Director Matt Reeves’ The Batman and the recently released Batman: Caped Crusader share a thematic similarity, as both dive deep into the broken psyche of the protagonist and focus on the journey of the titular vigilante’s initial days of crimefighting, in a period when the character hadn’t quite become the iconic hero he’ll later be known as. In both adaptations, the Batverse is gradually set up with the introduction of iconic characters, future teases, and extensive world-building. As the first season of Batman: Caped Crusader ended, enough hints and plot points for the continuation of the story with an already greenlit second season have been provided. With fans already eager to get into the details of the upcoming season, let us discuss key issues that will act as the foundation for the next chapter.
Spoilers Ahead
Joker’s Arrival, Chance of Scarecrow’s Appearance
In the closing moments of the first season finale of Batman: Caped Crusader the narrative focus shifts to a rundown shack, inside which a number of corpses can be seen—all tied down and with a harrowing, disfigured grin on their faces. The final and latest victim is seen laughing maniacally before collapsing with a similar grin on his face. Seeing the results of his handiwork, a pale, gaunt face from the shadows mutters ‘perfect’. For fans who are accustomed to the modus operandi of Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime, this should serve as a telltale sign that Batman’s archenemy, Joker, will serve as the prime antagonist in the second season—with his diabolical Joker toxin. In comics, Joker’s first appearance in the Golden Age was quite dark, and his reign of terror using the toxin concocted by him made quite a mark in the history of Gotham. The series will probably veer more towards the psychopathic mass murderer version than the oft represented clownish, jester conception of the character.
Additionally, Harley Quinn had mentioned being educated in the discipline of psychology by a certain Professor Crane—a namedrop to the iconic Batman villain Scarecrow doesn’t feel arbitrary in the context of the series, and there is a chance that Scarecrow could make his appearance in the second season with his deadly fear toxin—putting the dreaded vigilante’s mental fortitude to a gruesome test.
Batman Will Topple Rupert Thorne’s Empire
In the very first episode of the first season of Batman: Caped Crusader, Batman brought down Penguin, aka Oswalda Cobblepot’s crime family, but in doing so, his actions inadvertently strengthened the mob boss Rupert Thorne’s control over Gotham City. With half the police department in his pocket and Gotham’s criminal underworld in his grip as well, Thorne became stronger than ever through the course of the series and eventually managed to kill DA Harvey Dent, who could have testified against him in court. However, the mob boss will not go scot-free at the end, as in the first season finale, Batman makes his stance clear by threatening Thorne, signifying that he will come after him and bring him to justice in the upcoming days.
A Few Good People: Gotham PD and Barbara’s Role
For better or worse, the first season of Batman: Caped Crusader was as much of a Batman story as it was a Gotham Central adaptation, and characters like James Gordon, Renee Montoya, and Barbara Gordon had their distinctive arcs, which shaped up nicely over the course of ten episodes. Renee and James are stuck in the cesspool of administrative corruption, with Mayor Jessup, Detective Flass, and Bullock on Thorne’s payroll, undermining their effort to create a crime-free Gotham at every turn. The most pathetic example of the police department’s failure is seen when Flass and Bullock lead Thorne’s hitmen to hunt down Harvey Dent on behalf of the mob boss, and despite their efforts, Batman, along with James, Barbara, and Renee, fail to save him. This incident will leave a strong psychological impact on the mind of Barbara, who had often had disagreements with her father on the definition of justice and established the administration’s role in upholding it, and tried her desperate best to save and redeem Harvey Dent. There is a strong chance that, feeling jaded and hopeless, Barbara quits her role as criminal lawyer and, taking inspiration from the bat-themed vigilante, dons a cape and cowl on her own to become Batgirl in the next season. For James and Renee, the battle against Gotham’s corruption will remain a never-ending uphill climb, even with Batman by their side.
Batfamily in the Making
In the eighth episode, titled “Nocturne,” an elaborate tease on a host of Batfamily characters is given. Dr. Leslie Jenkins, Thomas Wayne’s former colleague and a guardian figure in Bruce’s life, runs an orphanage on the outskirts of Gotham, and young kids from her orphanage, Dickie, Jason, Carrie, and Stephanie, get abducted by Nocturna, aka Natalia Knight. Batman eventually rescues the kids and brings them back to the care of Leslie, and fans can easily ascertain the foreshadowing of the beginning of the Batfamily. The kids are the younger versions of iconic Batman characters, who will end up taking the mantle of Robin, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Spoiler later in their lives. Finding kindred spirits in them, Bruce will take the kids under his wing in the near future, something that was sneakily hinted at in this episode.
Bruce’s Psyche, Return of Established Characters, and New Possibilities
It feels quite intriguing how a major number of Batman adaptations manage to address the psychological issues plaguing Bruce Wayne without ever feeling repetitive, and Batman: Caped Crusader manages to do the same by presenting the inner workings of an even more emotionally distant, stoic, and impulsive Batman. Under the fearsome mask of Batman, Bruce’s broken psyche lays dormant, and he fears even making an emotional connection with Alfred, his father figure, and is unwilling to attend therapy for his own betterment. However, Bruce gradually comes out of his shell over the course of the first season, learns to trust a few people close to him, and it seems the second season will focus on his effort to become a bit more emotionally responsive as well. Speaking of Bruce’s psyche, the two most important figures to peep into that dark abyss, Catwoman and Harley Quinn, will hopefully also return in the upcoming second season, and their growing connection with Bruce Wayne/Batman will be intriguing to say the least.
Aside from prominent characters from Batman lore, the first season featured characters like the Gentleman Ghost and Papa Midnite—characters who address Batman’s gothic and horror roots and make their presence felt, much to the delight of long-time fans. For the upcoming season, we are hoping that more obscure characters of horror/mystery origin, like Simon Dark, Dana Harlowe, Red Phantom, Creeper, and Mother Panic, will appear, enriching the gothic tone of the adaptation and making a much-needed shift from gritty crime stories in the process.
