The second season premiere of Batman: Caped Crusader returns viewers to Gotham as if it never left. As the city prepares for the trial of the century, Batman faces escalating violence and anti-vigilante sentiments.
“Brute Force” finds Gotham consumed by lawlessness. The GCPD struggles to combat crime as mob boss, Rupert Thorne, awaits trial. New media voice Hattie Tetch, aka the Mad Hatter, follows the case. But her commentary leans in support of the esteemed businessman, while questioning the police’s failures in relation to the Batman.
As Thorne sits behind bars, he maintains control through his lieutenant, Eddie Nygma. When the prosecution names Throne’s accountant, Julian Gregory, as its star witness, Nygma is assigned to silence the squealer. When his first attempt is foiled by Batman, Nygma goes rogue.
A second attempt on Gregory’s life fails, but not after a pubic display of excessive force on Batman’s part. Many witness the violence, stoking fuel to conversations around public safety and the risk his presence poises.
“Brute Force” is a thrilling return for the critically acclaimed series, with compelling performances, unique narrative choices and expert mirroring of societal ills. The show balances its serious tone with real-life humor and emotions. And this season, the writers have embraced a more mature edge to great success.
Our main cast has returned, with some clever twists on new additions. First, we have Eddie Nygma, aka The Riddler, depicted as a ruthless gangster rather than the cerebral trickster. And like The Penguin in season one, the Mad Hatter has been gender-swapped as the Fox News-esque Hattie Tetch. We also see character cameos, including Gregory aka the Calendar Man, a suspicious glasses-wearing scientist and one of his experiments gone awry.
Thematically, the show examines man’s malleability to power. Thorne’s wealth allows him to consistently avoid consequences, wielding control over the systems meant to protect citizens and hold criminals accountable. We see this portrayed in characters like GCPD’s Flass and Bullock, who are unabashedly corrupt.
A new theme this season is the media’s influence on society. Hattie Tetch’s commentary, akin to the rise of alternative news sources, contorts its message to generate distrust in mainstream systems. By exacerbating the GCPD’s failures against rising crime, fear manifests in the public. That leads to support for more stringent tactics by law enforcement, and aims the woes at Batman’s doorstep.
Finally, Batman’s goal for justice that Bruce Wayne never received, is drawn under scrutiny. As he’s not beholden to the law, some say his mission gives criminals free reign to wreck more havoc. Simply because he has a code, doesn’t make him any different the other masked figures. It’s the tell-tale argument around vigilante justice.
Overall, “Brute Force” starts the second season of Batman: Caped Crusader to a brilliant, fast-paced start.
Rating: 9/10