u/Agitated_Studio1998

This version of Batman from the 2004 series is still arguably my second favorite animated Batman, next to the DCAU, since I mainly grew up with him. In my mind, I thought Bruce Wayne was still a young adult who still has a lot of things going on in his life and is still relatively young and figuring things out. This was my first introduction to the character in any media, so I was just so shocked as a kid seeing Ben Affleck as Batman and how violent and ruthless the guy really is it honestly felt like character assassination when I saw the DCEU portrayal of Bruce.

I mean, I always thought Batman should be lean and athletic as a kid, which is why Pattinson is still my favorite. Anyways, I love how this version of Bruce didn’t necessarily make his Batman persona his whole identity, and he is actually a real person and so is Batman. He was never isolated; he had friends like Ethan Bennett, and the Clayface arc in the show is just so good.

He was also a pretty good dad who still had a sense of humor and wasn’t cold or harsh, and he actively comforts Robin when he needs it. He’s the perfect balance between Bruce and Batman. Having Batgirl as the first sidekick weirdly works too, because when Robin comes in later, it creates more of an older sister and little brother dynamic instead of just Batman and his first partner, which makes the Bat-family feel more balanced.

His relationship with Alfred is genuinely one of the best parts of the series in general. If the DCU were to take notes from the show, this Batman by far has my favorite fighting style, besides the Arkham games. Across all media, he fights like a ninja and is stealthy you can actually tell he went away to train.

He also basically has one of the best designs for the costume, the Batmobile, and especially the Batarangs, among other gadgets.

Season 1 is genuinely one of the best first seasons of television I have ever seen, period. I have finally found a show that speaks to me and feels relatable; even though it takes place in the 60s, the problems of each character are still relevant today. Don Draper is probably one of the best-written characters I have seen. I really adored the first two seasons and I never got the feeling that they were "too slow." The pacing felt right; it didn’t need a massive plot to be engaging. The opening scene of the pilot, just Don Draper in a diner, is what hooked me. The cinematography and the set design in that shot were immaculate, and that top-tier 1960s aesthetic carries through every episode.

I also love how the show established Peggy as a second point-of-view character next to Don. It doesn't feel like a traditional pilot because so much has already happened in this world, and Peggy acts as the only "modern lens" we can follow. As someone who grew up in the mid-to-late 2000s, I was genuinely disturbed by how differently women were treated. The blatant sexism of that era is difficult to watch, and it’s sad to realize that those issues still persist in different ways today. The final shot of the pilot completely shocked me on my first watch. Seeing that Don had a family blew my mind, though I had suspected it since he looked like a guy who wasn't happy with his life. I'll also just be honest: I think Midge Daniels is probably one of the worst women Don has slept with in the show.

Episode 2 is a massive highlight for me. I really love Betty, and the car sequence was pure tension. It truly feels like she doesn't want to be a mom but was forced into it by the social standards of that era. While January Jones feels a bit flatter in Season 2, she really works in Season 1. As for Pete Campbell, I dislike him a lot because he always thinks he’s the smartest person in the room. He didn’t have to struggle like Don did, yet he feels entitled to a promotion he hasn't earned. I think the show makes him so unlikable as a commentary on the bratty, self-entitled kids of our own generation.

I also loved the interaction between Don meeting his half-brother when he isn't what he says he is; when it’s revealed that he died in a later episode, it feels haunting. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed Don and Rachel’s relationship, and Joan and Roger is not bad either. The episode where Don made Roger puke in the office in which I could not stop laughing because the elevator stopped working after Roger tried to hit on Don's wife is part of why I loved Season 1 so much. Rachel has so much depth and agency, especially in the penultimate episode, and their chemistry was great. Personally, I felt really disturbed by Peggy and Pete’s relationship. It feels like Peggy is trapped even when she knows it doesn't feel right, yet she still gave in because she feels so alone and just wants someone to really see her, which is quite tragic. She is by far the most relatable character in the show.

The flashbacks to Don’s old life were really compelling, though I did not like the subplot with his rebound girl, Midge. 1x10 is genuinely one of my favorites and one of the funniest too, where Roger tried to hit on the twin sisters and Don just wasn't feeling it. Him having a stroke felt like poetic karma since he has a wife (I’m obviously joking). The interaction between Rachel and Don during that episode, where he revealed a lot about himself by being vulnerable and honest, is why I think it’s underrated. 1x12 was amazing too, where Peggy got a promotion until Roger had another attack; John Slattery is just great in this role every time he is on screen.

But when Duck Phillips was introduced, I really did not like him, especially when he eventually took over and did horrible stuff like leaving his dog. The tension in 1x12 and 1x13 is just amazing when Pete finds Don’s case and realizes he isn’t who he says he is. When Pete tried to blackmail him during the election, I was at the edge of my seat. When Don asked Rachel to run away with him and she refused because he only saw her as a means to an end, it was tragic and well-acted by Jon Hamm. The scene where Peggy was criticizing the girl in the audio booth was deep because it felt like she was pouring her insecurities into her; meanwhile, Ken Cosgrove is one of the few decent men in the show. , when Don presents the Kodak and realizes what truly matters is being with his family, it was such an important moment. That final shot where Don tried to go home for Thanksgiving only to show he was actually late and was just imagining... that broke me.

Overall, it is a great first season of television. 8.7/10

Season 2 was a serviceable follow-up; it wasn't quite as strong as the first season, but when it works, it really works. It started off a bit slow, but became excellent in the second half. The premiere showed an aging Don struggling to keep up with his lifestyle, and the Valentine’s Day hotel scenes with Betty were simple yet bittersweet.

The Jimmy Barrett plotline was the most interesting part of the season for me. The commercial incident and Don’s relationship with Bobbie Barrett were fascinating to watch. A major highlight was 'The New Girl' (2x05) seeing Peggy get them out of jail after their reckless driving was incredible. It showed that Don truly trusts Peggy, though he was clearly doubled over with shame and guilt.

On the other hand, Duck Phillips abandoning his dog made me hate him instantly; he's just a prick to his family. The subplot with Sal and his wife was deeply uncomfortable; it’s painful to see him marry her only because he’s afraid of what society would think of him in the '60s.

The tension becomes elite when Jimmy Barrett essentially 'outs' Don to Betty. Their argument in A Night to Remember (2x08) had me completely locked in. While I didn't care for the Priest storyline it felt like it didn't go anywhere. The season really takes off once Don checks into a hotel and takes a break. Even the 'filler' moments, like letting Freddy Rumsen go, added so much to the relationship between Don and Roger.

'The Inheritance' (2x10) is a very underrated episode. Seeing Don and Betty try to act normal while visiting her father after his stroke was painful, especially with his amnesia and the way he treated her, but it developed Betty’s character immensely. I also loved Don meeting the 'exotic' nomads in California; it wasn't filler to me it added so much to his arc.

The final two episodes were fantastic once again. Seeing Don with Anna Draper was the first time 'Dick' felt genuine and honest, expressing himself without the mask. The merger plotline was a great twist, and the finale was heartwarming yet bittersweet. Watching Don return to his kids while his marriage was slowly cracking was pure tension. Peggy finally telling Pete about the pregnancy was the perfect, shocking way to end the season. It’s a solid 8.6/10.