Batman: The Animated Series

I found this episode to be hilarious as a kid. The Joker was just flat out insane and funny. Me and my cousins used to watch this all the time and I still like to watch it every Christmas eve. If you have not seen this episode of Batman the Animated Series then I recommend it, especially if you are a Joker or Batman fan. I personally find this episode quite grim, for the Joker's jokes and ways of torture were cleverly made twisted and sick in a way that would not harm or scare a child. Also, the opening song sang by the Joker was pretty epic. The lyrics were of course "Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg. The Batmobile lost it's wheel and the Joker got away".

"Christmas with the Joker" is one of my favorite episodes of the Batman series. It is fun to watch because it shows another side to Bruce Wayne/Batman character. We see that even though he tinkers in darkness, he does perform some human stuff like spend Christmas with Robin and eating Christmas dinner. And also it is fun because of the Joker who puts a damper on the holiday season.



But most folk miss the real deal of the episode. It is not to commit murder and mayhem to run Batman crazy on Christmas Eve. The train crashing and the observatory telescope shooting at the city to hurt folks is just the icing on the cake. Joker's real objective is to just lure Batman in order to throw a pie in his face and laugh about it. It is as simple as that. No more, no less. If people get hurt like on the train, in the city and his hostages, Commissioner Gordon, Bullock and Summer Gleason, so be it.



His objective is just to get Bats' goat when he can. He is totally obssessed with him. This is a very entertaining episode if one just sits down and actually looks at it with out preconceived notions.

This is one of the best episodes with the Joker and we get a hint of his psychology as well. Since Christmas is all about family and neighbors gathering around, why else would the Joker kidnapped a family of his own to torture anyway he wants too? Remember, in this version, the Joker is demented due to abuse from his father (JUST this version! They didn't say anything about abuse in the comics).



I also love the references of "It's A Wonderful Life" and Robin cleverly pointed out about the topic of the film. Indeed, the film was about how one man can make a difference for his city. I also love the comment about Ebenezer Scrooge (well, he sure acted like Scrooge throughout most of the ep).



This is a well done Christmas episode and who'd best celebrate it with none other then the Joker himself?

This was a good episode , but doesn't live up to its predessesor "On Leather Wings" the animation can get a little off at times , paticularly a scene in which Batman is using a baseball bat to bat away some of the toys and the Joker isn't used to his full potential , but this is forgivable seeing as how this is his first appearance and the producers probably hadn't quite figured him out yet , plus Mark Hamil is there to bring the role to life. But aside from that it is a good Christmas episode, plus the Jokers plan is a good example to show just how sick and twisted he is.

I have to tell you the truth I kind of dislike Christmas specials because there always about families,coming together,and happy moments,but this I can make an exeption for because this is not about families or coming together this is about the crazy City of Gotham and how there is never any peace of mind,but only total destruction and mayhem when the Crazy Prince of Crime is on the loose,thats right Joker escapes The Arkham Asylum and go's family hunting,he ends up catching Detective Harvey Bullock,Reporter Summer Gleason,and Commissioner Gordon,then he plans to kill them unless Batman and Robin can stop him.This episode is great because of the Joker and how he wants to destroy a Happy Christmas in Gotham City,also because this episode shows great detective work from Batman and Robin,and you put that all together you got yourself a superb Christmas special.

I don't think anyone can argue that Joker is Batman's top nemesis. If you're a fan of the comics, you know that Joker's taken just about everything from Batman that he can, and the movies have placed him as the murderer of Bruce Wayne's family. Naturally, the cartoons - while dark in nature - can't go that dark, but Joker is still pretty twisted whenever he shows up in an episode. And with him at the helm of his very own Christmas special, you just know that it's going to be bizarre.



While this episode does have a neat premise, it's not on of my favorites. I think that's because I'm too much of a stickler for details, and a number of things in this episode just got under my skin, even though it's a cartoon and certain licenses had to be taken. For instance, in the beginning of this episode, Joker escapes from Arkham with a rocket-powered Christmas tree. How the heck did that get past the security guard's notice? Inmates may escape from Arkham with alarming frequency, but that's stretching it a bit! The other thing that bugged me is the observatory telescope turning into a cannon. Joker was out of Arkham for, what, a day? How'd he manage that piece of hocus pocus?



Anyway, silliness aside, I have to admit that this episode does give a clear cut example of Batman using his noggin rather than just relying on the Bat-Computer to solve his problems. Initially he uses his computer to track down the source of the Joker's broadcast signal, only to wind up leading himself and Robin into a trap. Then he notices that a toy Joker has on his show has been out of production for 14 years, and they use that to find the Joker's headquarters. Very slick.



All in all, it's not a horrible episode, but it's not one of my top favorites in this series.

The Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum, and takes over the city's airwaves to broadcast his own Christmas special. To make matters worse, he kidnaps Commissioner Gordon, Summer Gleason and Detective Bullock, then challenges Batman and Robin to find them before midnight, or they die. The Clown Prince of Crime even delays the Dynamic Duo with several distractions to waste time.



If you bored of the usual Xmas specials this year, watch this for a change. Dark, humourous and deliriously unhinged.

This is the best introduction to a villain episode, I’ve seen on the show. It is the best Joker episode, hands down. Joker plus Christmas equals a goood. The Joker is a great rival for Batman, because of his unpredictability and his attacks that make no sense to anyone, but him. The Joker loves challenging Batman, that’s how he gets all his jollies, and we(the fans) love him for that.



The Joker escapes from Arkham, via rocket X-mas tree. Immediately after, he broadcasts “Christmas with the Joker”, his own twisted Christmas special. The Joker has taken hostage Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock, and reporter Summer Gleeson. Batman and Robin must get to the studio before midnight , and save the hostages, before Joker kills them. Joker implants distraction, of course so they won’t make it in time, he destroys train tracks and B&R must save the passengers in the coming train, before it crashes, they do, obviously. Batman eventually tracks down Joker signal, but is really a trap, that they must escape from, again, they do. The episode ends with B&R saving the day, and capturing Joker, good episode.



I found it interesting that Batman and Robin find out Joker’s real location thru good detective work, and not technology. They notice the Betty Blooper doll, and find that the Joker was hiding in an old toy company. Tracking the signal didn’t help, it was there intelligence, and mental training. This is a classic setting for Joker and Batman and Robin, Joker threatens the safety of the people of Gotham, Batman and Robin work together and thwart Joker’s plans, it’s not totally original, when you get to the essence of it, but it’s good, because of the setting it’s placed in, Christmas time, lots of goodies for Joker to play with, lots of wholesome stuff that he can twist and bend to turn into a sick, and sadistic plot to kill, and destroy. That’s why I love the Joker, he takes boring things, like Christmas specials, and makes it his own. The episode is good, because it show the essence of what Joker is, it shows good team work between B&R, it has great writing and great animation. It’s a favorite of mine, and always shall be.