Batman: Caped Crusader review - A breath of fresh air for Gotham is essential watching
Batman: Caped Crusader has been on Prime Video for a few days now and it took all of my willpower not to binge it in one day. I desperately wanted to stretch out my enjoyment and savour the show which only runs for 10 episodes, each around 30 minutes in length. There was a lot of expectation going into this show, from me and plenty of Batman fans.
As a spiritual successor to Batman: The Animated Series, hopes were high that we could hit the giddy pinnacle of that show and do something amazing with the legacy of the DC hero. From the first episode, I knew the show was something special. The animation is clean and feasts on a palette of sombre colours, darker shades, and gloom that fits Gotham completely. Batman looks incredible in this style, particularly when standing in full-frame, drawn with hard angles and firm straight lines that emphasise his stature and commanding air.
But this is an early Batman. More Year Zero than Year One, thereabouts. He’s finding his feet, establishing trust, learning his limitations, and how to handle his trauma. Thankfully, it’s not another origin story and the show is stronger for that. We’re learning more about how Bruce is coping and dealing with his own demons. A moment that comes late in the season shows Batman with a gun in his hand, and my hat is off to the animators who managed to show the internal struggles of Bruce as he decides whether to show leniency.
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However, while Batman is the star of the show, he rarely speaks and shows up only when desperately needed. The creators are letting Gotham breathe, allowing the supporting cast to step up and shine. If we get straight to the bones of the thing, Hamish Linklater does a stellar job as the Dark Knight. He had huge shoes to fill after the death of the legendary Kevin Conroy and he managed to create his own version of the hero while still paying homage to Conroy.
Linklater’s gruff but reserved Batman is supported on all sides by talented actors slotting into fully developed roles. Diedrich Bader is a showstopper as Harvey Dent, lending a delightful amount of smugness to the role, while Eric Morgan Stuart manages to give a commanding performance as Commissioner Gordan.
The season opens strong with a gender-flipped version of The Penguin voiced unexpectedly by Minnie Driver, who has the bravado and menace of the classic villain. Throughout the season, we get glimpses of great villains, all of whom come up against Batman, of course, but usually have to make their way past Barbara Gordan or Renee Montoya too, brought to life by Krystal Joy Brown and Michelle C. Bonilla respectively - both wonderful and confident in their roles.
We get a look at Clayface, Harley Quinn, and Catwoman, among others. Each is a fresh take on classic villains that feel fitting for the show. Quinn, for example, has no backstory given for her choice of name and costume, she’s just there which is refreshing. Batman: Caped Crusader doesn’t need to tell us who these people are. We’ve either grown up or grown old with these characters and while they have an air of freshness via different ethnic backgrounds or new motivations, they’re still the characters we love.
A second season is surely a given, especially as this season ends at such an epic moment, and there is plenty of room to grow. Batman, and Bruce, have plenty of maturing to do. His relationships with others can and will develop, all while his enemies grow bolder. But the show does keep a lot of things grounded, despite the supernatural powers seeping through via the enemies.
As I said above, this is a show about Gotham just as much as Batman. It’s an ensemble show with a variety of characters who can easily take control of future episodes. As a foundation for moving forward, this is a brilliant place to start.
There are a couple of weaker episodes, but they still carry a weight of importance even if their villains are ultimately a bit forgettable. Frustratingly, the show gets its wheels spinning just as it's coming to an end, but it left me hungry for more, especially after seeing the story of Harvey Dent move through a wealth of emotional moments.
It’s not afraid to be camp or lean into humour when needed, and the show will ratchet up the tension at points. With Bruce Timm attached and taking a hand in production, it harks back to the golden days of Batman: The Animated Series. The show is brimming with homages and nods to the past for long-time fans and it’s all carried through a noir or hard-boiled lens. This is very much Batman as a detective and aspiring hero, rather than the bombastic godlike figure of recent films.
This is a superb version of Batman and one that, despite its 1930/1940s setting, feels perfect for a modern audience. The bitesize stories have that ‘monster of the week’ feel, while still running a longer plot throughout to keep you coming back. It’s smart, looks great, sounds even better, and establishes that every character is as important as Batman, while still keeping the spotlight on the Dark Knight. It’s essential watching for fans of the long-running hero.
Topics: Batman, Amazon, Warner Bros, DC, DC Comics