During my childhood, one show that stuck with me through all the bad times was Batman: The Animated series. Though the series only lasted roughly three seasons, having cast members like Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy that were so passionate about their roles helped showcase the serious tones of the Animated series.
This was not just another Saturday morning cartoon, this was a journey into the world of Batman never seen before. After the passing on the legendary Kevin Conroy, I did not know for sure if the show could go on without the voice of Batman.
After moving from HBO, to PRIME Video, JJ Abrams, Bruce Timm(Original Co-Creator/Animator of Batman Animated series), and Matt Reeves(Producer of The Batman 2022) had the large task of creating a show that had the same feeling that Bruce Timm showcased in the 90s Batman: The Animated Series. So the question is, does it live up? Lets find out now in this spoiler free review…
First we must talk about when this show takes place and why it matters in comparison to the previously release animated series. Yes, this series is created by some of the team behind the Batman animated series, but this is not an actual prequel. The series is set in the 1940s and depicts Batman early in his career whilst also having to take on villains and challenges on this own.
This is before the time of super-powered super-villains, but is also before the introduction of characters like Flash, Wonder Woman, Superman, and others. This means that Batman has to face off against more real world, gang like crime-lords, giving the world’s greatest detective just the challenge he needs to start his career in crime fighting.
The overall tone of the show is also fairly dark and gives new viewers a feel of what was great about the classic animated series. Its serious tones in the storytelling make this series feel more cinematic and less childlike, while also featuring wonderful sprawling stories that feature a side of Batman that is more vulnerable and less experienced.
This series is also the reintroduction of sub-characters like Commissioner Gordon, Harley Quinn, Penguin, and more. This showcases that this is set in a different universe as the original, but also adds a fresh new take on the series. A female Penguin named Oswalda Cobblepot, an asian american version of Harley Quinn, FireBug(FireFly), and more made the show feel like something new while keeping some of the classic villains still in the limelight.
Moving on from that, the casting in the series is seriously one of the biggest shocks for me. With actors like Minnie Driver, Christina Ricci, and Jamie Chung leading the way on the villain side of things, the casting director had a large task at finding the perfect fit for Batman. Hamish Linklater was casted as Batman and does an amazing job taking up the mantel Kevin Conroy built.
As the series goes on, I found myself heavily engrossed in the series like I once was as a child. Linklater does a fantastic job portraying the Caped Crusader and with such an amazing supporting cast DC should be damn proud of what Timm and the crew have created here.
