Kevin Conroy is the best Batman of all time. There, I said it. I challenge you to find a more damaged Batman than his from my childhood favorite, BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES. It’s the sadness that Conroy can portray in his voice in scenes like ROBIN’S RECKONING when a young Dick asks him, “Does the hurt ever go away?” And he answers with sorrow, warmness, and kindness, “I wish I could say yes. But it will be better in time. For you. That, I promise.” With that, you can see how big of a cape Hamish Linklater has to fill to play Bruce Wayne/Batman in the CAPED CRUSADER. And he does a serviceable job. Yet, the dialogue, lackluster animation, and plot don’t prop him up with enough to do or even say.
The CAPED CRUSADER was going to be my show of the summer. I was so excited that I most recently built the 4200-piece Batman: Animated LEGO set and rewatched several episodes in anticipation. And while I enjoyed taking a trip to the animated world of Gotham, I didn’t fall in love with it like I always do when I revisit the original from 1992.
And I believe that’s because of three reasons:
- Lack of Batman character development. Despite being called BATMAN, this show is more about Harvey Dent and Barbara Gordon’s origins.
- Weak action. Any action sequence in BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES is worth watching. The highly stylized violence is darkly animated perfection. Yet, CAPED CRUSADER is a dud in this area. It’s as though the animation style from the ’90s has evolved (see X-MEN ’97). However, this series feels like it went backward.
- The plot. I loved that we got two key characters’ origin stories, and the writers took chances by using violence to have serious consequences. Yet, several episodes are half-baked and don’t propel things forward enough until the inevitable cliffhanger season finale.
EPISODE BREAKDOWN:
E1 IN TREACHEROUS WATERS 🤮
E1 is easily the worst. And I know I’m heading “in treacherous waters” to critique a show with a huge gender twist for a key Batman villain. However, my hate for the first episode has nothing to do with that. It’s just poorly written and not enjoyable.
Best Quote:
Batman: “It’s Gotham, Pennyworth. Does the corruption really surprise you?”
E2 …AND BE A VILLAIN 😊
Despite making an animated character that Boris Karloff would be proud of, Clayface’s time has one too many SCOOBY-DOO explanations to be a must-see. Kudos, though, for leaning heavily into the horror elements that showcase that this series is not a kid’s show but is more geared toward adults.
Best Quote:
Batman: “Anything?”
Alfred Pennyworth: “While lovely to look at, Miss Frances is no Gloria Swanson.”
Batman: “Anything useful?”
E3 KISS OF THE CATWOMAN 😊
While in no way is the Catwoman edition a “catastrophe,” it doesn’t have the same sexual spark that this femme fatale had in the original.
Best Quote:
Catwoman: “You know, you’re really no fun at all.”
Batman: “No. I’m not.”
E4 THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTERS 😊
E4 captures a little bit of “fire,” but it kind of “bugs” me that there’s hardly any Batman in it (he doesn’t appear until sixteen minutes into a twenty-four-minute episode). Yet, the end shot with the Gordons is flawless.
Best Quote:
Commissioner Gordon: “It’s okay, kiddo, I’m not licked yet.”
E5 THE STRESS OF HER REGARD 😊
I loved the mystery and build-up to another villain’s big reveal in CAPED CRUSADER. E1-E4 planted enough breadcrumbs, and for the most part, E5 is the most complete until Harvey Dent’s plot reemerges later in the season.
Best Quote:
Harlequinn: “The truth is always better than the alternative. At least then you can do something about it.”
E6: NIGHT RIDE 🤮
A freaking ghost story that doesn’t ride high into the night. The best part about NIGHT RIDE is seeing Pennyworth getting some much-needed character development.
Best Quote:
Lucius Fox: “All in all, your portfolio is up 20 percent over last year, which is rather robust, if I do say so myself. Are you listening to me?”
Bruce Wayne: “Portfolio’s up. I’m still rich. You’re too marvelous for words.”
Lucius Fox: “Yes, yes, and yes.”
E7: MOVING TARGET 😊
Another SCOOBY-DOO-like twist ending (complete with the talking big-bad explaining themselves) holds Barbara Gordon’s best episode back.
Best Quote:
Barbara Gordon: “People know the difference between right and wrong, and when they do wrong, they should answer to it.”
E8 NOCTURNE 😊
I love seeing kids in danger… in film and TV, especially when they are orphans. It’s risky business since killing or injuring them is usually a big no-no. And while the kids are in danger throughout NOTCTURNE, it feels more like a side quest than a main story, with its sole purpose to move the Harvey Dent plot along, have a “killer” cameo, and introduce enough Robin canon to start a multiverse.
Best Quote:
Bruce Wayne: “All I did was get beat up by the bearded lady.”
E9 THE KILLER INSIDE ME 🤩
Alright, here we go. The home stretch of the CAPED CRUSADER brings Gotham’s favorite District Attorney’s story full circle. And holy hell, Batman is much darker and more violent than usual, and it finally gives the viewers something to care about.
Best Quote:
Alfred Pennyworth: “Just spare a thought for the man, Master Bruce. Whatever he was, I don’t think that’s who he is anymore.”
E10 SAVAGE NIGHT 🤩
The closing is a fitting end as audiences can see the character similarities between Batman and Two-Face. This traumatic exploration was usually present in the comics, and in Christopher Nolan’s THE DARK KNIGHT. Yet, it has been absent, making Harvey Dent an exciting villain for Bruce Wayne. That “savage” comparison is the glue that holds season one together, allowing it to end its “night” run on a high note. Also, that end shot and post-credit scene will surely give ALL fans of the original animated series chills.
Best Quote:
Batman: “You don’t bend with the world when it goes bad; you push back.”
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The entire first season is available on Prime Video.
