The critically acclaimed series returns July 31…
By JASON CZERNICH
It’s been two years since Batman: Caped Crusader debuted to critical acclaim on Amazon Prime, and I believe the show is the Masked Manhunter’s best animated outing since the landmark 1992 Batman: The Animated Series.
I love the show so much I even created a Facebook page for it right before Season 1 came out that you can follow here.
Season 2 is almost upon us, hitting July 31 with all 10 episodes. I’m very excited and will be tuning in the instant it streams, but, like all serious Batman fans I have some hopes whenever a new piece of Bat-media is released to the masses.
Here are 13 things I hope we get in Season 2 of Batman: Caped Crusader.
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SPOILERS FOR SEASON 1 AHEAD
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1. Self-Contained Episodes and Ongoing Plot Threads. The first season gave us some great done-in-one episodes, as well as storylines that carried throughout the season, such as Harvey Dent’s journey to becoming Two-Face and Batman (voiced by Hamish Linklater) acquiring allies outside of the Batcave. It was a great way to keep viewers coming back for more. It sounds like the main thread in Season 2 will be the arrival of the Joker, who looks like he’s being set up to be the overall adversary.
Speaking of the Clown Prince of Crime…
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2. A Fresh, Yet True-to-the Character, Take on the Joker. As difficult as it is to keep putting out fresh takes on Batman, it’s also hard to give us new takes on the Joker. After several celebrated portrayals in live action and animation, it feels like there is only so much more you can do with the Harlequin of Hate. James Tucker, the show runner, has been quoted on what their take will look like, and I really dig it: “I will say that if the only version you know is Mark Hamil or Jack Nicholson or even Heath Ledger, then this may seem like a different take to you. But if you know the Joker’s history going back to his first appearance, you’ll recognize him. We’re going back to his roots just like we went back to Batman’s roots.”
The Joker’s first appearance, in Batman #1
It’s great not to go too far from the character’s core because…
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3. Characters Who Won’t Stray Too Far From Their Basic Concepts. I am a big believer that when you take beloved characters too far from their original, or even naturally evolved concepts, you just end up with a totally different being altogether. While Season 1 found great ways to put new aspects on such old favorites as Clayface I, Catwoman, Barbara Gordon, and Harley Quinn, villains such as Nocturna and Anton Knight were altered to the point that what made them such great comic-book foes in the first place was gone. I’m hoping that Season 2’s Riddler tests Batman intellectually — something Matt Reeve’s The Batman was able to retain while making him into a serial killer.
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4. The Return of Christina Ricci’s Catwoman. Season 1 episode “Kiss of the Catwoman” gave us a well-written, well-voiced Catwoman, with a visual design right from the Golden Age of Comics. It set up the dynamic between these versions of the Princess of Plunder and the Dark Knight perfectly. I want to see more of her, even if it’s just a jailhouse cameo that sets up involvement in a possible Season 3.
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5. Continued Development of the Alfred/Batman Father-Son Relationship. “Kiss of the Catwoman” is possibly my favorite episode of Caped Crusader so far because it perfectly mixed comedy with tragedy in the form of flashback scenes that put a new twist on the Bruce/Alfred relationship, showing a colder dynamic. By the end of the season, we saw Bruce start to address his closest ally as “Alfred” and not the more dismissive “Pennyworth.” — a clear sign that they are starting to become closer.
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6. Batman and Bruce Wayne Evolve. Bruce appeared to be more single-minded in the first season as he appeared to use Alfred and close friends such as Harvey Dent simply as tools in his war on crime. The ending of Season 1 resulted in a Batman that was starting to show more compassion for others. I want more of the man behind the mask in that respect.
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7. A Redemption for Bullock. Typical portrayals of Harvey Bullock initially portray him as corrupt. Then he’s redeemed and forms solid alliances with Commissioner Gordon and Batman. Is it too late for him to make better choices this time around? I hope not. If the series decides to keep him on the side of bad then he becomes just another example of a character who has been changed into a new persona entirely. Plus, his atonement would make for great storytelling.
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8. Introduce Hugo Strange. Professor Hugo Strange’s first appearance predates the Joker; he made three appearances in the Golden Age, including in 1940’s Batman #1. Then he came back in a huge way in the Bronze Age. Hugo seems conspicuous by his absence in the series for said reasons. If not featured as a threat in Season 2, maybe he can at least have a cameo or mention to set him up for the future.
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9. More Creepiness Please! Batman eerily walking into dark rooms from lit doorways. The unsettling portrayal of Harley Quinn. The Universal Monsters feel of “…And Be a Villain.” They all contributed to an atmosphere of fear that was wonderfully utilized in Season 1. Mixed with its noir, the horror element of the show left a strong impression on me and many other viewers.
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10. More Great Writing. Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker brought their comic-book scripting talent to Season 1. We know J.M. DeMatteis is contributing to Season 2 and that is certainly something to look forward to.
11. More of that Gotham Central Flavor. Corrupt cops in conflict with good cops. The turning of Jim Corrigan. The presence of Romy Chandler, Marcus Driver, Eric Cohen, and Renee Montoya. All this was reminiscent of the early 2000s Gotham Central comic, written by Rucka and Brubaker. Those ingredients, from one of the most respected comic books of the past 25 years, helped strengthen the first season. Gotham Central is something fans always want more of.
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12. More A-List Voice Talent. Season 1 of Caped Crusader gave us recognizable names, such as Minnie Driver, Christina Ricci, Haley Joel Osment, John DiMaggio and Diedrich Bader. I cannot wait to see who this season’s top-flight talent will be.
13. The Same, or Even Better, Quality. Season 1 of Batman: Caped Crusader went more adult content-wise, brought in great writers from the comics, had excellent voice talent, and set up Season 2 with the tease of the Joker in a chilling scene that had us wanting more right away. I’m really hoping that Bruce Timm, Matt Reeves, J.J. Abrams and company give us an even better batch of episodes this time around that sets up an exciting Season 3.
What do you hope for in Season 2? Tell us in the comments!
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MORE
— 13 THINGS We Want to See in BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER — RANKED. Click here.
— The TOP 13 BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Figures — RANKED. Click here.
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JASON CZERNICH was born smack dab in the middle of the Bronze Age of Comics. Early memories of Power Records and other Batman merchandise, as well as watching reruns of the 1966 Batman series on TV38 in Boston, imprinted on him heavily. Today, he lives and works as a clinical social worker in central Massachusetts with his wife, child, cat, and beloved French bulldog.
