When deciding on which episodes I liked the most depended on a few key things. The first being the idea that certain episodes leave behind ideas or imprints, lasting impressions that have stayed with me for years. I also chose some episodes because they did a particularly good job portraying a character (good or bad). Overall, it's the long lasting episodes; and whether you agree or disagree you must remember that in the grand scale of things Batman The Animated Series was a fantastic show and still is to this day
10
I hear people say that "The Forgotten is inspired by Cool Hand Luke" and to that I say it isn't inspired by Cool Hand Luke, it is Cool Hand Batman pretty much.
Don't take this as a slight against the episode or the show, in fact this works for the show. Taking Bruce away from his gadgets and cape/cowl; showing that deep down he truly is a hero. People often say Bruce Wayne is a front for Batman and in many ways this is true, but it's also nice to see that amnesiac Bruce Wayne is still the hero he is behind the cowl. This is a powerful idea that has stayed with me decades after seeing the episode. Not bad for a 'Cool Hand Luke ripoff' eh?
9
When it comes to Bruce Wayne being Batman, the idea of the villains never figuring out his identity is always a trope in comics as a whole. We scream "Take off his mask!" but they never do. This episode famously has Hugo Strange figure out Batman's identity and try to pawn it off to Batman's rogues. Things don't quite go as planned for Strange, but it's still a daring episode that dared show us what might happen if Bruce ever was to be discovered. Bonus points go to Batman's rogues not believing Strange that Bruce is Batman.
8
Many will remember this episode for the introduction of Harley Quinn into the DC universe as a whole. More so then that though, I remember it for Charlie. An average guy who just so happens to piss off the Joker and soon owes a debt to him. That debt drives Charlie to change his identity, move, and so on. When Joker pushes him to pay off his debt to the Joker, it's then that Charlie finally snaps; and in this case becomes more of a star for the episode then any of the main cast of characters. The episode is aptly titled Jokers Favor because at the end of the day it's not about the Joker or Batman, but favor Charlie owes Joker.
7
Mr. Freeze was not a well-known villain in the Batman mythos. In fact, he had been full of the camp and cheese that was a part of the Adam West Batman for years. The 80's and 90's saw a reinvention of Batman as a whole and eventually, Mr. Freeze was due for a reinvention too.
What we got was the excellent 'Heart of Ice'. Not only is it a great episode of The Animated Series, but it also was a great way to re-introduce the newly redesigned Mr.Freeze to general audiences. The episode had many great moments from subtle uses of Freeze's power to the sympathetic back story. When any fan of Mr.Freeze thinks back, this is undoubtedly the point where they became fans and that rings true for me.
6
Maybe it's just me but I have a great fondness for the Gordon/Batman partnership. These two need each other, and are each others best friends. So to see Gordon get critically injured serves as a massive blow to Batman. Sure, we saw something similar in Nolan's The Dark Knight, but seeing it here first just conjures so many unique memories and really served to illustrate how closely tied these two really were
5
In a different sense, Almost Got Im' is more like a compilation, or greatest hits. Watching Batman's Rogues all recount the time they got ever so close to killing Batman, it's not only impressive that the show could so concisely tell all those stories but also tell them well. Just when you start to wonder if the episode is a total write off, it throws this great ending in that was well-made and executed.
4
Legends of the Dark Knight starts with an acknowledgement of the work of Frank Miller and co. and should not surprise you at all that this
is was the best interpretation of The Dark Knight Returns and its many aspects for years.
The first act is a callback to cheesier and campier Batman; and that in it;s own right is amusing. However it's the subsequent acts with the older Batman, female Robin, mutants, and so on. I never read the original comic when the show first was on the air but throughout the years I have and realized just how faithful (for a children's animated cartoon) it is.
At the end of the day, it's another great anthology episode that tried new things and managed to pull them off successfully!
3
A simple premise, and one that is foreshadowed -- that one day someone will kill Batman. In this case, it's a lowly level gang member who manages to mistakenly cause the death of Batman.
It's the subsequent aftermath that wreaks havoc on 'Squid' with the Joker taking the death of Batman the hardest. It's a simple idea that has been recounted in various media but Batman and Joker need each other like Ying and Yang. For one to lose the other causes distraught for the other. Ultimately it's a sting, and Batman manages to get the job done but in its course we get to see how Gotham would be without Batman.
2
'While The Man Who Killed Batman' deals with a Gotham without Batman; Perchance to Dream deals with a Bruce Wayne without Batman. Where his parents are still alive, he's engaged to Selina Kyle, and he's hypothetically as happy as should be.
Ultimately Bruce realizes it's a dream induced by the Mad Hatter, for a bit though, Bruce must think about whether he wants to accept a dream where's happy, or reality. Ultimately, Batman accepts reality but it's a surreal moment for the series and gives Bruce a legitimate reason to hang up the cape and cowl.
1
Much like 'Perchance to Dream' and it's dream sequence, 'Over the Edge' is also a dream, but one that actually causes most of us to gasp and awe in just how far it goes. You have the opening with Gordon hunting down Bruce and Tim (with Gordon even calling out Bruce by name!)
Barbara's death is a great wedge between Bruce and Gordon. Her death is visceral and really did not hold back for an animated cartoon. The imagery in this episode is bar none, and emphasizes just how powerful vengeance is; not just for Gordon but Batman as well. The theme of vengeance permeates throughout the show and this episode did a great job of showing that.
While ending up to be a fear-induced dream of Barbara, it's a startling reminder of the secrets Batman and his family hold, and the cost they have on themselves and those around them. It's this episode that stays with me the most and reminds me of why I'm such a fan of Batman.
Those were my thoughts, let's see what others had to say...