Gotham: Dissecting The Characters Of The Batman Prequel

I think it's safe to say that Gotham is one of the most highly anticipated new shows premiering this fall. The Batman prequel is brought to us by The Mentalist’s Bruno Heller and is hoping to showcase some of the most admired and feared characters in the history of comic books, television and movies. The 16-episode series is all about the infamous city before it was filled with the dangerous villains we know as The Penguin, The Riddler,and Poison Ivy, in addition to anti-heroine Catwoman. We also get to see James Gordon before he becomes police commissioner, a young Bruce Wayne long before his days of being dubbed the Dark Knight, and several other familiar faces. Among many, I was lucky enough to screen the Gotham pilot, and it has great potential. It’s filled with action, Ben McKenzie (need I say more?), the extremely talented Robin Lord Taylor and Jada Pinkett Smith proving once again that females are badasses. Some might be concerned that a superhero series without a superhero might not fare well, but, as of right now, Gotham has enough grit to keep on churning. Trust me. With all that said, and before its premiere on Monday, Sept. 22, let’s dissect each of these characters by looking at who’s played them, their current portrayals and what we can expect from each during the freshman season. 1) James Gordon Portrayed By: Neil Hamilton, Pat Hingle, Gary Oldman Current Actor: Ben McKenzie What to Expect: As Detective James Gordon, McKenzie shines a naive light on the man known for putting tons of criminals behind bars as the commissioner of Gotham City. He exudes tenaciousness and goodness in the need to fight crime, but with his partner Detective Harvey Bullock by his side, that just might be easier said than done. How far is he willing or not willing to go to stay on the “right” side of the law? Will he become a player of politics and finagle the system to his liking? If you’re curious, at the end of the first episode there is one particular action that will prove just where James stands. 2) Young Bruce Wayne Portrayed By: Charles Roskilly, Ramsey Ellis, Eric Lloyd, Gus Lewis Current Actor: David Mazouz What to Expect: Remember, we’re dealing with young Bruce Wayne and not the rich business mogul who loves women and eventually becomes Batman. We encounter Bruce from the moment his parents are gruesomely murdered right front in of him. In what is a life-changing moment that no child should ever have to endure, young Master Wayne forms an immediate bond and friendship with James Gordon, who promises to find the killer of his parents. We see Bruce’s journey as a young boy, before slowly transforming from an innocent young child to a hard, grieving, broken man trying to find his way in the world. In past projects, we’ve only seen glimpses of young Mr. Wayne, so it’s refreshing to see his shift into one of the world's most beloved heroes. 3) Harvey Bullock Portrayed By: Robert Costanzo (voice) Current Actor: Donal Logue What to Expect: He’s tough. He’s brash. He likes to drink. Oh, and he’s partner and mentor to James Gordon. He’s all about keeping Gotham safe, putting criminals away and going that extra mile to do so. Unlike James, he might even be willing to step over the line and fluctuate between the good and the bad. He even has the ins with some of Gotham’s top criminals. Is he a crooked police detective? Will he really go above and beyond no matter the result to protect his city and possibly make himself look good? You’ll have to wait and see, but one question still remains: even as a rookie, will James have a positive influence over Bullock? 4) Oswald Cobblepot Portrayed By: Burgess Meredith, Danny DeVito Current Actor: Robin Lord Taylor What to Expect: To begin, we must chat about Robin Lord Taylor. Hands down, he is the standout of the Gotham pilot -- no argument. From his costume to his mannerisms to his facial expressions to his delivery, Taylor is phenomenal. It makes me wonder: where has he been hiding? As Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin, not only does he demonstrate a creepy and disturbing quality, but he also showcases his pathetic and maniacal nature that shouldn’t be mistaken for weakness. Despite working for gangster Fish Mooney, Oswald is a selfish man attempting to turn himself into his own version of Gotham’s top-notch villainous mobster mastermind. 5) Selina Kyle Portrayed By: Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer, Maggie Baird, Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway Current Actor: Camren Bicondova What to Expect: First observation of this young actress? She doesn’t even need to utter a word to get across that she is curious like a cat. But more on that later. We first lay eyes on the young Selina Kyle walking down the street doing what she does best -- stealthily stealing. Soon she finds cover in an alley (like all cats do, right?), but while she’s “minding her own business,” she witnesses a bloody crime. This one moment opens Selina’s eyes to a particular someone, who she just might become infatuated with. As mentioned earlier, Bicondova doesn’t speak (seriously, she doesn’t say one word in the pilot), but she is quite adept to crouching like a cat and putting her curiosity to good use. I definitely look forward to seeing what she’s brings to the table -- words and all. 6) Edward Nygma Portrayed By: Frank Gorshin, John Astin, Jim Carrey Current Actor: Cory Michael Smith What to Expect: Riddle me this. While we don’t get to see Cory Michael Smith’s true Riddler skills in the pilot, we do get to see him portray Edward Nygma. As a forensic scientist with Gotham PD, Nygma is an intelligent man working for the “good” side. He’s a chatterbox, who likes to give details in a roundabout way -- I guess you could say that’s his way of telling riddles. Even though we only encounter Edward for a few short moments, he’s an intriguing man that I’m sure viewers will want to hear and see more from. He’s quirky. He’s geeky and he’s awkward. Yep, I have a strong feeling Smith is going to make one kick-ass Edward Nygma. 7) Alfred Pennyworth Portrayed By: William Austin, Eric Wilton, Alan Napier, Michael Gough, Michael Caine, Jeremy Irons Current Actor: Sean Pertwee What to Expect: Who doesn’t love Alfred Pennyworth, butler to Master Wayne? I first became a fan of Sean Pertwee as Gareth Lestrade on CBS’ Elementary, so I was ecstatic to hear about his casting in Gotham. Still somewhat looming in the background and taking notes from his employer, aka young Bruce, it’s nice to know this is one relationship that remains constant in Bruce’s life. As a fan of the Batman films, it’s interesting to see the dynamic of Alfred and Bruce’s relationship from the beginning. Seeing a young boy who is essentially in charge of an adult is engaging. However, even though Bruce is a child, he and Alfred maintain a respected relationship, whether it is between an employer and employee or an adult and child. Knowing that he can truly rely on one man to love him, care for him, support him and keep his secrets, is something Bruce needs as a boy -- and even as a man. 8) Barbara Kean Portrayed By: Ilyssa Fradin, Melinda McGraw Current Actor: Erin Richards What to Expect: Before becoming Mrs. James Gordon, there was Barbara Kean. Played by Erin Richards, during Gotham she is Gordon’s fiancée. She’s a beautiful blonde with a wealthy father, who is madly in love with a police detective. However, there’s more than meets the eye with her. She might be known for being on the sidelines while James is out fighting crime, but Barbara Kean just might have one of the more interesting stories of Gotham. She’s definitely mysterious, and one part of her past could possibly cause quite the stir among her relationship with James -- and will probably get fans of the show talking. 9) Fish Mooney Portrayed By: N/A Current Actor: Jada Pinkett Smith What to Expect: Never heard of Fish Mooney? For good reason, because this character was made just for Gotham -- at least that’s what we’re being told. Who knows, maybe she’ll turn into another character? Some are even speculating she’ll turn into the villain Great White (they both have aquatic names, after all.) Whatever happens, I love a badass female villain, which is exactly what Jada Pinkett Smith encompasses as nightclub owner/lead gangster Fish Mooney. A well-dressed, sophisticated baddie, Fish Mooney is all about remaining powerful and keeping her minions in line. Fish works closely with Oswald Cobblepot (well, actually, she tells him what to do), and their power struggle is quite entertaining. If you ever want to learn how to read others like an open book, take notes from Fish -- this is one talent she has down pat. Tell us, are you excited for Gotham? Will you tune into this origins story? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments section below!