I was surprised it became successful because it changed who Batman was and I was sure people wouldn't like it.
I loved it though. It was great and opened up my eyes that eventually Batman would have to pass down the legacy to someone.
I think the fact that Timm and Co. took the time to flesh out a concept that wouldn't disturb the continuity they has already created partially accounts for the success of 'Beyond.'
I mean to think they could've taken the concept of 'teenage Batman' and just as easily done what 'X-Men: Evolution' did and throw Bruce Wayne into Gotham University taking classes like Psychology 101 with Dr. Crane or Botany with professor Pamela Isley.
I mean the show gave us a chance to jump into the future and see what Bruce's crusade had brought him...which was nothing more than an empty house, a lonely existence, the loss of his company and even MORE crime on the streets.
It was definately a nice 'pulling back the veil' moment to see what the future possibly had in store for the character given his decision to fight crime.
And the Terry character, as he was for Bruce, was an injection of youth and kinetic energy into the mythology...more hardened given his time in juvie than Dick or Tim when it comes to a younger ally to Wayne.
The show itself had this whole hard-edge vibe and the concepts of the stories, while outlandish at times, had a very adult-themed vibe to them that allowed older audiences to really get into it as a result of discovering those psychological underpinnings that the kids wouldn't be able to comprehend. In the meantime, the show gave said kids cool stuff like a flying batmobile and robots and ninjas and all the like. Plus, it gave kids that thought that 'if I can't be the real Batman, I could still be a field agent for Batman and get to wear the suit and pilot the car and all that cool stuff.'
It was a very well concieved show, IMO, and a wonderful edition to the 70 year history of the Batman mythology. It certainly, deserved the Emmys it recieved.
CFE