In Batman: Caped Crusader‘s fifth episode, “The Stress of Her Regard,” someone is kidnapping and brain-washing rich, powerful men in Gotham, and Batman must find out who and why. When Barbara Gordon begins to suspect that one of her friends may be involved in the abductions, her investigation puts her on a collision course with the Dark Knight.

Batman: Caped Crusader has been an interesting series so far. While it’s similar to the classic Batman: The Animated Series, it does its own thing giving us new and different takes on classic characters.

“The Stress of Her Regard” is an example of this with a new take on Harley Quinn. Harley has already appeared in previous episodes as a therapist that the police department goes to for help. This episode takes it deeper as Harley is also taking out revenger on the powerful and corrupt of Gotham.

She’s also changed up a bit, asking out Renee Montoya and being rather excited about the opportunity. The episode is an interesting examination of Harley but also delivers such heartbreak for Renee. The ending is heart wrenching and while previous episodes established that Renee is a character we can trust, this is an episode that establishes she’s a character we can really feel for.

“The Stress of Her Regard” is especially interesting in that it establishes Harley without the Joker, who has yet to appear in the series. While her motivation is kind of thin and the concept feels familiar, the overall story is an interesting one in its drama.

Like a lot of the series, the characters and designs are familiar yet different. Some of Harley’s victims take on familiar personalities and Harley’s design is completely different from what we have traditionally seen. It’s a great way to shake up and do something different for a beloved character.

“The Stress of Her Regard” is an interesting episode in that while there’s aspects that are fantastic, the drama between Harley and Renee, the overall plot of Harley’s feels a bit thin in execution and motivation. She could have used an episode or two more of setup to really set up the turn and drive home what her drive to do this is. But still, it feels like a classic animated episode.

Overall Rating: 8.0

Batman: Caped Crusader has been an interesting so far. What it has changed and focused on makes it stand apart somewhat from what has come before. Bruce’s trauma and motivation and Batman being an unknown factor are two bits that have come up multiple times in the episodes. But, it’s the corruption of the Gotham Police Department that has been the most interesting. In every episode, we’re reminded that there’s a wave of crooked cops who don’t follow the law and outright break it at times. That’s never been clearer than in the fourth episode “The Night of the Hunters.”

In “The Night of the Hunters,” Mayor Jessop assembles a task force to catch Batman. Detective Montoya, who we have learned is one of the good cops, is put in charge. Unfortunately, Detectives Flass and Bullock take matters into their own hands in an attempt to trap Batman, which spirals putting a part of Gotham in jeopardy.

Flass and Bullock have been two of the more interesting characters of the series. They flagrantly don’t follow orders and do what they want and think will give them the results they’re looking for. Those results can be totally wrong, but in their view, the end justifies the means. Here, they release a costumed villain thinking it’ll get Batman to come out and instead causes a building to go up in flames and endangers civilians. They don’t care though and the result is a frustrating one as perception becomes reality and they’re rewarded for their corruption.

This is an episode where lines are drawn as to who we can and can’t trust. Batman meets Jim Gordon and they both figure out that maybe they’re on the same side but with different methods. But, in the end, corruption wins out as Flass and Bullock’s roles are elevated. It’s clear they’ll go even further down the line and it’ll blow up in their faces, but we’ll have to wait and see.

“The Night of the Hunters” is another fantastic episode for a series that delivers nostalgia but also charts a brand new path for so many classic characters.

Overall Rating: 9.0

As Batman: Caped Crusader‘s third episode, “Kiss of the Catwoman,” debuts, you know it’s an episode featuring Catwoman even not knowing the title. Bruce lingers over a display of a beautiful necklace on display… a setup that screams Catwoman. But, the episode’s most surprising twist isn’t the introduction of Selina Kyle/Catwoman, but another female future villain.

A reference to his parent’s murder puts Bruce into a rage, causing him to punch an individual and winding up in court mandated therapy. His doctor? One Dr. Quinzel. The episode not only introduces Catwoman but the future Harley Quinn.

The episode brilliantly uses the story of Selina Kyle to examine Bruce Wayne. Both are from wealthy families, Selina hitting hard times as her father is in jail and now she’s broke. This drives Selina to become Catwoman, inspired by stories of Batman in the newspaper. Batman and her parent is the driver of Selina’s origin as Catwoman. While this story plays out, Dr. Quinzel explores Bruce’s life and the impact of his parents’ deaths have had on him and questioning his bachelor life. It’s a familiar story of tragedy but the steps from that to Batman isn’t the classic story of a bat flying through a window. It’s something much more sinister underneath. This is a Batman who’s truly out for revenger and very cold and lifeless underneath.

The designs continue to be interesting. This Catwoman takes on a classic look, closer to the original design from comics instead of the leather clad versions we know today. Dr. Quinzell is a shocker missing her blond hair for a darker look.

“Kiss of the Catwoman” is a brilliant episode that creates a new and different dance between Batman and Catwoman, explores Bruce’s trauma, and introduces another popular character. It’s a hell of an episode that shows while Batman: Caped Crusader has roots in the classic Batman: The Animated Series, it’s something completely of its own.

Overall Rating: 9.0

Batman: Caped Crusader is the latest animated series featuring the Dark Knight and while it is out in 2024, it goes back 30 years and takes its inspiration from Batman: The Animated Series. In the second episode, “And Be a Villain,” the series introduces this new take on Clayface, but it’s Renee Montoya that steals the show.

“And Be a Villain” kicks off when a glamorous movie star disappears, which leads to Batman and Detective Montoya tangled up in the dark web of a mysterious avenger haunting the soundstages.

Clayface is a classic animated series villain. His episodes, as well as the original toy, are some of my favorites. Batman: Caped Crusader takes the basic DNA of the character and concept and switches it up a bit. Still there is an actor whose experimentation leads to a horrible mutation. In this version, that horror stalks those who wronged him as well as those he obsesses about. There’s a Phantom of the Opera vibe to the episode, with a specter leading to chaos, in this case a movie set instead of an opera house.

But, the episode really is about Detective Montoya. In this series, Batman is still an unknown factor. He doesn’t have a relationship with the police and is still a myth in some ways. The episode has Batman and Montoya dancing in a way with the two figuring each other out and if they can trust each other. One has more faith than the other when it comes to that.

The voice acting is pretty good. Hamish Linklater is growing on me as Batman/Bruce Way. Michelle C. Bonilla as Renee Montoya is great. Dan Donohue as Basil Karlo/Clayface is solid too. The voices are slightly different than what I grew up with but two episodes in and I’ve settled pretty well into the differences.

The animation continues to be interesting with a look that’s clearly influenced by Batman: The Animated Series but with designs that at times would fit right into that series and others that are far different. This take on Clayface is far different than the hulking brute delivering a style that’s far more horror.

Overall, the series continues its excellence that has the DNA of the classic series but something new as well. It feels like both a fresh start as well as a continuation of what came before. It’s a welcome return that takes me back to the 90s.

Overall Rating: 8.5