10 Great TV Shows With Only One Bad Episode
4. I've Got Batman In My Basement - Batman: The Animated Series
One of the many reasons Batman: The Animated Series stood out over its peers is that it wasn't patronising. Although kid-friendly, the DC property didn't shy away from adult elements, including mental illness, divorce, animal testing, and domestic abuse. For this reason, Batman: TAS never felt like it was solely geared towards a younger demographic.
Except that one time.
In I've Got Batman in My Basement, 12-year-old Sherman rescues Batman, who's been rendered unconscious by the Penguin. With the Dark Knight out of commission, it's up to Sherman to save the day.
The biggest issue with the episode is that it follows a group of children instead of the Caped Crusader, and the plot is filled with slapstick and exaggerated antics, undermining the show's grounded realism. As a result, the tension never feels genuine, and Batman himself is sidelined for much of the runtime.
The Penguin is reduced to a simplistic threat, which is extra disappointing as the rogue's first BTAS appearance was here in this very episode.
Though fans probably enjoyed I've Got Batman in My Basement as children, even co-creator Bruce Timm admitted this storyline represents everything Batman: The Animated Series tried to avoid.