Fox’s hopeful retelling of the “Batman” story arc falls flat due in large part to the series’ misleading title, “Gotham”. Such a title holds connotations of a heroic, mysterious Batman, roaming the night in pursuit of justice. But with the placement of Bruce Wayne into a secondary plotline, many viewers may be disappointed in the series.
The writers waste no time jumping into the action. After a short, irrelevant introductory sequence for a homeless, preteen Catwoman (played by Camren Bicondova), the parents of young Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) are brutally murdered before his eyes. This scene is followed by the immediate introduction of the series’ main characters: Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and his boss, Detective Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue).
All aspects of the pilot have been mildly interesting, if contrived, up until this point. As Gordon interacts with a distraught Wayne, he admits he also witnessed the violent death of his own father at an early age, which fuels his commitment to justice.
There are few characteristics that make Batman unique in a world of extraordinary heroes and villains. The bloody murder of his parents affords him morality and an aversion to murder, no matter the potential victim. In giving Gordon a similar backstory and moral grounding, the glory of Batman’s story is greatly diminished, leaving the detective to serve as a shoddy replacement for the beloved superhero.
Leading into the plot of the episode, the detective team begins searching for the Thomas and Martha Wayne’s murderer. An adorable little girl who will eventually become Ivy Pepper — Poison Ivy, for Batman purists — makes an appearance, and series writers seem to have created an entirely new origin for the character: the toddler is the daughter of a man framed for the Wayne couple’s murder.
Oswald Cobblepot, who later dons the identity of the Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), debuts as a lackey of Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith), a wonderfully strong female gangster who relieves a little of the atmosphere’s stiffness. Hopefully these familiar characters can help redeem the show as the season continues, and as the audience gets to trace their development through the iconic story.
Unfortunately, it seems as though the story of Batman himself will take a backseat in Fox’s interpretation, which appears to be more of a crime drama than an action-thriller.
Certain quintessential villains such as the Riddler (after a blatant cameo in the pilot) will play some role in the roller coaster of chaos and quiet that Gotham is sure to ride through in forthcoming episodes, but the absence of the city’s central character is tragic.
The last few redeeming aspects of “Gotham” are the ethical questions that any “Batman”-centric series raises. Does violence make a person villainous? Does anyone deserve to die? Could an immoral act be justified by its intentions?
Though fans of “Batman” are likely to have their expectations dashed by Fox’s effort, the series may not be a complete waste of time. Potential viewers be warned, however — don’t take the show too seriously.
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