10 thrilling and heartbreaking episodes of BATMAN: THE Animated Series

In honour of Kevin ConroyI wanted to break down ten of the most exciting and powerful episodes of Batman: The Animated Series And The New Adventures of Batman. I loved watching these shows when I was growing up and Conroy’s version of Batman is my favorite version of the Dark Knight. I was stunned to hear of his passing, and found myself watching episodes of the series, and was reminded of how amazing this show was and how powerful it can be.

I started getting excited while watching some of these episodes and thought I’d put together a list of ten great episodes of Batman: The Animated Series that pack an emotional punch.

Beware of the gray ghost – Season 1 Episode 18

This is one of my favorite episodes of all time. It features guest stars Adam West who plays actor Simin Trent, best known for playing the Gray Ghost, a favorite character of Bruce Wayne. Trent is having a hard time and is on the verge of bankruptcy, so he has to sell all his Gray Ghost merchandise to get by. Not long after, there’s a string of robberies connected to his old TV show. So, Trent and Batman team up to put an end to it.

The villain in this episode is a deranged toy collector named The Mad Bomber, voiced by series co-creator Bruce Time. After Batman and Trent stop him, Bruce Wayne buys back all the collectibles and memorabilia for Trent, and feels like his life means something.

Maybe dream – Season 1 Episode 26

In this episode, Bruce Wayne is knocked unconscious while chasing some criminals and wakes up the next morning in an alternate reality. His life is very different. In this new existence, his parents are still alive, there is no bat cave, he has led a wonderful life with his family and is engaged to Selina Kyle. But there is still a Batman running through Gotham City and Wayne knows something is wrong. His mind was actually taken by the Mad Hatter.

The villain’s goal is to keep Batman away, so he gives him what he wanted. This is an uphill struggle for Wayne, but in the end he chooses his imperfect real life over the dream world produced by the Mad Hatter. We see Wayne go on an emotional harrowing journey in this episode and I think it’s one of Conroy’s favorite episodes.

Heart of ice – Season 1 Episode 3

This is another of my favorite episodes as it tells the beautifully dark and tragic story of the iconic villain Mister Freeze. In the story, Victor Fries transforms into Mister Freeze in an accident while trying to heal his wife Nora. She must be kept in a cryogenic state to stay alive. Batman ends up investigating a series of strange robberies that lead him to Freeze, who is trying to find a cure for his wife.

Though Batman understands Freeze’s tragic motivation and tries to save him from the dark path he’s on, it’s too late. He has yet to bring Freeze to justice. It is heartbreaking to watch and Mister Freeze apologizes to his wife’s snow globe representation for not being able to save her and cries tears of ice.

I am the night – Season 1 Episode 34

In this episode, we find Batman on his crusade to fight crime in Gotham City. Commissioner Gordon is seriously injured in a gunfight involving Jimmy The Jazzman. Batman is late to help and this is hard for Bruce Wayne and he starts thinking about hanging up his cape and cowl. Oh yeah, this all happens on the anniversary of his parents’ deaths.

Batman doubts how well he’s done and wants to move on and not let his past define him. This episode is one of the few times Batman’s heroic confidence is shaken. Batman places so much responsibility on his shoulders, which is both his greatest attribute and his flaw.

Two faces – Season 1 Episode 17

In this two-part episode of Batman: The Animated Series, mobster Rupert Thorne attempts to blackmail Harvey Dent during his re-election as District Attorney of Gotham City. While she’s trying to keep calm and put on his happy face, he can’t suppress his psychopathic split personality, which emerges in full force after a confrontation at a chemical plant where an explosion horribly scars half of Dent’s face.

The episode also respectfully explores themes of childhood trauma, mental illness, and repressed anger. There is a scene where Conroy gives an amazing performance as Bruce Wayne as he desperately tries to help his old friend Harvey Dent and get through to him.

Crazy Love – Season 2 Episode 11

This episode is notable for telling the original story of Harley Quinn aka Dr. Harleen Quinzel and her first encounter with The Joker. She is deceived by the Joker’s history of abuse and falls in love with him. The story examines the abusive and exploitative relationship between the Joker and Harley.

The episode actually ends with Harley in a hospital, bruised, broken and battered. While she is cursing him and is ready to move on, she gets a gift from him and instantly falls in love with him. This story presents examples of real-life cycles of abuse and patterns of abusive relationships. It’s definitely an emotionally heavy episode.

Clay company – Season 1 Episode 4

Clayface is one of my favorite villains of Batman: The Animated Series, and in this two-part film, a famous actor named Matt Hagen becomes addicted to a mysterious chemical formula that gives him the ability to change his facial features without makeup. It allows him to hide from the public the fact that his face was badly disfigured in a car accident years ago.

The episode devotes a lot of time to Clayface’s emotional struggles and I love how the story makes you feel for the creature Hagan had become.

Its silicon core – Season 1 Episode 43

Bruce Wayne finds himself facing a Batman impersonator who shows up in Gotham City. This other Batman is a robot created by a mainframe computer artificial intelligence system called HARDAC and believes he is actually Bruce Wayne, and cannot finish his mission to kill Bruce Wayne because believing he is Bruce surpasses his programming.

At the end of the episode Bruce asks Alfred the challenging question: “Is it possible that Alfred had a soul, a silicon soul, but a soul nonetheless?” I love how this episode brought the sci-fi element to Ray Bradbury’s level.

Baby doll – Season 2 Episode 9

This is an incredibly sad episode that tells the story of a former child star named Mary Dahl, who grows up to be bitter and insane. She ends up kidnapping her former TV family and holding them hostage in an old abandoned sound stage where she is trying to recreate her youth. Dahl suffers from an illness in which she cannot physically grow or mature. She also attempts to kill her former cast of hers. When Batman and Robin come to rescue them, they encounter a deadly carnival funhouse.

At one point, Dahl finds herself looking into a mirror that shows her stretched out as she would look like if she were actually able to grow. In a fit of tearful sadness and rage, she shoots the mirror. The story really makes you feel sympathy for Mary. The show has been so good at doing that with villains than her.

Appointment in Crime Alley – Season 1 Episode 26

In this story, Roland Daggett is trying to burn down Crime Alley and use the land to grow his business venture. But his plan would mean killing the residents or evicting them from their homes.

This episode also explores Batman’s origin and the emotional trauma that the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents inflicted on him even in his later adult years. The episode also includes a touching story between Batman and his close friend and psychiatrist, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, who helped him deal with his parents’ deaths.

These Batman animated shows have had some pretty powerful and emotional moments, especially for a children’s series! They’ve actually really tried to teach the kids some aspects of life and there were some pretty heavy moments that will make you think. This show is so damn good.