5 Reasons Why You Should Rewatch Batman Beyond

The origin of Batman is a classic and one ingrained in the minds of popular culture: a young boy watches his rich parents being shot to death in a petty mugging, and swears to deliver vengeance. At its core, the Batman story is about family in both its absence and where it can be found. Batman Beyond epitomises this throughout its run, connecting Terry and Bruce in a father-son dynamic.

Terry evolves throughout the series from a delinquent teenager to an older brother, who works on top of his studies to help provide for his single mother and younger brother, Matt. In many ways, Terry's familial tragedy closely resembles Bruce's, but the former's willingness to connect with the people in his life accentuates the heart of the story.

Additionally, this central motif is not limited to Terry's involvement. In the season one episode "Dead Man's Hand", Melanie - the youngest daughter of the Royal Flush Gang - is depicted as showing remorse and resentment towards her criminal upbringing and, by extension, her family, but feels that she cannot abandon them. It's the show's willingness to paint the grey areas of family, while also confiding that family is not always drawn by blood, that cements its place as a timeless classic.