Gotham Pilot Review

Was Gotham as good as everyone wanted it to be?

Let's talk about that.

After months of anticipation, Fox's Gotham finally premiered last Monday night - and it did not disappoint. **Spoilers ahead!** It was any Batman fan's dream show packed with the introductions of Penguin [Oswald Cobblepot], Catwoman [Selina Kyle], Fish Mooney [invented just for the show], Poison Ivy [Ivy Pepper] and The Riddler [Edward Nygma]. While the protagonist Detective Gordon is the center of the show, it's the villains that will keep people watching. Robin Lord Taylor's chilling performance of Penguin was riveting to watch. I cannot wait to see where his journey will take him. We may know the "end result," (feel free to picture Danny DeVito eating raw fish) but the brilliance of this show is it's ability to explore the in-between. As well as add a few twists of its own like a young Selina, or as I refer to her as "a better Anne Hathaway," witnessing Bruce Wayne's parents being murdered or Mafia boss Carmine Falcone being friends with Gordon's father. It has almost a Once Upon A Time-esq feel to it that allows life-long Batman fans to be surprised as well. 

The young Bruce Wayne storyline is a little less enticing. I could do without him entirely (and while we're at it, kick Detective Gordon off as well - kidding. Sort of). I can't imagine much happening to Bruce between his parent's murders and him becoming the Dark Knight  - but then again, I'm not the writer of the show because if I was, there would be a Penguin shirtless scene pronto. As for Detective Gordon, he's fine. A bit cliché but hopefully his character will be more fleshed out once the show gets rolling. I hope to see the toxic nature of Gotham city begin to disease his good nature and force his morals to be put to the test (disclaimer: I am not a sadist).

As I said before, the premiere spoon fed fans with references and foreshadows. Selina stealing the milk, Ivy carrying her plant, Penguin killing a man for food which established his relationship with food (once again, cue the Danny DeVito image), and The Riddler can only give the police information in, well, riddles. 

But underneath all the good-looking actors and impressive graphics, the show brings up a thought provoking point. The most memorable quote of the episode is said by Falcone himself: "You can't have organized crime without law and order." It can be assumed the Falcone is the big bad boss of the city and has most of the police department in his pocket (since he helped the PD frame Pamela's father for the Wayne murders). We also know thanks to Oswald's pathetic attempts to not get shot that Falcone is loosing his power and a new "war" is coming. Gotham is portrayed as a place where the scum of the Earth collects and the baddest man in town is also the most powerful man in town. A city that is overrun with an inadequate police department and pointless crime ruling the lives of its citizens. It's an extreme projection of what is totally possible in today's world. Could there ever be a Gotham in America? Comment below thoughts, questions, ideas and criticism and remember, if you want to make a good movie, don't cast Anne Hathaway (Hollywood, I'm looking at you.)