Gotham episode 1: an analysis by: GF Willmetts (TV review).
Show-runner Bruno Heller had to lay down a lot in the opening series of ‘Gotham’. Of primary importance was to show the Waynes’ murder and Bruce’s grief. It also needed to establish Detective James Gordon and the city corruption between the criminal classes and the police. Without being spoiler, it was already known that the early versions of Cat-Woman and the Penguin were also going to be established. Rather interestingly, this also makes them both older than him, even if Selena Kyle might only be a couple years on Master Bruce.
It did make me wonder, through all his incarnations, why Bruce was never shot by the mugger? I mean, why leave a witness? The evidence against Pepper was flawed as well. After all, had Gordon asked Bruce, he would have known that the necklace was damaged so it would have been impossible for it to appear as a complete piece. It can’t be said that Bruce wouldn’t have remembered this in shock because he gave a good description of the mugger. This plot element could have been a lot better even if the all-over plot might have been changed a little.
Most surprising, I was expecting a period piece but references to a database and mobile phones places it in the present. No doubt someone is expecting this show to run as long as its small town counterpart did, no doubt ending before a certain cowl is put on.
In many respects, James Gordon could even be seen as a prototype for the future Batman, had he been rich and had a bat fly through his open window.
In the meantime, ‘Gotham’ is very much a police procedural show. How far will it stray from or stay within the character mythology will be something to watch.
© Geoff Willmetts 2014
