The Dark Knight Shines Bright

Can you believe it’s been over a decade since Batman headlined an animated series? (Or rather, one that wasn’t for toddlers?) The Dark Knight remains a key part of DC Comics and Warner Bros’ plans, but he’s been kept to films–animated or otherwise–for so long that it’s easy to forget how much the character thrived on the small screen. As such, Batman: Caped Crusader feels even more special than the already strange circumstances of its existence–initially made for Max, then cast aside by WB Discovery before Prime Video eventually swooped in and saved it.

Previous Batman shows came out with a big hook behind them, and in Caped Crusader’s case, it’s being set in the 1940s, with all the noir that implies. Batman and the rest of Gotham City fit with the time period pretty well, which gives the show a distinct, pulpy feel that beefs up the detective side of the character. A pair of episodes in the season even make him more of a side player to focus on Barbara Gordon and the Gotham PD, which helps enhance the show’s noir stylings and stand out among the pack. There’s a genuine effort to make Batman a force of nature, but not overpowered as he can eventually become in more modern stories. In presenting him as a regular guy rather than a walking technology arsenal, it makes the moments where he does research or goes out into the world as Bruce Wayne to get information all the more satisfying to see.

Caped Crusader has an old school sensibility, much of which can be owed to the creative forces behind it. Its executive producers are Batman: The Animated Series alums Bruce Timm and James Tucker, along with The Batman director Matt Reeves and Criminal co-creator Ed Brubaker as head writer. As a result, the show is very focused, and doesn’t really have B or C-plots for its supporting cast. If something isn’t related to Batman, the GCPD, or the villain of the episode, it doesn’t get much play. It works for the most part and keeps things from getting unwieldy, along with helping it evoke the feeling of old DC cartoons on KidsWB and Cartoon Network back in DC’s animated heyday. But when it doesn’t work, it can feel like the show’s cutting off parts of itself to fit what it can into the new mold of a 10-episode season under the classic 22-24 minute runtime.

The “case of the week” format fits with what the show’s going for, and Caped Crusader makes good use of its villains. While some get more to work with than others, they all make a good case for their inclusion and feel like they appropriately put this Batman through his paces. But when it comes time for the final handful of episodes to focus on Harvey Dent’s descent into Two-Face, it can’t help but feel a bit rushed since he just doesn’t do much (or in some cases, not appear at all) in the first half of the season. Diedrich Bader does a solid job as Dent and the eventual dual personas he’s asked to play, but the season isn’t interested in treating him as an overarching threat. 

Similarly, it may also feel disappointing that Batman himself is fairly static. Hamish Linklater does a fine performance throughout the season (most of which is spent as Batman), but the show isn’t all that interesting in exploring what makes this iteration of the character tick. There’s a coldness to him that comes through in how he constantly refers to Alfred as “Pennyworth,” but it’s not fully questioned or explored, which stands out all the more considering Reeves’ involvement here. That coldness also extends to Gotham itself: the city always feels like its darker edges are creeping up with each episode—largely thanks to fun villains like Rupert Thorne and Arnold Flass making things worse in their own ways—but it doesn’t always feel like a real place that Batman’s devoted to saving. There’s a decent enough anchor for both it and the hero here, but a distance on the show’s end prevents it from being as absorbing as it looks and so wants to be.

Intentionally or not, Batman: Caped Crusader leans much of its weight on nostalgic affection for Animated Series, from its creative forces to its visual style and Linklater’s performance. But it grows into its own distinct thing over time, and while not an instant classic, you can see it being something impressive in its own right with more seasons. Whatever larger plans Prime Video and forces like Timm and Reeves have for the show, it largely succeeds in the most important way: reminding us why Batman has been at his best in weekly, animated adventures. 

All episodes of Batman: Caped Crusader hit Prime Video on August 1.

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