Batman: The Brave and the Bold is currently streaming in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel, and it earns its premise rather than just borrowing genre trappings. The 3-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Diedrich Bader — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. Available now on HBO Max Amazon Channel — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Batman: The Brave and the Bold earns its spot. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Batman: The Brave and the Bold through its more ambitious moments. The Caped Crusader is teamed up with Blue Beetle, Green Arrow, Aquaman and countless others in his quest to uphold justice. Diedrich Bader leads a cast that makes the ambitious moments land. It ran for 3 seasons (2008–2011), and the writing holds up across every one of them. What separates Batman: The Brave and the Bold from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give Batman: The Brave and the Bold a chance. Viewers who responded to Marvel's Avengers will find a lot to like here too. A contained run means every episode is doing real work. Diedrich Bader anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold wrapped up in 2011, created by James Tucker and Michael Jelenic — and 3 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.