“I am vengeance. I am the night. I am a new animated series on Amazon Prime! “
There have been an abundance of Batman TV shows and movies throughout history. “Batman: The Animated Series” which ran from 1993-1995 is widely regarded as the best and has set the bar for all other Batman projects. In order to stand out in a sea of content, a show has to bring something new to the table. “Batman: Caped Crusader” is one of these shows able to stand out, bring something new and make an impact on general audiences. It held its own in the top 10 on Amazon Prime which is impressive for an animated series. A great deal of its success can be attributed to the show’s creative team, many members of which worked on the 1993 animated series, while other members made a splash directing other Batman projects such as “The Batman 2022.” But even without knowing the behind the scenes information, a viewer can tell from the first episode that this show is something special.
Despite taking place in the 1940s, the show has its own modern takes on the Batman characters. The show includes a Black Commissioner Gordon, a gender-bent Penguin, an Asian Harley Quinn and a gay Detective Montoya, with only Montoya’s sexuality being comic-accurate. The show is facing controversy because of its supposed “DEI initiative.”
Because it is a fictional series, none of these changes are treated as foreign by the narrative itself, despite its time period. Additionally, none of these details harm the narrative but lead to new and innovative character designs, so I ultimately view it as a positive change. The show establishes early on that it is going to do something different, so whatever backstories you think you know, prepare to be surprised.
Not only does the show make changes to the classic Batman mythos, it also decides to chronicle this story in its own way. By choosing to focus more on the police and political storyline, rather than the superhero, the story manages to constantly feel fresh and relevant. “Caped Crusader” closely follows the mayoral campaign of District Attorney Harvey Dent as he has to repeatedly choose between corruption and integrity. “Caped Crusader” also follows the story of Commissioner Gordon and Detective Montoya, who as the few good characters in the Gotham police force are consistently undermined by the shadier individuals who grow to control the force. Demonstrating the systemic issues rooted in the police, this story is especially relevant in our current political climate. Some Batman fans may see close resemblances plot wise to “Batman: The Long Halloween,” but do not let that fool you. “Caped Crusader” has its own story to tell and with its poignant writing and intelligent cinematography, the show lands the execution of the story as well.
Do not worry, Batman is still an important character in his series. The series has a steady grasp on the mythos and psychology of Batman which, regardless of what live action films might lead you to believe, has never been about horrific violence. You see his trauma and pain, not through a contrived origin story montage, but through therapy with Harleen Quinzel. You also see his strength of character and morals. Batman does not and cannot kill, because while he wants to make the world a better place by handling unsavory characters, Batman knows he cannot be judge, jury and executioner. This understanding sets him in direct contrast to many other characters that are supposed to be fighting for justice, but only work towards their own fame and success. The poignant commentary is all there, and it will not spell it out for you like some children’s series; the show trusts the viewers to come to their own conclusions. Yes, there is a villain-of-the-episode format for a while, but the point of each episode is not “Does Batman catch the villain or fail?” The series has something to say, and it will say it.
Ultimately standing out as one of the best series in recent years, “Batman: Caped Crusader” is a must watch. You do not need to like Batman or DC to watch it. You just have to care about amazing writing and thoughtful storytelling to enjoy it. The final moments we have with Batman will leave you wanting more, and with season 2 already in the works, more “Batman: Caped Crusader” is to come.
