"Gotham": The show I refused to be optimistic for · 4:26am Sep 25th, 2014
After Arrow I defied this show to change my stance on television adapted comic-book material. And from the first promo material and trailer this show had three travesties that set me against it:
1. More Batman! Because a film trilogy and a reboot wasn't enough, not even counting his FIVE animated series and his numerous animated films, his appearances in other related animated shows and films. If Batman were a drug, we'd have OD'd before the Dark Knight's opening weekend.
2. A Batman show without the Batman. The trailers clearly showed him as a child so we're going to treated to the most publicized and recognizable origin story this side of Superman and Jesus Christ.
3. It's a live-action DC product. Seriously, I don't need to expand on the comment any further.
Despite all this my brother was watching the pilot so I decided to tune in alone with him. Ready for the punchline?
...
I LIKED IT
My God, it's a belated birthday present to me from DC! Jesse-Eisenberg-is-Lex-Luthor-DC. Praise the Lord all you hosts in heaven and on earth I am a happy woman again!
No really you will never understand the joy I am experiencing at this moment. Good plot, good characters, good script, good acting, it's so beautiful I think I might weep.
Okay, okay Phoenix Avalon breathe...take deep slow breaths...
Now, I can explain why I liked it:
(Oh my Lord reviewing something i like???? I might have forgotten how to do this...bear with me folks)
Alrighty firstly, the plot. In the pilot it's basically the Wayne's being murdered (I have seen more variations of Thomas and Martha Wayne's murder than I have depictions of the birth, crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus) and newbie Jim Gordon attempting to fulfill the promise he made to little Bruce "I'm Batman" Wayne to catch the bastard. Of course this being Gotham it ain't gonna go down that smoothly and he runs into cover-ups, conspiracies, abused families, the mob, death itself..or as they call it in Gotham Tuesday.
Admittedly, there are parts when it moves a little too abruptly and it feels like we're jumping to some very drastic measures on some very quick assumptions but honestly the tone and atmosphere fused with a good script and some great acting smooths over the bumps and makes them like pebbles under monster-truck wheels rather than potholes to a smart car.
On the subject of tone and atmosphere, the pilot did an excellent job of giving a palpable feel to Gotham; it doesn't have the hyper-stylized, Gothic/German Expressionism look that Burton's films had, or the eerily empty and abandoned one Nolan's had (seriously now that I think about it where were all the people in the Nolanverse? Every street and alleyway was emptier than if the zombie apocalypse had just swept through). This Gotham feels very realistic, it looks like an actual city but rundown enough for me to believe it's Batman's city yet not so bad it comes off as an unlivable hell that you have expect penguins with bombs on their backs to be marching down the street (what was up with that for realz???)
All the people we see look and act befitting to their role in the Gotham hierarchy, police officers, socialites, mob bosses and thugs, and that testifies to the excellent acting all around. I can't think of an actor who was bad, any exaggeration or downplay is explained by the character's nature and the fact that as a pilot we can't see the full scope of their personality just yet. Jim Gordon's actor (Ben McKenzie) was the one I was most anxious about after seeing the trailer but in my opinion he gives a very fitting understated performance to a character archetype that we've seen seven hundred million times (idealistic, newbie cop who is determined to do "The Right Thing") without seeming stiff or dull.
So yes, I freely admit I was wrong and I am now hyped out of my mind for the next episode.
HYPE TRAIN COMING THROUGH BITCHES
You didn't talk about Alfred, Phoenix. For shame...
Eff your Hype Train!
fat.gfycat.com/ActualFeistyBettong.gif
Heh, you think Gotham was empty in the Nolanverse? Try the Arkhamverse; they find a way to make Gotham entirely devoid of normal citizens in every single game.
But, yeah, this was quite good. Bit of an early birthday present in my case.
2481829 Yeah I admit my review deserved to be longer but it was late and I was worried that if I tried to keep writing the review would get too unfocused and rambly ("Too late!" I know, I know, I know...) Just in case you're curious, I thought Alfred was pretty harsh but I'm hoping the season will explain it and give me a reason to appreciate the change of character.
2481862 Damn where's you get such a cool gif, the one I chose was the best I could find on Google images!
2481883 I suppose if I lived in Gotham I'd never step outside either. And happy birthday again!
2484468 Being the devil's advocate here, Alfred generally comes in two forms. Servile Snarker and 'ain't havin' none'a yer shit, Master Bruce!'. They usually go with the former, so I'm happy they went with the latter.
2484472 "Mommy, can I go outside and play?"
"No, dear, the Joker's carpet bombing the city with poison gas."
"Aww, again?!"
And thanks again!
2484469 Imgur. wasn't really looking for it, but there it is.