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Tom's Guide Verdict: “Batman: Caped Crusader” season 2Rating: 3.5/5 StarsVerdict: The stylish animated series “Batman: Caped Crusader” continues its unique approach to the iconic DC superhero in its second season. The show returns to its moody, noir-inspired version of Gotham City for a season of exciting and creative superhero adventures.Premiere date/time: All 10 episodes of season 2 streaming July 31Where to watch: Stream on Prime VideoI wouldn’t disagree with anyone who argues that we don’t need more versions of Batman in pop culture. Yet that theoretical person would be missing out on one of the best takes on the legendary DC Comics superhero by skipping the Prime Video animated series “Batman: Caped Crusader.”Even for fans who are suffering from Batman fatigue, “Caped Crusader” offers a clever, stylish and artistically ambitious take on the oft-adapted character, making smart changes to established Batman canon while sticking to the core of what makes the Dark Knight such an enduring figure in modern mythology.The new second season continues that approach, with a balance of standalone stories and overarching plotlines in its 10 episodes. It’s been two years since the previous season premiered, but the new season quickly wraps up the hanging threads from the reign of crime boss Rupert Thorne (Cedric Yarbrough), allowing Batman (Hamish Linklater) and the Gotham City police force to move on to other threats. The supporting characters are a mix of familiar faces and new additions, all handled with the same combination of vintage and progressive sensibilities that worked so well in the first season.‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ balances classic and modern superhero storytellingThe main precursor to “Caped Crusader” is the beloved 1990s show “Batman: The Animated Series,” whose co-creator Bruce Timm also created “Caped Crusader.” This is a more adult take on Timm’s moody, art deco-style Batman series, but it operates in the same nebulous time period somewhere between the 1930s and the 1950s, with retro fashions, technology and dialogue. The visuals also recall Tim Burton’s two live-action Batman movies, and the tone is serious without feeling overly somber. There’s deadly violence and occasional swearing, but “Caped Crusader” isn’t just edgy for its own sake.