10 Greatest Episodes of Batman: The Animated Series

1. House and Garden

While "Almost Got 'Im" is remembered as one of the most hilarious episodes of the series, "House and Garden" is usually referred to as the most creepy. It's essentially a Douglas Sirk melodrama-meets-Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The plot involves one of Batman's greatest nemeses, Poison Ivy, post-release from Arkham Asylum. She seems to have finally mellowed, settling into a Norwell Rockwell-like existence. She married college professor Steven Carlyle and is a loving mother to his two young sons. She is no longer Poison Ivy, crazed agricultural villainess, but Pamela Carlyle, homemaker. Naturally, Batman is not convinced that she has turned over a new leaf (I couldn't resist). Especially since a rash of crimes have been committed that fit Ivy's M.O. to a 'T'. Batman visits Poison, er...Pamela Carlyle at her new home in the burbs. He meets her husband and kids and hears her sweet tale of redemption. He buys none of it. But with nothing to go on, except suspicion, he drops his case against her (he does continue to keep tabs on her). Against his better judgement, he begins to believe in her new found happiness. To say Batman was wrong would be a severe understatement. Of course, Ivy was lying the whole time about her new life, but it wasn't just a simple case of holding a family hostage, erasing their memories, and/or using a form of mind control, which would have been bad enough. This time she goes the Frankenstein route. While most women build homes using love and understanding, Ivy uses a sick, twisted form of cloning/science-gone-wrong to ensure her domestic bliss. Needless to say, the showdown between Batman, Robin, and Poison "Frankenstein" Ivy is one of the most disturbing things you'll ever see on television. The ending of this episode is the craziest thing the makers of this show ever got away with. Yet, as the episode is ending and all the horror is done, the viewer is left with a bittersweet coda (poor Ivy) that is the perfect cap to an otherwise insane half hour. So let the fighting begin! Is there an episode that I left out that should have been included on the list? Am I stupid for thinking Nolan ruined the Batman franchise? (No!) Vent your frustrations in the comment section below.