I wasn't sure about this series when it first started. I'm one of those people who was spoiled by Batman: The Animated Series and didn't think that you could top it. The Batman was a prime example of this mindset.
This show took a different route and embraced the hero's comic roots, bringing in a sense of fun and silver age wackiness that makes the show a delight to watch. It's just goofy enough to be funny, but not so goofy that you can't take it, the stories, or the characters seriously.
He may not be the grim urban avenger, but he's still Batman. This show also took a different route in showcasing lesser known heroes, forgoing Superman and Hal for characters like Jaime's Blue Beetle, OMAC, and Guy Gardner.
The first episode I saw didn't blow me away, but upon learning that an episode would feature G'Nort, a favorite character of mine, I had to check it out. Suffice to say, it filled me with geektastic joy. A subsequent episode that featured Bat-Mite would cement this as one of my favorite shows on television. I daresay, it's a flat out gem.
Sadly, the show will be coming to an end soon. It wouldn't surprise me if WB started planning another Batman show, but this one will most certainly be missed.
A lot of times, the superhero genre has felt the need to "prove" its legitimacy by trying to be more mature or including adult content to show that it's not for kids. This show took the opposite approach, embracing the cartoony nature, cranking it up to 10 and just having fun with it.
It's not the DCAU, but it's a blast to watch. It's well written, treats the characters with respect and embraces all that's good about comics and the superhero genre in general. Even if you're not a fan of the Adam West Batman, I think you'll grow to like this show. Yes, it's lighter and more fun filled, but the character isn't treated as a joke, and you'd be surprised how well this show handles dark material.
If that's not proof enough that this show is glorious. It made Aquaman cool, think about that for a second. The DCAU tried, and most likely did get the ball rolling, but I think this incarnation did a much better job of showing off the character's potential by making him somewhat silly, but still very capable as a hero in his own right. His gravitas and general characterization are also far more fun to watch than the brooding loner that was the DCAU Aquaman.
If you're a fan of superheroes, I highly recommend this show. Even if you're one of those who feel like B:TAS was as good as it could get, I would recommend you check it out. I'm the same way, it may feel wrong to embrace a lighter incarnation of the Dark Knight, but it's a very good show that stands on its own.
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