‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ Review: A Disappointing Revival of the Classic That Falls Short

“Batman: Caped Crusader” has had a turbulent production journey. Originally slated for Max, which holds the rights to DC properties, the series was rejected by HBO and appeared to be canceled. However, Amazon stepped in to acquire the rights, and the first 10-episode season is set to premiere on August 1, 2024.

At Fiction Horizon, we’ve had the opportunity to watch and review the series. If you’re interested in our honest take, keep reading.

We started out with high hopes for the series, given the impressive talent involved. Bruce Timm, known for his work on the original Batman: The Animated Series alongside Paul Dini, returned, joined by the acclaimed comic book writer Ed Brubaker. With J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves also on board as executive producers, the series seemed promising. Unfortunately, it failed to live up to expectations.

The ten episodes presented a radically different Gotham, set in the 1950s for unclear reasons. While this setting offered some unique elements, it significantly constrained Batman’s character, preventing him from reaching the depth and versatility seen in TAS. The original series thrived with its art nouveau style set in a modern Gotham, a contrast to this new, retro approach.

In this series, Batman is portrayed with even less technological sophistication than Adam West’s campy version, as it aims to balance historical realism with fidelity to the original lore. Unfortunately, this approach missed the mark, failing to achieve the intended effect.

The animation also falls short for a 2024 production. Although the creators intended to honor TAS—with Caped Crusader positioned as a spiritual successor—the execution fell flat. Characters appeared too edgy and robotic, and the backgrounds were sterile and uninspired. While the dark atmosphere and the intro clip were well-executed, the overall animation quality was disappointing.

This brings us to the story, which struggles between being an anthology series and an interconnected one. While the episodes attempt to stand alone, an overarching narrative links them. Unfortunately, this approach falls short, leaving us puzzled as to why the producers didn’t stick with the successful formula of TAS. The result is a show that can’t decide whether to weave a larger storyline or present standalone tales from Batman’s career, creating a significant flaw.

The lack of focus is another issue. TAS centered on Batman and his villains, exploring their tragedies through Batman’s efforts to thwart their evil plans. In contrast, this series tries to juggle Batman, his villains, the corrupt GCPD, and his sidekicks simultaneously, leading to a lack of cohesion. At times, Batman feels like a secondary character, which is especially problematic in a debut season.

While the characters featured in the show are not inherently dull, they are significantly underdeveloped and presented with little context, leaving us uncertain about their roles. Jim and Barbara Gordon are promising, but their stories feel incomplete. Similarly, Renee Montoya, who was intended to be a focal point, ends up as a secondary character due to lackluster development.

Flass and Bullock are a major issue, as their character arcs lack clear direction. They fluctuate between being villains, antiheroes, and even heroes, while being portrayed as fundamentally corrupt. This inconsistency suggests a deeper problem with the show’s writing and structure.

Additionally, many characters feel wasted. Proto-Firefly and Two-Face are killed off prematurely, and the new versions of Harley Quinn and The Penguin (the latter being portrayed as a woman, which in itself isn’t a problem, but her grotesque depiction is offensive to both women and the character) receive no meaningful development. The only exception is Clayface, who has a compelling arc in what is arguably the show’s best episode. Catwoman, while decent, fails to make a significant impact.

After watching the entire season, I was taken aback that Bruce Timm could produce such a disappointing series. It soon became clear what was missing: Paul Dini. While Timm contributed ambiance and production values, the series lacked Dini’s masterful emotional storytelling that made Batman: TAS one of the greatest animated series of all time. Without Dini, this series feels like a hollow imitation rather than a fully realized work.

Overall, Batman: Caped Crusader fell short of expectations. It only superficially mimics the tone of the original animated series and fails to address its many issues. While the cliffhanger suggests the possibility of a second season, the show will need significant improvement to achieve cult classic status.

Score: 4.5/10

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