Contrary to what you may think, Batman: Caped Crusader is not a reboot or a sequel to the seminal Batman: The Animated Series, even though Bruce Timm is part of the creative team, along with Matt Reeves ("The Batman"), writer Ed Brubaker, who has written his fair share of Batman & Catwoman stories for DC, and JJ Abrams.
There are some distinctive changes. To wit:
The Penguin, for example, is now a woman, Oswalda Cobblepot (Minnie Driver), and figures into the opener, as seen in this excerpt:
The series is set in a post-World War II Gotham, with televisions & radios of the period prominent. Despite this, you have an African-American Commissioner James Gordon, just like in "The Batman", and, by extension, his daughter, Barbara, now a public defender, is African-American as well.
Natalia Knight, aka Nocturna, has been de-aged and repackaged, purposely, one would think, to resemble Wednesday Addams, a subtle nod to a certain Netflix series. McKenna Grace voices Knight, whose vampiric powers are more akin to a succubus than an actual vampire.
Harvey Dent (Diedrich Bader) is the DA running for mayor, but has to deal with mob boss Rupert Thorne, seeking to keep his hooks in city hall by any means necessary. You know his story will be told.
Dr. Harleen Quinzel (Jamie Chung), aka Harley Quinn, has been restyled, with a new jester's costume, but working alone.
Selina Kyle (Christina Ricci), aka Catwoman, is presented here as taking inspiration from the Batman himself (Hamish Linklater) to adopt a costumed persona. However, it makes her less of an attraction than you'd think.
Alfred Pennyworth is presented here in his plus-size iteration from the Golden Age, but with a mustache, as later versions would have.
There are other characters normally not associated with the Bat-franchise included, such as Patrick "Eel" O'Brien (Tom Kenny), presented here as a photographer. There'll be a pool on whether or not he becomes Plastic Man. Jim Corrigan works for Gotham PD, but takes a bribe to try to kill Barbara. Lois Lane shows up, looking as she did back in the 40's.
The series has already been renewed for Season 2, which is just starting production. Warner Bros. Discovery should've held on to this one, but gave it up out of sheer stupidity, and while they do make some coin, Amazon reaps the benefits.
Rating: A-.
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