Review: Batman: Caped Crusader is a haunting, gripping triumph

The mere thought of another Batman animated series is enough to fill a DC fan with glee, but it was also rather eyebrow-raising: Given The Dark Knight's legendary history with cartoon shows, could a new animated outing ever hope to live up to the hype?

That's a question that Batman: Caped Crusader boldly attempts to answer, as the Prime Video original series is set to make its presence felt on screens in the near-future. But for me, having watched the series already, I can tell you that the answer is a resounding yes.

Coming from the minds of Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, and Matt Reeves, the show focuses on Batman's early years as a crime-fighter, showcasing what he was like as a young vigilante before he formed many of his pivotal relationships, including his iconic partnership with Commissioner Gordon.

One of my favorite things about Batman: Caped Crusader is how it pays tribute to the original Detective Comics that Batman debuted in back in 1939. From the character designs to the mysteries of each episode, it's a real throwback - and an intentional one at that. There's an air of film noir about it that is hard to accomplish, but the show does it extremely well. Between the smoky alleyways of Gotham City and the focus on the crime that is festering beneath the surface, it's very atmospheric, capturing that same kind of retro appeal that Batman: The Animated Series had going for it in the process.

That comparison was inevitable given how the '90s series is still considered the yardstick when it comes to Batman stories, so I mean it when I say that Caped Crusader is the spiritual successor of Batman: The Animated Series - and I mean that in the most complimentary of ways. None of the episodic storylines would have been out of place in the classic series, but the Prime Video offering has a slightly more mature tone to it, making the most of the lack of restrictions when it comes to streaming television.

Speaking of the episodic adventures, Batman: Caped Crusader tends to lean more into the mystery element of Bruce Wayne's crime-fighting career with somewhat less focus on the action and theatrics of it all (although all of that is still there!). That sets it apart from its predecessors out of the gate and it does so for the right reasons, because there are enough comparisons to those already. What Caped Crusader does works for it really well. It showcases Batman as a detective, and you know the huge success of Reeves' live-action film The Batman may have influenced that. We don't get to see Batman be The World's Greatest Detective enough, but this show allows him to be that; flawed as some of his approaches are. He's not quite there yet, but watching him grow into that is a compelling experience.

But no mystery in the show is as mysterious as Batman himself. The show does a fine job of building out its Gotham City regulars, and as a result of that, we get to see The Dark Knight through multiple different POVs. This goes a long way in portraying him as this mysterious, eerie creature of the night that nobody really knows what to make of. His reputation precedes him, and every time he does appear, he lives up to it.

This Batman is so utterly compelling. I find myself frustrated with him at times because of how mysterious he is; he's imperfect, keeping it all close to chest like Batman does, but there is a repression there, a hot-headedness that makes it hard to know where even he's coming from at times. He's hard on himself and that sets him up for an interesting ride, as he attempts to take on that iconic Batman character journey of hardened vigilante to hopeful hero. Hamish Linklater delivers a thrilling performance, keeping things quiet and reserved for Batman and effortlessly turning up the charm for Bruce Wayne's public persona. It's rare that an actor gets both sides of that coin right so early on, but he accomplishes it with ease.

While the show focuses more on the criminal element in Gotham City than the criminals themselves, there are plenty of classic Batman villains in there for fans to enjoy, with unique and interesting adaptations of the likes of Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Two-Face. It was Harley's that I enjoyed the most, because it's a wholly original take on the character that highlights how great and intriguing a character she is.

I also have to mention the animation style, because it's a thing of beauty. There are definitely influences of Batman: The Animated Series in there, but Caped Crusader has its own identity as well. And this classic look benefits the aesthetic that the show is going for, ensuring that you are pulled into a vivid world that looks like a Saturday morning cartoon of old but written like a compelling crime thriller of the '40s.

I keep going back to that word; "compelling". That's what Batman: Caped Crusader is, utilizing the element of detective fiction extremely well, balancing its gripping overarching story with each of its standalones as well. The pacing is a touch off in some the earlier episodes, but it picks up as it goes on, finding its footing and producing some thrilling episodes along the way.

I had high hopes for Batman: Caped Crusader and I'm so happy to report that it has lived up to - and exceeded - all of them. Fans of Batman: The Animated Series are going to love it, as they have been longing for a return to this classic brand of cartoon - which is a dying breed these days - but the show also has so much of its own character and identity in there too. A thrilling, remarkable feat, Batman: Caped Crusader is one of the most compelling shows of the year, and a hauntingly original reinvention of the legendary tales of the Batman.

Batman: Caped Crusader premieres on Prime Video on August 1.