For many, Batman: The Animated Series is the definitive portrayal of Batman in media. The little cartoon show broke boundaries not only in terms of how dark and violent an animated show can be but also with how far one can take their protagonist in terms of likeability.
Batman has one of the most tragic backstories in comics history, but that doesn't necessarily make him the nicest fellow in the world. While the list of Batman's infractions in the comics is nearly impossible to list, his animated cousin is a bit more all over the place likeability-wise.
Felt Bad: Harlequinade
Harley Quinn made her debut in The Animated Series, with her early portrayal being far less heroic than today's version. "Harlequinade" shows Batman being forced to play the role of Harley's straight man when he needs her help to stop The Joker.
Batman is put through quite an ordeal throughout this episode, with Harley fiddling with his equipment and getting both of them in an insane amount of trouble. The fact that Batman only snaps at Harley once in this episode is perhaps a testament to The Dark Knight's patience.
Hated Him: Birds Of A Feather
Though "Birds Of A Feather" features The Penguin reforming, which is a premise that has no guarantee of permanence, Batman comes across more villainous than The Gentleman of Crime. Immediately after The Penguin is released from prison, he returns to his home, only to find Batman waiting for him.
Even though Penguin is genuine about wishing to reform from crime, Batman refuses to accept it. Batman then rudely threatens The Penguin, telling him that he is under the Caped Crusader's surveillance, then takes his leave.
Felt Bad: I Am The Night
"I Am The Night" follows Batman as he goes through Hell one terrible event at a time. On the anniversary of his parents' murder, Batman goes through an existential crisis, watches as the flowers he places in Crime Alley are accidentally crushed by a simple thug, and then Commissioner Gordon is shot in the line of duty.
Regardless of all the good that Batman does, the weight of his responsibilities weighs on The Dark Knight so heavily in this episode that he considers quitting. However, Batman does manage to get his groove back by the end of the episode when he saves Commissioner Gordon from being assassinated in the hospital.
Hated Him: Mad Love
It is quite a feat that "Mad Love" makes the audience hate The Joker AND Batman. The episode famously details the abusive relationship between The Joker and Harley Quinn, but not many people talk about how horrible Batman is in this situation.
Not only does Batman exploit Harley's trauma, he belittles her, then practically sicks The Joker upon her, and shows little sympathy for her whatsoever. The Joker is a monster in this episode, but it is truly staggering how unlikeable Batman is here.
Felt Bad: Two-Face
What makes the critically acclaimed tragedy "Two-Face" so effective is that the series had previously established the friendship between Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent. This serves to make the disgraced district attorney's fall from grace hurt all the more, not just for the audience but also for Batman.
Though Batman's sympathy for Two-Face tends to fluctuate from episode to episode, it is at its most palpable here in this two-parter. Batman feels an enormous amount of guilt because of what happened to Harvey, to the point that he has a terrifying nightmare about it.
Hated Him: Sins Of The Father
While most of Batman's unlikability in "Sins Of The Father" lies at the feet of hindsight, he doesn't really do himself any favors in this episode. Tim Drake, a street urchin and son of mobster Steven Drake, winds up through a series of events becoming Robin...much to Batman's chagrin.
Despite knowing that Tim will grow to do wrong if he doesn't step in, Batman acts like Tim entered his life simply to mess up his day. That said, this isn't the worst Batman has treated a Robin in Batman: The Animated Series.
Felt Bad: Perchance To Dream
Kevin Conroy's favorite episode, "Perchance To Dream" is a literal deep dive into the psyche of Batman. After an attempt to stop one of The Mad Hatter's heists goes south, Bruce Wayne wakes up in a world that is perfect for him.
His parents are alive, he isn't Batman, he's engaged to Selina Kyle, and Batman is still out stopping crime. However, something seems off about all this, with Bruce being unable to believe that this is his new reality. It's a bizarre, eerie, and heartbreaking look at Batman's own private Wonderland and how jarring it is compared to the world he truly inhabits.
Hated Him: Robin's Reckoning
"Robin's Reckoning" won Batman: The Animated Series an Emmy for "Most Outstanding Half Hour or Less Program," cementing that the show's clout was with more than just the fans. However, Batman is kind of mean to Dick Grayson's Robin at a time when he should be more supportive.
Interspersed with phenomenal flashbacks to how Dick Grayson became Robin, Batman investigates a lead on Tony Zucco, the man who murdered Dick's parents. Batman promptly shuts Robin out of the case, which is done out of love but isn't really handled well by The World's Greatest Detective.
Felt Bad: Mask Of The Phantasm
Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm is one of those movies that you keep forgetting is technically for kids. This beautiful tie-in to The Animated Series has many moments that are unsuitable for children, but the main theme of the movie is the kind you don't see in many movies for adults.
In the movie, Batman investigates a series of murders involving the mysterious Phantasm, who is somehow connected to a woman from his past. At every turn, Batman's chances of happiness are cut out from under him and it is a sad, albeit beautiful sight to behold.
Hated Him: Old Wounds
If you are wondering why Dick Grayson became Nightwing in The New Batman Adventures, "Old Wounds" has the answers you seek. In "Old Wounds," Tim Drake asks Nightwing why he and Bruce had a falling out, leading to the former Robin recalling how it all went down.
Batman acts like a jerk not once, but twice in this episode alone. Not only does Batman go too far interrogating a thug, paying no mind to the fact that the thug's family is watching, he also lies to Dick about the fact that Barbara Gordon, his girlfriend at the time, is Batgirl.