33 Years Later, This Batman: TAS Halloween Episode Still Has The Greatest Twist Ending Of All Time

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Though it first aired over 30 years ago, Batman: The Animated Series remains a beloved and highly-regarded portrayal of the character. The show masterfully brought the Batman universe to life with a distinctive style, thanks to memorable performances by Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. It skillfully balanced tackling serious subjects with lighthearted, festive episodes, all while appealing to a broad audience.

When it comes to holiday episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, “Christmas with The Joker” is the most well-known, especially because it was one of the earliest. Later in the series, after a visual update, “Holiday Knights” presented a story told through three separate segments featuring Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy, Batgirl & Clayface, and The Joker. Beyond Christmas, Batman also has strong ties to Halloween, as seen in films like The Batman and Batman Forever. Though many episodes capture the spirit of the holidays, one truly stands out: “Almost Got ‘Im.” This episode cleverly incorporates Halloween and features one of the biggest surprises in the show’s history.

“Almost Got ‘Im” Centered on Some of Batman’s Most Infamous Rogues

A standout feature of Batman: The Animated Series was how it portrayed Batman’s enemies. From Mark Hamill’s chilling yet funny Joker to the tragic backstory given to Mr. Freeze, the show remains the best example of how to adapt comic book villains. The series not only provided compelling origin stories for characters like Two-Face and featured new encounters with Scarecrow, but some episodes even included multiple villains. While many episodes showed quick glimpses of Batman’s foes locked away in Arkham Asylum, the episode “Almost Got ‘Im” was particularly memorable and is considered one of the series’ best.

“Almost Got ‘Im” was the 35th episode of Batman: The Animated Series, first broadcast in November 1992. Written by Paul Dini and directed by Eric Radomski, the episode cleverly showcased interactions between Batman’s classic foes – The Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, The Penguin, and Killer Croc. The storyline was particularly engaging because it initially presents a scenario where Batman is out of the picture, though that’s not quite the whole story. “Almost Got ‘Im” is a great example of how Batman: The Animated Series went beyond typical children’s programming, featuring a dark, film-noir atmosphere, especially within the setting of a smoky, underground poker game. The episode also stood out for its unique structure, using flashbacks to show moments where the villains almost defeated Batman.

During a poker game, the villains began sharing stories about their past encounters with Batman. Two-Face revealed how he once managed to steal Batman’s utility belt and trap him on a giant penny, though Batman ultimately escaped using Two-Face’s own coin and defeated him. Killer Croc then boasted about throwing a rock at Batman, a tale that didn’t impress the others. Finally, the Penguin claimed he almost defeated Batman by using poisoned birds.

The Halloween Element in “Almost Got ’Im”

The episode ‘Almost Got ‘Im’ is a fantastic team-up featuring villains, and it’s perfect for watching during Halloween. The spooky mood is enhanced by Poison Ivy’s story about her near-successful attempt to kill Batman.

Poison Ivy’s Halloween scheme involved using thousands of pumpkins to spread a poisonous gas. She weakened Batman with the gas and nearly revealed his secret identity, but he managed to escape by activating his Batmobile to pursue her. This story, ‘Almost Got ‘Im,’ is perfectly themed for Halloween and establishes the style and feel for the rest of the tales.

Beyond the Halloween backdrop inspired by Poison Ivy’s memories, this episode was perfect for spooky season thanks to its dark, film-noir style. It also featured a gathering of Batman’s most recognizable villains, each showing off their unique personality – except for one who was secretly among them.

The Batman: Animated Series Episode Also Included a Twist for the Ages

Okay, so “Almost Got ‘Im” wasn’t just about a bunch of bad guys hanging out on Halloween. It was cool seeing everyone share their stories of almost winning, but the real highlight was when Batman’s biggest enemy finally told us how he nearly took him down for good. It was a seriously epic reveal!

The Joker’s story happened most recently, the night before the poker game. He explained how he’d captured Batman and forced him to be the guest on a late-night talk show held hostage. The Joker rigged Batman to an electric chair, intending to power it with the audience’s laughter. But Catwoman unexpectedly crashed the show and created a distraction, allowing Batman to escape. The story ended on a suspenseful note, though, as Harley Quinn knocked Catwoman unconscious, and it was unclear what would happen to her.

The poker game concluded with The Joker as the winner, but Killer Croc immediately questioned him about Catwoman’s whereabouts. The Joker confessed he’d taken Catwoman to a cat food factory, intending to deal with her later. Suddenly, Killer Croc attacked The Joker, which clarified his earlier, seemingly random story – he was actually Batman in disguise. Batman revealed to the villains that the entire poker game was a police sting operation to locate Catwoman. Having found her, Batman rushed to the cat food factory to rescue her. Simultaneously, Commissioner Gordon, Harvey Bullock, and the police arrested the villains at the club. The episode heavily featured the villains, but ultimately concluded with Batman successfully saving Catwoman.

The surprise ending in “Almost Got ‘Im” is particularly clever because it highlights a rarely seen aspect of Batman’s abilities: his skills as a detective. Throughout the series, Batman often uses disguises, and Batman: The Animated Series uniquely showcased this talent in several episodes. This focus on Batman’s detective work is what makes the twist in “Almost Got ‘Im” so effective, as other versions of the character often overlook this crucial skill.

The episode “Almost Got ‘Im” is a prime example of why Batman: The Animated Series is still so popular today. It delved into the relationships between Batman’s enemies, who he consistently outsmarted, and featured a clever surprise that proved why Batman is known as the World’s Greatest Detective. Plus, it revealed how Batman acquired the giant penny displayed in the Batcave.

It’s amazing how much storytelling “Almost Got ‘Im” manages to fit into just 22 minutes. Many fans still consider it one of the very best episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, which is saying a lot considering how many other excellent episodes there are. The episode also showcases the incredible variety within the series as a whole. Batman: The Animated Series truly explored all facets of the Batman mythos, and remains the most complete and definitive version of the Dark Knight to this day.

Batman: The Animated Series wasn’t afraid to tackle really dark themes, like in the episode ‘Over the Edge,’ which dealt with the seemingly tragic fate of Barbara Gordon. The show also playfully acknowledged its roots with episodes like ‘Beware the Gray Ghost,’ even featuring Adam West himself as a voice actor. Throughout its run, the series was known for its daring stories, and ‘Almost Got ‘Im’ remains a particularly memorable episode thanks to its clever and enduring twist.

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2025-10-24 02:16