SDCC 2014: Our First Impressions Of Fox’s ‘Gotham’

By now, everyone should be privy to what this show all about. In case you’re not, in short, the show will revolve a rookie detective James Gordon as he is introduced to the underbelly (is there ever a nice side?) of Gotham city. Through his introductions, Gordon will come to see the rise of super-villains that Batman will one day face. This list includes the likes of Penguin, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, The Riddler, and so on. Also in the show is a young Bruce Wayne, who in the very first episode of the series, watches in horror as his parents are slain.

Now, as far as the writing a plot development goes, let’s just say it needs work. Being set in Gotham and having the show run on a network, writers must find ways to get around gruesome killings and foul language. While I’m sure some may find the lines to fall in the style of comics and all that fun stuff, others, like myself, find it comical. Let’s get this straight: Gotham takes itself seriously. While a show, with Gordon set as the protagonist, may strive in an environment not unlike an anthology series, Gotham seems to want to hone in on what it’s like to be the only honest cop in town with serial problems.

Ben McKenzie (Jimmy Gordon), is right for the role. His years on Southland has done him some favors in playing the role of detective, and this helps the show a lot. However, the rest of the cast is going to have to play catch-up to reach his level. Unfortunately, some of the scenes that don’t involve Gordon at all have a somewhat soap opera-y feel to them (I’m looking at you Barbara and Montoya!). Still, this is only the pilot. Remember how many of you all hated Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s Skye?! Nevermind, you all probably still hate Skye.

If there’s one thing Gotham gets right, and I mean really gets right, it’s the set design and costumes. The way Gotham is portrayed in the show is unparalleled. Sure, we have a list of different takes on the city, each stemming from different directors, but none of it looks as true to my imagination than this TV series. In every scene that showed the city off, we are treated to trashy neon lights, damp and gloomy sidewalks, and a city that is not going through its best time. If not for these aesthetics, Gotham would have trouble securing weekly audiences. Still, with enough characters and plots between mobs and super-villains alike, Gotham shouldn’t be low on story ideas. I’ll be keeping my eye on Gotham, with hopes that it’ll get better each week. Without going in-depth, viewers should be entertained enough stick around until the end, and come back for another round.

Questions? Comments? Sound off in the comments below!