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Batman: The Animated Series

Dreams in Darkness

Season 1, Episode 31, Aired Nov 03, 1992

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8.1

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Batman must stop the Scarecrow from poisoning Gotham City's water supply with his fear toxin while suffering from hallucinations and being locked up in Arkum Asylum.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Ron Taylor (II)

Orderly
GUEST STAR
Loren Lester

Robin
GUEST STAR
Richard A. Dysart

Dr. Bartholomew

Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Alfred Pennyworth
Kevin Conroy

Bruce Wayne / Batman

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Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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Dream Demons

9.5

"Superb"

By sh811a, May 26, 2011

This is one of my top ten favorate episodes which I think is underrated. This is one that is once again sort of in the horror area, it's pritty much Batman doing "Jacob's Ladder" like in that film it was about a vietnam vet that was seeing hallusinations of demons and all sorts of messed up things.

Though I'll admit the only bad thing about the episode is Batman's being admited to the Asylum legally it doesn't make sense, let alone the fact his mask is still on.

In a way this episode gets at issues of post tramatic stress, the blurry line between sanity and insanity, but most of all Bruce/Batman's troubled psyche. You really feel sympahy for Bruce/Batman because like in all suspense thrillers your on the protagonists side and the ones that are supposedly rashional are always wrong. The Doctor I'll admit I really didn't like and that's the point, he always had that calm voice like someone that has taken Zantac or Valium he keeps saying that Batman has gone insane. But we know he's wrong and at time I almost wanted to yell "Batman's not crazy, believe him he's telling the truth." This once again gets at the problimatic perception of sanity and insanity, the doctor's perception is unreliable because he can't see from Batman's viewpoint.

I really loved how the animation in the hallusigenic sequences you really felt the same things Batman was feeling where you weren't sure what was happening was real or not.

One hallusination sequence which I thought was heartwrenching was when we see, Bruce/Batman running for his parients trying to stop them from going into the tunnel. But they go in and suddenly we see it's the mussle of a gun and it then pours out lava/blood and it shoots at Batman. This is something I can almost emphasize with because this vision gets at that common problem where there may have been some part of our lives we wish we could go back to and do somewhat differently, Bruce/Batman I can tell always wishes he could go back to save his parients the fact he can't makes that vision all the more heartwrenching.

There are always good dreams but also bad dreams that lurk inside us, waiting to come out.moreless
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A great character study of both the Scarecrow and Batman with some great moments that established the overall series.

9.0

"Superb"

By colonel_forte, May 26, 2011

The animation and cinematography of this particular episode was far above par for just about anything on television at the time, live-action or animated. The detail that went into the episode, from the writing (references to the Batman film) to the character designs themselves (Scarecrow can\'t compare to his previous versions up to that point) was all superb. My favorite part was when Dr. Bartholomew called Joker, \"Jack Napier.\" (Jack Napier was the Joker\'s real-name in \"Batman\" the 1989 film). This was a perfect episode for the finale of the Volume 1 DVD collection too. I had to go out that very same day and buy Volume 2 just to see how Scarecrow of Volume 2 compared to this episode.moreless
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A great, dark, iconic episode.

9.1

"Superb"

By drdestiny, May 26, 2011

Dreams in Darkness has a great narrative, an interesting plot element, beautiful art, and great writing. What more could you ask for?

Scarecrow is the villian here, and that means hallucinations. The hallucinations in this episode are artistic, dark and perfectlly fit with the series. The narritive elements are also original, and the episode maintains a near consitent quality right through to the last seconds.

The only weak point is, ironically, the Scarecrow himself. While his portrayal in this episode is functional, he still could have been flushed-out more, even with the time constraints.

This is a great episode to introduce someone to the series. The dark, serious, and mature nature of this show are showcased here, all the while keeping the viewers attention until the end.moreless
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Batman is locked up in Arkam, and no one believes him that a prisoner is on the lose that will toxicate the whole city. Batman to the rescue but he has to face the toxin that is already in his blood.moreless

9.5

"Superb"

By Mustanged, May 26, 2011

This was a really nice episode, its not everyday that Batman is locked up in Arkam with the ciminals. What I find most interesting about his episode is the the plot is so similar to the Batman Begin Movie in 2005. In the movie the Scarecrow contaminated the city's water supply that is in Arkam to drive the whole city into fear -- not knowing that Ras Al Ghul had a different plan with the water supply. In this episode the Scarecrow was trying to contaminate the city's water supply in Arkam's resovor but is stoped my Batmanmoreless
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Terribly done

6.0

"Fair"

By RickyDavis, Sep 05, 2009

This ep doesn't make a ton of sense to me. Batman starts out in a cell and starts to tell us about a flashback (never mind that he doesn't end in a cell but in his own bed). We find at the beginning that Batman is exposed to a gas that causes him to hallucinate. He doesn't want to be put asleep for two days to heal so he lets the halluncinations get stronger and ends up in Arkham. So the first question is...where is Robin? Batman has hallucinations of him so we know he's around. Secondly, when he gets into Arkham, no one believes him..this is Batman we're talking about here. He has to have at least some apologists there. The doctor at Arkham tells Batman the police will take care of the Scarecrow who has escaped yet when Batman escapes himself later to confront the scarecrow, there is no sign of the police. I guess we can presume the doctor lied to Batman but if the scarecrow had actually escaped than I doubt a sane doctor would throw away Batman's explanation of what the Scarecrow might be doing so easily. So there is a ton in this ep that doesn't fit together all that well. Good plot and storyline. It's a shame it wasn't done better.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (4)
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- Robin has one brief line in this episode. Batman believes that he is on the road but it is an hallucination. Later, Batman thinks that Robin can help him, but he refuses. Except these passages, Robin is not seen or mentioned.
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- Arkham Asylum houses psychopathic killers. Why would they have easily detachable fire axes mounted on the walls?
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- Batman cuts his way out of a straightjacket. Being an accomplished escape artist, shouldn't Batman be able to get out of a straight jacket on his own?
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- Towards the end of the episode, a doctor fills a syringe and the color of the fluid jumps suddenly to orange. The position of the syringe jumps as well.
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QUOTES (4)
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- Batman: (Batman is hallucinating) Robin, Alfred, you've got to help me.
  Robin: It's too late for that, Bruce. You've lived in darkness too long.
  Alfred: Yes, do come along, Master Bruce, it's time to go home.
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- Dr. Bartholomew: I think this plot is just another delusion and deep down you believe so too. Otherwise, why come to Arkham? The one place where costumed delusional personalities can receive compassionate help.
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- Batman: Some thought I'd gone mad. Others thought I always had been, and so they put me where they thought I belonged.
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- The Scarecrow: An entire city screaming in fear. I wonder if we'll be able to hear it.
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NOTES (4)
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- This is the second episode in this series in which Batman is affected by one of the Scarecrow's toxins. The first was Nothing to Fear and the third is not until the "Batman Gotham Knights" episode Never Fear.
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- This episode is episode 28 on the Batman: The Animated Series Volume 1 DVD.
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- Last episode featuring the Scarecrow as the main villain. The Joker, Two-face, Poison Ivy and The Penguin appear also in this episode but don't have dialogue.
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- This episode along with "Beware The Grey Ghost" was released on VHS as The New Adventures Of Batman & Robin: Batman.
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ALLUSIONS (2)
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- Batman's Ravings: No Robin... It's a trap... JOKER HAS A BOMB! This is a reference to the Batman comic book event "A Death in the Family" where the second Robin, Jason Todd, was killed in a explosion caused by the Joker.
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- Tim Burton's Batman Dr. Batholomew: Jack Napier, Harvey Dent, Pamela Isley- or as you call them, the Joker, Two-Face and Poison Ivy... Jack Napier was the Joker's real name in Batman (1989), although in the comics his true name remains unknown. Although this episode suggests that Jack Napier is also the animated Joker's true name, Joker mentions it is just another alias much later in the series.
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