The release of Season 2 was broadcast on Amazon Prime with all 10 episodes premiering on a single day in the summer of 2026, so fans were treated to a good mini marathon. This came out during the same summer as the final season of My Adventures With Superman and the second season of X-Men 97, so it was a great time for fans of superhero animation. It was fortunate that Warner had signed on to complete another season for Amazon Prime prior to all their animated projects either being cancelled or completely abandoned like The Day The Earth Blew Up.
This is still a period piece set in an alternate 1940s where there is more diversity than was in the real world. Changes to the cast this season has a gender-flipped Mad Hatter, plus race swapped versions of Roxy Rocket and Mr. Freeze. In this version of Gotham, Mad Hatter is a late-night talk show hostess, Mr. Freeze uses his original name of Mr. Zero who is a fixer for the mob, Riddler is a front man for mafia head Rupert Thorne who “riddles” his victims with bullets, Calander Man is a criminal accountant, Hugo Strange is pretty much the same mad scientist with Blockbuster being one of his test subjects, Scarecrow is a spooky college student, the Mad Monk leads a fake cult of the bat god Barbatos, the Terrible Trio are corporate criminals, Roxy Rocket is a vigilante rocketeer, and the Joker is more inspired by his archetype from The Man Who Laughs and is a dark reflection of silent movie villains. Plus, the obscure femme fatale Rose and Thorne appears with her own vendetta against Riddler.
A few of the stories from Season One are continued this season. One is Carrie Kelley after surviving her encounter with Nocturna gets adopted and adopts the secret identity of Crime Smasher, inspired by Batman’s fictional hero, the Gray Ghost, and there is a great Dynamic Duo moment with her and Batman double kicking Mr. Zero. Harley Quinn’s fate is also revealed as she’s been living in secret with Detective Montaya but takes on her clown persona to catch the Scarecrow who has been spreading his fear toxin. Jim Corrigan returns after volunteering for a medical experiment which causes his death and becoming the Spectre who goes on to punish the guilty. Rupert Thorne is quickly killed off secretly by Joker in the first episode, leaving Riddler to run amuck until getting killed by Rose and Thorn. Barbara Gordon becomes friendlier with Montoya, hinting that there might be a romance between them which would be the first time that Barbara wouldn’t be chasing after one of the Bat-Family guys.
The new additions to the cast fit their parts well. Ronan Raferty is great as the bloodthirsty gangster take on the Riddler. Matthew Needham takes over the reigns as Joker with a gothic edge which is miles away from his regular cackling maniac. James Urbaniak reprises his role as an eccentric scientist from Venture Bros. as Hugo Strange. Kevin Michael Richardson does his take on Peter Lorre as the stoic Mr. Zero. Fryda Wolff who is normally cast in video games is a great choice for performing both split personalities of the vigilante Rose and Thorn.
Anyone who was a fan of Batman: The Animated Series is in for a feast with this conclusion. This season rewards you for sticking with the ongoing storyline while still carrying on the narrative from the previous season. Each episode is like a miniature noir movie with its own stylish title card and fitting music composed by Frederik Wiedmann who also provided the soundtrack for several other DC animated shows and movies as well as The Dragon Prince. The animation is just as good this season, although there is a little more theatrical motif making you want to watch it on the big screen. The Dark Knight’s legacy is still solid with this adaptation, even if there aren’t any current plans to continue the series.
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