10 Best Batman: The Animated Series Episodes
1. Almost Got ‘Im
If you’re looking for an episode that shows the ambition that sets B:TAS apart from all the rest, Almost Got ‘Im is surely its masterpiece.
It’s always fun to see supervillains casually interacting with each other and the set-up here is a friendly game of cards. The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, and Killer Croc swap stories of how they almost beat The Batman, exchanging theories about who they think the man behind the mask might be.
The concept allows the action to flow at breakneck speed as each of the tales plays out of screen. There’s a lot of humour too, not least Killer Croc’s short-lived tale in which he explains he threw a rock at Batman (“It was a big rock”). Or how about this exchange between Two-Face and Poison Ivy:
Two-Face: Half of me wants to strangle you.
Poison Ivy: And what does the other half want?
Two-Face: To hit you with a truck.
Poison Ivy: We used to date.
Then there’s that all-important plot twist at the end where everything is turned on its head.
Almost Got ‘Im encapsulates everything about B:TAS that made it such a well-loved show. It’s witty, it’s very, very clever and, above all, it’s extraordinarily good fun.