Bruce Timm is one of the most prolific creators when it comes to animated shows based on DC properties. Timm was also responsible for developing the 2001 animated Justice League series, which remains one of the most popular iterations of the superhero team across different forms of media.
The first season of Justice League received mixed reviews, but Timm refused to budge from his vision for the series. In an interview given shortly after the first season ended, Timm explained why he was unaffected by the negative reviews but later admitted that the creative team did drop the ball in some aspects. Here is how Bruce Timm responded to the negative reviews of the Justice League animated series.
Bruce Timm Refused to Budge Despite Negative Critical Reception of Justice League Season 1
The first season of Justice League premiered in November 2001 and concluded a year later, in November 2002. It comprised twenty-six episodes, which received mixed reviews from critics. During an interview with The World’s Finest, a website dedicated to DC animated projects, Bruce Timm shared his thoughts about the negative reviews of some aspects of the show.
“Maybe I’m in total George-Lucas-esque denial, but I honestly don’t think the first season of JL represented any kind of radical dropping-off in quality from our previous shows.”
Timm made the above statement explaining why he did not agree with the negative reception, using Star Wars creator George Lucas as a reference point. Timm added that he felt that only a couple of the first thirteen episodes of Justice League season 1 were below-par but even they had their moments.
At the same time, Timm admitted that it was difficult to please everyone with a show like Justice League, as fans were connected to different superheroes and their different iterations. However, Timm noted that the creative team was working hard to produce tighter scripts for season 2.
Bruce Timm later Recognized that Certain Elements of Justice League Season 1 Were Below-par
While Bruce Timm initially dismissed the criticism aimed at the first season of Justice League, he later admitted to some of it. In a 2005 interview with a magazine, Timm explained why he felt the creative team could have done better in some aspects of the show’s first season and what held them back.
“Some of the first season shows I think were really good, but we had so many challenges inherent in the show. So many balls juggling in the air, and inevitably some of them dropped.”
While Timm argued that the stories in season one were solid, he felt the dialog could have been better. Timm explained that he felt the creative team was over-reliant on common cliches and jargon from the superhero genre.
As a result, the show’s quality was hampered because of the dialog according to Timm. However, the team spent more time and attention on making the dialog feel fresh in season 2. Timm also revealed that it was initially difficult to get the balance of the seven-member roster right, which may have affected the storytelling potential.
Justice League is streaming on Max.
