His trusted friend, , tries to convince him that his memories of being a masked vigilante are merely delusional. The Twist: "Why I Can’t Read"

The 26th aired episode of Batman: The Animated Series Season 1 is titled It is widely regarded as one of the show's most emotionally complex and psychologically deep stories, frequently appearing on "best of" lists for the entire series. Episode Overview Original Air Date: October 19, 1992. Main Antagonist: The Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch).

Bruce Wayne wakes up to a world where his parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, were never murdered. In this "ideal" life:

It explores Bruce's tragic desire for a normal life and the crushing realization that his "happy" reality is a fabrication meant to keep him imprisoned.

The episode concludes with a dramatic confrontation in a bell tower amidst rain and lightning, where Bruce realizes he must "die" in the dream to wake up.