Gotham takes a unique approach to the Batman mythos, focusing on the city and its police force rather than the caped crusader himself. The series follows Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) as he navigates the corruption and chaos of Gotham City, encountering the villains who will eventually become Batman's greatest enemies.
The show's greatest asset is its embrace of the source material's theatricality. The Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) is a standout — a gangster with a physical disability and limitless ambition, played with scenery-chewing glee. Cameron Monaghan's multiple performances as various Joker prototypes are fascinating interpretations. The Riddler, Poison Ivy, and Scarecrow all receive origin stories that expand their comic-book mythology.
The early seasons focus on Gordon's struggle to maintain his integrity in a corrupt system, while also following young Bruce Wayne's journey toward becoming Batman. David Mazouz captures Bruce's intelligence and pain, while Sean Pertwee brings gravitas as Alfred Pennyworth. The relationship between Gordon and Bruce provides the moral framework.
The show becomes more comic-book as it progresses, introducing superpowers, larger-than-life villains, and apocalyptic threats. This evolution divided critics, but fans of DC mythology will appreciate the show's willingness to lean into its source material. The visual design of Gotham City — perpetually dark, gothic, and threatening — is one of television's great cityscapes.
Gotham is essential viewing for Batman fans who want a different perspective on the mythos. It's a crime drama with a cape, unafraid of its comic-book roots.