Batman: The Animated Series: 10 Worst Episodes
2. Critters - 1998
Ugh.
An episode from the later series continuation called The New Batman Adventures, the story here involves Farmer Brown (seriously), a man who pretends to be a humble farmer but actually is a wealthy, brilliant genetic engineer with a huge skyscraper HQ that overlooks his 'simple farm'. After a humiliating and disastrous showing of bio-engineered livestock, Farmer Brown vows revenge on Gotham.
The rest of the episode features Batman, Robin, and Batgirl fighting giant praying mantis', mutant chickens, giant bulls, and an enormous pig, as well as Farmer Brown's daughter Emmylou, who has been made into a powerhouse through consumption of beef laced with steroids despite looking like a typical farmer's daughter-type.
The ending involves a farm silo that is actually a rocket that shoots our heroes into space. Where did Farmer Brown get the money for these things? How did no one notice his giant livestock? How much beef did his daughter eat to get Supergirl-level strength?
There are some cliched jokes about one of the bulls destroying a china shop and 'That's a lot of bull', and the level of humour never really rises above that.
Surprisingly, this episode was written by Joe Lansdale, a well-respected sci-fi and superheroics author and screenwriter. This makes the awful premise and jokes even more shocking.
Plus, there's a creepy talking goat that will give you nightmares.