Red leaves, pumpkin-flavored drinks and chilly weather are not the only things that mark the beginning of fall. This time of year can also be distinguished by the fresh new batch of TV pilots that make their premieres.
One of the most anticipated shows of this year is Fox’s “Gotham.”
Gotham is a Batman-less Batman show that follows the origin of Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon and other notable “Batman” comic book characters. The show serves as a prequel to the time when Gotham became a corrupt, crime-filled city.
Gotham begins with the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Jim Gordon, the newest detective in the Gotham City Police Department, is paired with the experienced, irritable Harvey Bullock to investigate the gruesome homicide. Jim meets the young Bruce Wayne, who witnessed the horrific killing of both of his parents. Gordon makes a promise to Wayne that he will bring whoever committed this crime to justice. This budding friendship is part of the foundation that encourages Wayne to eventually become the Dark Knight.
The much-anticipated show premiered to the televisions of eight million people. Despite the hype, the show seemed to be a letdown to many loyal fans of the Batman series. The biggest problem with Gotham is its corny dialogue. This is mostly due to a poorly written script. Ben McKenzie (Gordon) and Donal Logue (Bullock) are both talented actors who have appeared in popular crime shows before, but their conversations are painfully cheesy at times. McKenzie has big shoes to fill portraying Jim Gordon. Oscar-nominated Gary Oldman famously portrayed this vulnerable cop in Christopher Nolan’s successful “Dark Knight” trilogy.
McKenzie shows potential as Gordon, but his character falls flat many times throughout the show. Trying to contrast Gordon’s optimism and naivety with the dark, sinful Gotham makes him sometimes come across as a dunce.
Another problem arises with the overwhelming number of villains that are introduced in the first episode. Instead of sprinkling these characters throughout the series, “Gotham” crams Catwoman, the Penguin, and the Riddler all into the pilot. Their introductions are rushed and anything but subtle. There is no mystery that these are the beginnings of the villains with lines like “You look like a penguin” and “If I want riddles I’ll read the funny pages.” These introductions are painfully obvious and are all crammed into one 45-minute episode.
It appears as though the focus of the show is to make money off of the brand name, rather than taking the time to develop a meaningful story. For “Gotham” to develop into a serious show, the writing definitely needs a serious makeover.
The show has some promise to become a hit. It has a gorgeous comic- like look and a gritty tone that is in tune with Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy. New writers and a more spread out plot may be able to turn Gotham into a success before it joins the graveyard of many other failed prequel series.
