DC Comics' Batman: The Adventures Continue series has both expanded and complicated the DCAU canon, with a lot of questions being raised as to the history of the mantle of Robin. Though in the series, Robin is Tim Drake, fans of Batman: The Animated Series know he wasn't the first.
Both Dick Grayson and Tim Drake have filled the role of Robin in both Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, with both series offering fantastic episodes focusing on the characters. But what are the best episodes in which they play pivotal roles?
Fear Of Victory (7.8)
"Fear of Victory" is often disregarded when it comes to classic BTAS episodes, but it's a hidden gem. In the episode, Scarecrow begins targeting successful sports stars to win loads of money in gambling bets, but when he sends a fear-toxin-coated telegram to Dick Grayson's roommate, the Boy Wonder soon begins seeing things.
It was rare for the show to give Scarecrow, one of Batman's greatest foes, the spotlight, but all of his focus episodes are fantastic, with "Fear of Victory" being no exception. The episode also gives Robin the spotlight, with the character going through a neat little character arc.
Sins Of The Father (7.9)
Nightwing had learned all he could, so it was time for someone else to get their turn. When Batman: The Animated Series turned into The New Batman Adventures, the creators took the character of Tim Drake, gave him the origin and minor characteristics of Jason Todd, and a bold new Robin was born.
Tim becomes wrapped up in a scheme of Two-Face's which involved his father, prompting Batman to take him in, unwillingly beginning his road to becoming Robin. "Sins of The Father" is an episode that isn't talked about as much as it should be, with the episode being a solid origin story for the new Robin.
Shadow Of The Bat (8.4)
Robin is intrinsically tied to Batgirl, so when it came time for her to make her debut in BTAS, Robin naturally was a core part of the story. When Jim Gordon is arrested for seemingly accepting bribes from Rupert Thorne, Barbara Gordon becomes Batgirl to rescue him, soon discovering that the villainous Two-Face is involved.
Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon have a journey together, starting off on the wrong foot before becoming allies, eventually developing a romantic relationship. While they bicker and argue throughout the episode, there are many clues that imply there is something more going on under the hood.
The Demon's Quest Part Two (8.4)
Oddly, while Robin is a key plot element in the first part of "The Demon's Quest," his role is far more minor in the second part. With Ra's al Ghul's scheme revealed, The Dynamic Duo must travel the planet to stop him and his Society of Shadows.
The Caped Crusader has truly met his match, a Batman villain with equal fighting ability, equal intellect, and equal passion to annihilate crime, but Ra's al Ghul's methods are far more extreme in his methods. Though Robin's role is small, it's a worthwhile watch regardless.
The Demon's Quest Part One (8.5)
"The Demon's Quest Part One" sees Robin and Talia al Ghul kidnapped by a mysterious figure, which inspires Batman to team with Ra's al Ghul to rescue them. This was the first time that Ra's al Ghul, the infamous League of Assassins, and their non-Gotham-based shenanigans appeared in non-comics media.
Robin seems to be little more than a plot device in the episode, but the well-being of the character drives the plot of the first half of this epic two-parter. Plus, this episode introduced one of Batman's greatest foes to a whole new legion of fans, and that has to count for something.
Growing Pains (8.5)
While his debut in "Sins of The Father" is a strong episode, a later story would give Tim Drake his first true trial. In "Growing Pains," Robin encounters a girl named Annie who is running away from her father. However, it soon becomes clear that her father is the villain known as Clayface.
What makes the episode pack a punch is that the audience truly cares about Robin and Annie, making the outcome all the more powerful. With an emotional twist and a true downer of an ending, "Growing Pains" is a tragedy that would make William Shakespeare proud.
I Am The Night (8.6)
Robin doesn't have a lot of screentime in "I Am The Night," but he does have an important role to play. The episode sees Batman going through an existential crisis, questioning his life decisions on the anniversary of his parents' murders, made worse when Jim Gordon is put into a coma.
Realizing that Batman is about to go off the deep end, perhaps even come close to killing someone, Alfred calls Dick Grayson, who talks Batman down. This scene is fantastic, rivaled only by the moment when Jim Gordon tells Batman he always wanted to be a hero like him, and Batman tells Jim that he is indeed a hero.
Robin's Reckoning Part Two (8.7)
While much of the acclaim for "Robin's Reckoning" is derived from the first half, it wouldn't be complete without the second. When Dick Grayson sets his eyes on his parents' killer, Tony Zucco, a fact most people forget about Robin, he'll stop at nothing to get his hands on him, all the while recalling the events that led to him becoming the Boy Wonder.
The flashbacks to the past are as strong as they are in the first part, but it's Dick Grayson's rage in the main storyline that truly helps the episode stand out. Fans often laud Kevin Conroy's performance as Batman, but too few talk about how good Loren Lester is as Robin, with "Robin's Reckoning Part Two" seeing him give one the show's most underrated performances.
Robin's Reckoning Part One (8.8)
Batman: The Animated Series was no stranger to the Emmy Awards, as it was nominated on numerous occasions, but "Robin's Reckoning Part One" took home the Emmy for outstanding animated program. The episode mostly focuses on Dick Grayson's past, showcasing the events surrounding the death of the Flying Graysons.
Showing a rare glimpse at a pre-Robin Batman universe, the flashbacks on display are both beautiful and haunting, with the entire production team firing on all cylinders. An unsung hero of the episode is Joey Simmrin, the actor who does a very good job playing a young Dick Grayson. He carries the role quite well and has stellar vocal chemistry with Kevin Conroy.
Old Wounds (8.9)
From Robin's debut to the end of his run, "Old Wounds" is one of the best episodes of The New Batman Adventures. Dick Grayson, having become the hero known as Nightwing, recounts how he abandoned the role of Robin after Batman went too far.
How those events are portrayed are best left unspoiled, but this episode is still a strong one, regardless of its famous ending. Seeing Dick in his Robin uniform once again is a satisfying nostalgic sensation, making the scene where he quits all the more heartbreaking.