Batman: The Animated Series User Reviews

Batman had been given a fair shake on the big screen with Tim Burton's two films, but this cartoon was the real deal. Sure, you have to get past all the bad guys shooting their tommy guns but never managing to hit Batman, but that's a minor issue. The storytelling of this show was basically everything good that the comics had produced, with some stuff that was actually much better, encapsulated in 30 minute chunks. The pinnacle of which was my favorite episode "Heart of Ice", a near perfect example of animated entertainment. Here we get not just the best portrayal of Mr. Freeze, but the best sort of Batman story, the best episode of the show, and the best episode of superhero animation by far. I can't think of many television episodes which have made me cry, but this is one of them. To watch it and not shed a tear, you would almost certainly have to have a literal heart of ice.

So how come this series isn't a full five stars? Well, to put it simply... I hate Bruce Timm's art style. I can't stand it. The ridiculously huge chins and broad torsos... they just really looked odd to me. Also, the art deco style I was never crazy for. You have to remember, as a child watching this... it was very strange seeing people in old 1950's cars and riding in blimps while also seeing Batman fighting androids and artificial intelligence with lasers. So, it does have some flaws in my eyes. 
 
And honestly, I never liked Harley Quinn as a character, because it never really made sense. Why would a psychotic murderer have this doofy sidekick/girlfriend around? It doesn't really make any sense, and actually seems incredibly ghastly if you think about it. Like, who wants to actually envision a serial mass murderer with a love interest? Does the idea of Jeffrey Dahmer with a romantic partner make your stomach turn? It does to me. I don't think the Joker would have any interest in fucking. That seems like it'd be the last thing on his mind. And secondly... I don't want to think about the Joker doing any fucking. That's just, no... uh, nope, do not want. Ughhhhh. So that was a facet that I never bought. And it's certainly unthinkable with Heath Ledger's Joker. You can't picture a universe where his Joker has a Harley Quinn by his side. And that sat just fine with me.
 
In BTAS, there's a high level of devotion to the Joker. But why is she so devoted to him? It's because she's somewhat in love with this animal and believes he loves her, right? But does that actually make sense when this is a madman who, as stated in DKR, has probably killed hundreds and maybe thousands of people? Does that sort of dichotomy really work? I mean, it works when you've got this light and happy Joker in BTAS who throws pies in people's faces and punches people with extendable boxing gloves and, as far as I can tell, never kills a single person. But it kinda falls apart when you're trying to have her paired with the mass murderer Joker. It doesn't make sense that Harley would actually be in love with this "psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy." Harley herself has always been portrayed as this goofy light-hearted ditz. Her airy, carefree ways don't jive with an insane murderer in any way shape or form. Could you see her leaning over the Joker's shoulder, smiling cheerfully as he shoots Barbara Gordon in the spine? I can't make it work in my head.
 
And let's talk about the Joker in the animated series. When I think of the Joker, I think of very specific and brutal instances. I think of him shooting Barbara Gordon in the spine, I think of him beating Jason Todd with a crowbar, I think of him twisting his own neck in laughter, I think of him buzzing someone's hand to death, I think of him slamming a pencil into someone's head in TDK. These are powerful images that resonate in the collective consciousness of fans. I don't think the Joker in BTAS really contributed to that at all. I cannot think of one Joker moment in BTAS that can live with those other insane instances. BTAS was many things, and it's a fine addition to the Batman canon, but its Joker failed on some level for me.   
 
However, it's still great because the writing and characterization were so amazing. Mr. Freeze wasn't the only character that the show used well. Other villains like Harvey Dent, Mad Hatter, Clayface, and Poison Ivy were utilized in dark and emotionally deep stories that were arguably superior to the comic books at the time. And the show also created wholly new adversaries like Baby Doll and HARDAC who were worthy foes for the Dark Knight. Simply put, this show is really fucking good. So good in fact, that even after the release of The Dark Knight, many fans still rate this show as their favorite portrayal of the Batman in any medium. That's high praise indeed.