a warehouse and did that which Joker couldn’t: Kill the bat. All that’s left of Batman was his cape and cowl, which Sid parades as proof as crooks come out of the woodwork to question the aspiring big shot crime figure’s claim. Soon, the Joker gets involved and throws a fake funeral for Bats (complete with “Kick Me” note put into Batman’s casket). Joker drags Sid back to his hideout where we learn the truth about Batman’s demise. Dini plots this episode in a way where the audience is never ahead of the story; we’re right where he wants us – in the palm of his hand.

9. “The Laughing Fish” (Season 1)

More than 25 years have passed and Mark Hamill is still one of the best actors to ever play the Joker. Adapted from a famous comics storyline, “Laughing Fish” finds Batman struggling to stop the Joker from infecting Gotham with his nerve toxin – or so we think. The Joker’s true intention with the titular animal drives the back half of this memorable episode, along with the chemistry between Harley and her Mr. J.

8. “Almost Got ‘im” (Season 1)

Another inventive and unforgettable Paul Dini episode. The novel and clever execution here is why this one is so popular with fans. Members of the Rogue’s Gallery – including Killer Croc, Joker, and Two-Face – gather ‘round a poker table to swap war stories about their battles with Batman. About how the only victories they know are the “close-but-no-cigar” variety. Featuring a great twist, thanks to the Dark Knight’s chef’s kiss of a disguise, “Almost Got ‘im” culminates in one of the series’ most satisfying and beautifully animated scenes.

7. “On Leather Wings” (Season 1)

The first episode completed for the production – but not the first to air -- “On Leather Wings” firmly establishes the series’ dark tone and gritty style as Batman finds himself on the trail of a scary AF Man-Bat. It’s a one-off adventure that packs more action into its climatic scenes than whole shows do in entire seasons.

6. “Robin’s Reckoning: Parts 1 & 2” (Season 1)

One of the many things the series did so well was spreading the love around to supporting characters and fleshing them out in three-dimensional ways. “Robin’s Reckoning” showcases Dick Grayson reeling from the recent discovery that the man who murdered his parents – the Flying Graysons – is still alive. The two-parter pits Robin and Batman at odds as Dick goes down a vengeful road, one that Batman knows all too well where it ends. Both haunting and exciting, this exceptional storyline is one of the series’ most rewatchable segments.

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5. “The Demon’s Quest: Parts 1 & 2” (Season 1)

Ra’s al Ghul. The Lazarus Pit. Ubu learning the hard way why it’s never a good idea to slap Batman. This is arguably the most exciting two-parter the series ever produced, as Batman goes searching for a missing Robin and finds himself the League of Shadows’ supreme leader and his hot spring filled with green immortal juice. This episode is another great showcase for Batman’s detective skills, and has an almost James Bond-slash-Indiana Jones globe-trotting sense of adventure to it.

4. “Harley and Ivy” (Season 1)

This two-hander, where Harley and Poison Ivy become Gotham’s version of Thelma and Louise, is so good it deserves its own spinoff series. Physically free from the Joker’s emotionally abusive ways, Harley finally cuts loose and begins to appreciate her worth as a person thanks to Ivy – and their explosive crime spree. Bonus points for the episode’s bittersweet treatment of Harley; even though her crime-filled future is more rosy than her past, the only life she knows is one where the Joker has his hooks in her. (Basically, this episode is a 22 minute thematic discussion around co-dependency with Batman and bazookas. Cheaper than therapy.)

3. "Feat of Clay: Parts 1 & 2” (Season 1)

We stan the animation when Clayface (AKA has-been actor Matt Hagen) overloads his shape-shifting abilities while watching his screen career blaze before him on TV station monitors. The Great Detective does significant boots-on-the-ground sleuthing here, as Hagen does dirty work for corrupt pharmaceutical exec Daggett (Ed Asner). That work ultimately leads to Hagen’s tragic transformation into the monstrous baddie. This episode offers a revisionist take on the character’s many disparate origins; even though there are so many, this one rises to the top for fans. To make a villain so instantly relatable and heartbreaking is no easy feat to achieve; “Feat of Clay” pulls it off effortlessly.

2. “Two-Face: Parts 1 & 2” (Season 1)

Batman’s audible “Harveeeey” when his friend is permanently disfigured still guts us. Two-Face’s origin has never been better told than in this exceptional two-parter, which serves as both origin story and cautionary tale. The cost of Batman protecting Gotham is that sometimes the people Bruce Wayne cares about get forever scarred. And that cuts our Caped Crusader the deepest. It’s one thing to lose a friend, it’s another to watch the better part of that friend become an enemy.

1. “Heart of Ice” (Season 1)

This episode makes us cry every. Time.

Paul Dini’s exceptional script chronicles the tragic origin of Mr. Freeze and culminates in an almost Shakespearean way. The story is all but driven by Viktor’s grief, and how it literally froze his heart and lead him to become one of Batman’s most infamous (and sympathetic) villains. The animation is top notch, and the score – especially in its final moments -- tug on all the heartstrings. An animated series aimed at kids achieved a level of drama that few movies aimed at adults do. That not only earns it the top spot here, but also an all-timer spot among the best episodes of the medium.

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batman-animated-series-episodes-ranked