Best and Worst Joker Episodes of the Series

[Avenger90]

Hi guys,

Not logged on here for a while. However, with the lockdown continuing here in the UK, I have recently turned to my old friend, the Batman TV series DVD box set, to cheer me up!

After not watching for probably a couple of years now, i'm loving it all over again! So i thought i'd get a new topic going. From what i can see, i don't think there has been a best and worst topic recently, but correct me if i'm wrong.

I've been watching a few Joker eps recently and so thought i'd see what are people's favorite and least favorite joker adventure of the whole series and why. I plan to hopefully do similar threads for the other 3 main villains - Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman.

Joker adventures;

- The Joker is Wild/Batman is Riled
-The Joker goes to School/He meets his match, the Grisly Ghoul
-The Joker trumps an Ace/Batman sets the Pace
-The Impractical Joker/The Joker's Provokers
-The Zodiac Crimes/The Joker's Hard Times/The Penguin Declines
-The Joker's Last Laugh/The Joker's Epitaph
-Pop Goes the Joker/Flop goes the Joker
-Surfs up, Joker's under
-The Funny Feline Felonies/The Jokes on Catwoman
-The Joker's Flying Saucer

My favorite
I think it's got to be the first adventure of the clown prince of crime - Joker is Wild/Batman is Riled. This is one of the ones i have watched again recently, and i love it. One thing i find interesting is Cesar's performance - I've always felt he plays the joker quite menacing here, compared to later performances. I don't know what it is, but even the laugh seems quite freaky - when he's playing the ball game in prison at the start, and when he comes out of the statue in the museum. I don't feel like that about the character throughout the rest of the series. Compare it to the Pop goes the Joker episodes from late season 2, where the character seems more comical. I also like the scenery/settings in this pair of episodes (Joker's hideout/the opera), and that noir feel to the episodes, which was a fixture of a lot of the season one episodes, but i think it's especially effective here.

My least favorite
Most people would probably go for a Joker adventure from season three as one of the worst. However, i quite like all of joker's third season adventures (Surfs up i like, his team up with Eartha as Catwoman and, yes, the flying saucer ep too is a fun little story. Some of this though might be to do with the presence of Batgirl, who brightens up any episode for me).
So, my least favorite has got to me The Joker's Last Laugh/The Joker's Epitaph. I don't think it's a bad pair of episodes by any means, I just think it's the joker story i find probably the least entertaining. Other eps such as the key adventure, the maharaja caper and even pop goes the joker/flop goes the joker, all have something that beats this pair to the contender for least favorite. It's not bad, just more forgettable than the rest.

Would be good to hear other peoples thoughts.

[dell]

I'll have to ponder which is my favorite, but my least favorite is the Flying Saucer episode. Just stupid.

[greatlakes6]

I'll have to ponder which is my favorite, but my least favorite is the Flying Saucer episode. Just stupid.

Agreed.

[High C]

It's difficult for me to pick just one of each. I prefer the more sinister Joker of season 1, although I think Cesar Romero always gave a good effort.

I guess the best arc, if we combine script, ambience and performance, was Joker Goes To School from season 1. I like the idea of Joker corrupting youngsters and the fact that he was willing to poison his cheerleader henchmoll with perfume was pretty evil. The maharajah arc is uneven, but it has a great line reading from Cesar about the poison gas when Robin says you can't swim in gas. Joker: 'No, but you can drown!'

For worst, the UFO one is dumb, although Cesar is worth watching. But if suffers from the season 3 problem of where's the profit coming from? Surf''s Up is equally stupid, but it's more amusing, IMO.

[Ben Bentley]

Not only is Cesar is a pro, through and through; his performances and commitment to delivering 100% despite Season Three's best attempts to vanquish the last breaths of many involved are an even bigger testimony to the magic he brought to the mix.

So if I was to try and order from my favorite to least Joker adventures, it would look something like this... (if you asked me today at least)

1. Joker Is Wild
   
   2. Joker Goes To School
   
   3. Pop Goes The Joker
   
   4. Joker Trumps an Ace
   
   5. The Zodiac Crimes
   
   6. The Joker's Last Laugh
   
   7. Impractical Joker
   
   8. Surf's Up
   
   9. Joker's Flying Saucer
   
   10. Funny Feline Felonies (Ranking last simply because Cesar is shoehorned in and wildly underused)

[Scott Sebring]

Completely personal fun viewing order preference.

1. Joker Is Wild
2. Joker Goes To School
3. Joker Trumps an Ace
4. Surf's Up
5. The Zodiac Crimes
6. Pop Goes The Joker
7. The Joker's Last Laugh
8. Impractical Joker
9. Joker's Flying Saucer
10. Funny Feline Felonies (What Ben said)

[Dan E Kool]

I guess the best arc, if we combine script, ambience and performance, was Joker Goes To School from season 1.

Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well. Agreed 100.