Batman The Caped Crusader 9/10
I didn't even know this show existed because Amazon just doesn't care sometimes. This should have been on Max because at least they show you new animated shows. I found about this from listening to a podcast and they raved about it. I was hesitant to check it out because there have been so many versions of Batman since the one I loved in the 90s. I would race home from school to catch it and even talk to friends on the phone while it aired. I was shocked when within minutes of watching this I was into it. The animation style. The voice work. The change of characters was surprising and didn't feel forced. Like, Penguin is a mother with children. Gordon and his daughter Barbara are Black. Alfred is younger. Just a lot of changes that were cool.
In this version of Batman he is still new to Batman-ing. Some people don't think he exists. Police do not trust him. He has no relationship with Gordon. Crooks do bad shit, he pops up, and vanishes. Meanwhile as Bruce Wayne he is perfectly aloof and I enjoyed the way they played him. There are a few times in the season where Batman pops out of him like when he was talking to his friend Harvey Dent. Oh, Dent in this is way different. He is dirty as hell. Speaking of dirty the cops in this are filthy. Its not like a couple of them. Most of the police in Gotham are criminals.
What I also liked was the use of villains on this. I was bummed when they showed the Joker at the end because this series did such a good job of showcasing other bad guys without leaning on him. I mean they had the fucking Gentleman Ghost on here! Catwoman was done in her original style with a green cape. Clayface was portrayed in a new way that I liked. That was probably my favorite episode of the season. Harley Quinn was done in a way I would not have guessed and they used her just enough. Barbara Gordon is useful as hell and not just there to be saved.
I hope that there is a second season of this and on another channel where they give a damn because if you are a Batman fan you will enjoy this. It does the story in a way that if this was your first time watching him you would understand what he stands for and what he will and will not do to fight crime. He has a temper and sadly Alfred gets the brunt of it. Batman also gets his ass kicked. Like, a whole circus beat him up and threw him in a ditch. Check this series out.
Hamish Linklater as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Jason Watkins as Alfred Pennyworth
Eric Morgan Stuart as James "Jim" Gordon
Krystal Joy Brown as Barbara Gordon
John DiMaggio as Harvey Bullock
Gary Anthony Williams as Arnold Flass
Michelle C. Bonilla as Renee Montoya
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