5. Batman: The Animated Series
Once again The Fox Network makes the list due to the stellar quality of one of its shows. I can still remember like it was yesterday sitting on the carpet watching the premier of this new Batman show that looked and sounded like the Tim Burton movies (which was all we had to go on as kids in 1992.) Though the first show developers Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski finished was titled "On Leather Wings," I know for a fact that the first one that aired on Fox was the two part episode The Cat and the Claw. This probably had something to do with the fact that it was a Catwoman episode and Batman Returns had just come out, but regardless, it was not what I thought it would be... It was better. The show was dark, gritty, and completely stood alone on its own bat-shaped wings above any other Batman representation I had ever seen. As a child Batman fan in '92 I remember just loving the action, the fact that Robin popped up from time to time, and of course the whole line of toys this show allowed us. As an adult now, it is so plain to see that Batman: The Animated Series is the best representation of Batman from the comics. The animation allowed for less realistic characters to show up in a realistic way without having to alter them very much. The Nolan Dark Knight Trilogy is clearly my favorite interpretation of the character, however it is still an interpretation. The Animated Series kept so much more from the comics while at the same time completely revolutionized Batman characters and even created some new ones. Paul Dini (a god-like writer of television shows, comics, and video games like the Arkham Asylum saga) also happened to write and produce The Animated Series and created the origin of Mr. Freeze we know as canon now, and created the character of fan-favorite Harley Quinn. Batman: The Animated Series had it all. That's when the creators decided to change the look of the show, and in my opinion, dumbed it down. Sure some of the episodes from The New Batman Adventures are downright perfect, but it just never felt the same again. New episodes of a show like this about Batman have been sorely lacking ever since. In my opinion it's time for a resurgence. It would be a great way to carry on the Nolan universe without needing the original actors or directors. Keep the look and story, just make it animated. You could even bring back Heath Ledger's Joker without it seeming insensitive. These things have been done before of course to much success (think The Real Ghostbusters cartoon.) Just a thought. Thank You Batman: The Animated Series! I miss you! Well those are my 5 at the moment kids! Comment, speculate, add some of your own, and wait in agony for my final 5 TV shows I miss that is already in the works!