Heart of Ice (Batman: The Animated Series)

Heart of Ice is an episode of Batman: The Animated Series and the 14th episode of the show's first season. It's considered by many to be the best episode of the entire series.

Plot
Mr. Freeze, a former scientist who requires sub-zero temperatures to survive after an accident involving cryogenic chemicals, seeks revenge against the man who ruined his life, Ferris Boyle, and it's up to Batman to stop Mr. Freeze. However, during his investigation, he finds that Mr. Freeze has another reason for revenge, one that causes Batman to have some sympathy for the icy villain.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) This is the first episode of the series to be written by Paul Dini and directed by Bruce Timm.
 * 2) Excellent writing that makes you sympathize with Freeze and become disgusted by Ferris Boyle's corruption and greed.
 * 3) One of the few times in the show that Batman has ever shown sympathy towards one of his foes, though it doesn't stop him from subduing Freeze.
 * 4) Although Mr. Freeze was created in 1959, he was commonly portrayed as one of the many joke villains fought by Batman and Robin. However, this episode gave him a tragic backstory that has since become his official origin in the comics.
 * 5) * In fact, one of the few things that the critically-panned mh:awfulmovies:Batman & Robin got right was giving Mr. Freeze his tragic backstory from the animated series.
 * 6) In the end, although Freeze doesn't get his wish of killing him, Batman manages to destroy Ferris Boyle's reputation by exposing him as a fraud and a murderer.
 * 7) The incredibly tearjerking ending, as shown in the quote above.

Reception
"Heart of Ice" is universally considered to be one of the best episodes, if not the best, of Batman: The Animated Series. The tragic backstory of Mr. Freeze has since become official DC canon, and has been adapted into numerous comic books and videogames.

Trivia

 * Paul Dini and Bruce Timm stated in an interview that, if they could change one thing about this episode, they would have ended it with Freeze weeping in his cell at Arkham as his tears freeze and turn into snowflakes that slowly settle on the musical figurine of Nora.