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Review by James Lindorf
Batman is no stranger to animation. Not only that, but the 90s cartoon “Batman: The Animated Series” is likely the most universally beloved iteration of the character. Fans of the now 30-year-old show can rejoice as its creator, Bruce Timm, is teaming with J.J. Abrams and Prime Video for a new series. “Batman: Caped Crusader” premiers August 1st and is a must-watch as it manages to be both a retro treat for long-time fans and a reimagining of several iconic characters.
Reuniting Timm and Batman seems like an easy sale to any studio. However, after first being announced as an HBO Max series in 2021, WB eventually passed on the project, giving Amazon’s Prime Video a chance to swoop in and be a hero. Overall, this is another rehash of the story that has been told dozens of times. After a family tragedy, socialite Bruce Wayne transforms into The Batman, where his crusade for justice spawns unforeseen ramifications. Still, Timm, the rest of the creative team, and a talented cast help the show stand out from the crowd through its setting and its take on the characters.
“Batman: Caped Crusader” is not a clone or continuation of “Batman: The Animated Series.” Gone is the anachronistic blend of supercomputers, pay phones, and Tommy guns. In its place is a fully embraced 1940s period piece. The look and feel of the show is inspired by the movies, the clothes, the cars, the architecture, and the level of technology available at that time. The series is beautifully drawn, like “B:TAS,” which gives a sense of familiarity and comfort while also being exciting, like returning to your hometown after being away for years. The 1940s setting is also perfect for Batman. The age of noir is where the world’s greatest detective belongs, and it can let him show off his intelligence because the best money could buy 80 years ago isn’t all that impressive by today’s standards.
“Batman: Caped Crusader” may not have the start-studded cast some animated properties manage to put together, but what they often lack in name recognition, they make up for in talent. Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass) stars as the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne, with Jamie Chung (Stone Cold Fox) as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Diedrich Bader (Harley Quinn) as Two-Face, and Mckenna Grace (The Haunting of Hill House) as Natalia Knight. But that doesn’t mean there are not names and voices you might recognize, most notably Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets) as Catwoman, Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) as Oswalda Cobblepot, and Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense) in a yet-to-be-disclosed role.
People will accuse the casting department of going woke with an Asian Harley Quinn, James and Barbara Gordan being Black, and The Penguin being a woman. But the facts are this was a brilliant move. They took sidekicks and villains that most people don’t identify with and used them to open the story to an even larger audience. Then, they gave the characters top-notch acting and writing, making them memorable contributors to the series and Batman lore. They even tweaked Batman himself a little. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Timm said of Bruce, “he’s a really weird human being.” “He’s not obsessed with his parents’ murder, but it changed him in a way where he’s still not adjusted to being a human being. He’s literally Batman; inside, that’s who he is. Whenever he’s Bruce Wayne, that’s not just him with a mask off, that’s him wearing a person suit. He’s trying to pretend to be something that he’s not.” People have said this in passing while discussing the character, but that personality type has never been as well or thoroughly portrayed as it is here.
“Batman: Caped Crusader” is a very good series, with its only fault coming from the fact that each episode is only about 24 minutes long in a villain of the week setup. I haven’t finished the season yet, so maybe they will start to tie together a larger story. But as of right now, while I am enjoying every episode, I wish they had time to go even deeper into the mysteries and deeper into the characters, which would push the show from a 4.5 out of five into the realm of perfection.
