Gotham Series Premiere Review: “Pilot” (Season 1, Episode 1)

Besides some character problems, Gotham stands out as a well-made, well-plotted series. Right off the bat we’re shown how corrupt the city is and how hard it is to do the right thing. Over the years the city itself has become a character all its own, and I feel that the writers captured its characteristics and aesthetic perfectly. The action and camerawork in the series are well choreographed and executed, and the show looks great and stands apart from your typical run-of-the-mill police procedurals. There’s a heightened reality to it that makes it feel like a comic book, without coming off as campy (a la the 1960s Batman series) or overly stylized (like Sin City).

The series definitely pulls much influence from all corners of Batman lore, and plays with Batman’s 75 year history nicely. Some elements have come right out of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, while Gotham itself feels like it was pulled right out from Batman: The Animated Series and given a live-action spin. Jada Pinkett Smith gloriously chews her scenery and feels very much like a comic book villain or something out of Tim Burton’s Batman, while John Doman makes Falcone feel very real, and very scary.

Gotham‘s few script problems and character fumbles clear up by episode’s end, as McKenzie and Logue become more comfortable with their roles and Gotham becomes more comfortable with its focus. As the story shifts from Easter Egg reveals and little winks to future events and becomes more about police corruption and bigger conspiracies, it truly begins to shine.

Despite some ups and downs, Gotham is an extremely promising series, and is arguably the show with the most to gain or lose this season. Those who went into the show already discouraged by the idea of a Batman-less prequel will surely find plenty to pick apart, but those hopeful and optimistic enough about the its true potential will likely come out of it more satisfied. The series truly shines when it zigs instead of zags, and spins in the opposite direction of the stories and characterizations we’re all too familiar with.

As with all series premieres, Gotham has its rough edges, but with a bit more focus and more clear intentions, it can live up to its true potential and become an important and seminal chapter in the Batman mythos.