Nothing like finding something on Prime to watch for free. I had been needing a new show to bingewatch ever since taking a break from anime. Oddly, this wasn’t something I heard people talking about online (in the circles that I run in. ) And I was intrigued with what other stories Bruce Timm would be telling about the Dark Night. I am not sure that I enjoy reboots. I don’t hate them but sometimes it is hard to reimagine something you have always enjoyed. There is no Kevin Conroy (RIP) and I feel a sadness typing that. But I still wanted to give it a chance.

Batman: Caped Crusader premiered on Amazon Prime Video, the show offers a noir-inspired reimagining of Batman focusing on a young Bruce Wayne during the early stages of his crime-fighting career in Gotham City. While Batman is the titled character, the show is focused on the corruption around the city and the detective skills of Wayne. This is a rich Bruce Wayne in a time when technology is limited… so instead of

There was a reimagining of different characters in this iteration. See below to look at the changes. Throughout the 10-episode first season, each episode introduces a new case, building up to a larger narrative. The series explores the psychological depths of Gotham’s inhabitants.

The animation was so clean for lack of a better term. It’s smooth, it’s sleek. There are times when I feel like the muted color choices makes it a little to unnecessarily dark, at the same time, it felt nostalgic as if I was younger and watching the originals animated series run.

Hamish Linklater’s portrayal of Batman is a bang up job, especially coming after the great performances before him. It lends to a Batman still finding his feet in Gotham. It is the transitioning between the distinct personas of Bruce Wayne and Batman that stands out, especially in the scene where he’s conversing with Harley Quinn and then later with Alfred.

It was a shocker to see that there was a focus on the corruption within Gotham PD. In the original series, Harvey Bullock was a lot of things but corrupt was not one of them. It was jarring to see him working with and taking order from Rupert Thorne. Commissioner Gordon has his work cut out… Seeming like he is the only one in law enforcement that is abiding by the law besides his daughter, Barbara. Barbara is reimagined as a defense attorney who is giving her dad an earful about the corruption in Gotham and in his very department. They do not necessarily see eye to eye on the approach to crime but they do love the city and want better for its citizens. But it is really sad that neither of them can see the weirdness and corruption in those around them. Because even though, Harvey Bullock and Arnold Flass aren’t even really trying to hide their corruption… Harley Quinn isn’t really either.

Speaking of new reinventions, this take on Harleen Quinzel has to be my favorite. Considering that Timm co-created the character in her original incarnation, I was interested in seeing how he would transform her and he did not miss. But I wish I had gotten more about her and how Barbara was affected by the issues found. But I enjoy the fact that Harley is independent of the Joker who only makes a cameo in the show.

Imagine spilling your guts to your shrink.. about how poor people are a scourge on the earth and then you end up in her underground cave. Probably best that Wayne never opened up to her. He was too bright for it. But it doesn’t seem that at that time he was aware of her extracurricular activities. But also so was she. Harley knew that Wayne was hiding something and makes it clear that she doesn’t believe his facade. After several wealthy businessmen abruptly donate their fortunes to charity and go missing, Barbara decides to start asking questions. (I mean with her caseload… you wonder if anyone was going to be looking for a bunch of rich men who left…?) In reality, Quinzel has adopted the jester-like persona of Harley Quinn and is subjecting the businessmen to immense torture in an attempt to correct their minds. It was an interesting take on a character to make it feel fresh.

I enjoyed the stories around the new Clayface. I wonder what the new story arc would be in the cards for him. I liked the arc of the episode but I wonder what his story is going to be next.

Overall the final overarching story… was just okay. Through the first eight episodes, they build up District Attorney Harvey Dent, who’s gunning for mayor… He makes some really questionable decisions that we know will come back to bite him on the ass. I know it is hard to tell a fresh story when people know what happens to these characters. But I believe the build up could have happened sooner. In the end of the eighth episode, where he finally gets the acid thrown at his face, Dent becomes two face… and Bruce who doesn’t listen to Alfred struggles to help Dent.  In the original series, it is told to us that Dent is dealing with an issue prior to being disfigured which exacerbates the issue. In this show… Dent has grown mentally unstable and paranoid after being doused with the chemical which leads his revenge plot on all those who have wrong him… not necessarily a supervillain… but also not a sympathetic figure.

In the end, I was jarred by the relationship between Alfred and Bruce. It showed that there was a lot of growth and overcoming trauma that had to happen between the two. There is a scene where Alfred is joking with Lucius Fox and Bruce says he didn’t know certain things about the Butler. Lucius scolds Bruce and tells him that he needs to treat the help like a person. But even more than that… There is no warmness… and while Bruce is in the throws of being Batman he has forgotten that Pennyworth is all he has left. I hope that we get more growth in the coming seasons.

Over all, it was a pretty solid first season. If they ended it here, it would seem criminal. We have to know what slant the new Joker is going to take and if he links up with Harley… Or if they introduce Poison Ivy and those two go on a crime spree. So many villains to cover and so little time.