4. Depth
Although shows in the Timm/Dini Universe went by 1 title, they were often much bigger shows in disguise. This was due to a deep roster of characters at their disposal that they actually used. Often, you thought you would be watching a show about Batman, but B or C list characters like the Creeper or Lobo would make appearances, and pop up throughout the run of the universe. The Easter Eggs alone gave different kinds of viewers different experiences. This gave payoff to longtime viewers who truly appreciated characters like the Phantasm making an unexpected appearance. Timm and Dini expanded the show by seamlessly blending DC mythology with their own unique universe. Eventually there would be an entire Superman episode devoted to introducing Green Lantern, and JL would feature episodes entirely about ancillary characters such as Hawk and Dove. It was almost as if they tricked the studio to let them do episodes about these characters by slipping them into another show. Furthermore, like Nolan's Batman films, the characters were not just hero or villain but simply "grey" characters within a story that had a specific role to play. They were recognizable characterizations while also being unique to their universe. Therefore, it made sense when characters like Batman and Wonder Woman got together even though it may have strayed from traditional DC lore. Even Superman had his dark times when dealing with the government. They were layered, and dare I say, human? Few live action series have matched this level of emotion and complexity.