Top 10 Darkest Cartoon Network Episodes
Darkest Cartoon Network Episodes
Top 10 Darkest Nickelodeon Episodes
Behind the bright animation and loveable characters, cartoons can have a dark side. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Darkest Cartoon Network Episodes. For this list, we’ll be looking at some of the darkest and most thought-provoking episodes ever aired on the Cartoon Network.
#10: “Filet of Soul” “Dexter's Laboratory” (1996-2003)
Death isn’t inherently dark. After all, it’s a natural part of life! But when Dee Dee and Dexter’s pet goldfish, Fishy, passes away, the brother and sister duo is left to deal with the fallout. The family decides it’s best to simply flush Fishy down the toilet, but Dee Dee and Dexter decide to leave him out for the night. Fishy’s spirit begins haunting the house, and the siblings are confronted with their demonic toilet. Seeing Fishy’s lifeless form and contemplating the souls of the deceased is anything but lighthearted.
#9: “Jack and the Haunted House” “Samurai Jack” (2001-04; 2017)
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When Jack stumbles upon a large, run-down estate after following a crying girl into it, the audience knows they’re in for a classic haunted house tale. After suffering strange visions while looking for her, Jack sits down with a family to share a pot of tea. Things seem innocent enough, but really, nothing is ever as it seems. The room begins to warp, and through a series of black and white flashing scenes, we see Jack confront an ever-morphing supernatural being. The lack of dialogue paired with the distorted sounds of screaming and thunder create an unforgettable scene and really captivates the audience with its visual intricacy. The family’s tragic backstory, paired with the urgency of Jack’s mission to save their souls, makes for a gripping episode.
#8: “The Night” “The Amazing World of Gumball” (2011-)
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We go to sleep every night, but how many of us consider the thoughts that take over our brain during this time? This episode explores the Elmore residents' dreams, and as we look into each character's mind, we encounter some pretty unnerving stuff. Although there's some comic relief thrown in, like Richard imagining himself as a piece of dough being made into a bun, we also see things like Gumball falling through the sky with no support in sight. "The Night" also explores the divide between our conscious and subconscious, like when Larry acts foolishly in front of a cop because he thinks he's dreaming, only to get thrown in jail.
#7: “Speed Demon” “The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-2005)
In this episode, what starts out as a friendly race between sisters turns into a horrifying odyssey through time. After travelling 50 years into the future, the Powerpuff Girls find themselves in a dystopian society: the demonic HIM has taken over Townsville, and the citizens are suffering in their absence. This episode reveals the true weight of the Powerpuff Girls’ responsibilities. In particular, the scene where the townspeople blame the girls for letting them down illustrates the immense amount of guilt the girls must hold for the times when they couldn’t protect their people.
#6: “Holly Jolly Secrets” “Adventure Time” (2010-18)
The secrets revealed in these 2 episodes are anything but holly jolly! Finn and Jake vow to discover the Ice King’s secret and even fight off an army of snowmen to keep access to his precious VHS tapes. Eventually, the Ice King relents, and the three sit down to watch his life story unfold. We find out that the king was once a man named Simon Petrikov, who fell prey to the allure of a powerful but dangerous crown. Watching his mental state deteriorate is heartbreaking because we have the power of hindsight. Suddenly, it becomes clear that the Ice King threw everything in his life away, including his fiancee, because of the pull of the crown.
#5: “Change Your Mind” “Steven Universe” (2013-19)
Steven is no stranger to tackling problems around the universe, but in this episode, he faces his biggest challenge: his family. Steven comes to realize the reason Pink Diamond left home, as he witnesses first hand how abusive Blue Diamond - who acted like her mother - was. Through the character of White Diamond, who also had a mother-daughter type relationship with Pink, “Change Your Mind” reveals how parents or parental figures are often unaware of how they’re creating a toxic home environment for their children and may only realize the error of their ways when it’s too late. Just as Pink Diamond was rejected by her family, Steven struggles with his sense of identity and searches for acceptance. Although Steven finds peace and an accepting family in the end, his journey is filled with a rollercoaster of emotions.
#4: “Freaky Fred” “Courage the Cowardly Dog” (1999-2002)
When Fred arrives in town, we’re not really sure what’s off about him; all we know is that he gives us the creeps. From his slow, nursery-rhyme like narration to his knowing smile, it’s no wonder Courage wants nothing to do with him. Eventually, we find out that Fred’s preferred pastime is shaving people’s hair against their will, and soon, Courage becomes his latest victim. Witnessing Courage, all pink and newly shaved, with a tiny tuft of hair left on his tail isn’t a pleasant sight, and watching Fred gleefully shave Courage really makes us wonder what’s going on inside his mind.
#3: “Haunted” “Teen Titans” (2003-)
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How do we know if something’s real? What if it’s just our brain playing tricks on us? After confronting his nemesis, Slade, in the woods, Robin is convinced that Slade has returned for good. The only problem is that no one believes him, and soon, his friends think that he’s going crazy. Eventually, the uncertainty begins to take a major mental toll on Robin, to the point where he wakes up and finds himself in an infirmary, restrained to his bed. Overall, this episode is a chilling look into Robin’s mind that reveals the full extent of his obsession with Slade.
#2: “Twisted Sister” “The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-2005)
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Everyone knows Bubbles, Buttercup, and Blossom, but did you know about the fourth Powerpuff Girl, Bunny? The girls decide to create a fourth sister to help them protect the city, but after an incident in the lab, their new sibling comes out looking a little… different. Despite this, they send her out to fight crime, and she inevitably gets into trouble. Even though she ultimately ends up saving her sisters’ lives, Bunny is ostracized, and the episode ends with her exploding because of her unstable nature. Watching Bunny come into the world only to be used and tossed aside tugged on heartstrings and really made us question the Powerpuff Girls’ values. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Only a Dream” - “Justice League” (2001-04) What’s More Terrifying Than a Villain Who Can Attack You in Your Dreams? “Terror Tales of the Park V” - “Regular Show” (2010-17) These Halloween Specials Never Fail to Surprise Us “Meeseeks and Destroy” - “Rick and Morty” (2013-) Because Hiring Blue Humanoids to do Your Bidding Is Never a Good Idea “Nightmare Hospital” - “Steven Universe” (2013-19) Nothing Good Ever Comes from Sneaking Into a Hospital “Birthmark” - “Teen Titans” (2003- Because Birthdays Aren’t Always Cause for Celebration
#1: “Perfect” “Courage the Cowardly Dog” (1999-2002)
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There's almost nothing as dark as confronting your own self-loathing. In this series finale, Courage is forced to reflect on his own shortcomings and failures after accidentally messing up a few small tasks at home. Rather than forgiving himself, Courage is plagued with anxiety, and his internal monologue becomes increasingly negative until he begins having nightmares. Many fans will recognize the horrifying monster that appears to hauntingly remind Courage that he's not perfect. Although there's a positive resolution, Courage's mental journey is an uneasy reflection of a nearly universal fear of falling short of our own and others' expectations.
