The
Batman comics have a long history of exploring Gotham’s past, but Fox’s new
show is the first attempt to really explore that material on film and delve
into the lives of the supporting characters. There’s a lot of potential here
for a long running show, but also a number of pitfalls that could prove
challenging in the future. As a longtime comic reader, here’s my take on the
first 2 episodes of Fox’s Gotham.
Possible
spoilers ahead.
1. Concept and Tone:
When it was announced, many speculated the show would be similar to Ed Brubaker
and Greg Rucka’s Gotham Central, and
while the show does share some of the elements of the series it is less focused
on the smaller, intimate picture. Essentially Gotham is a ‘what if’ take on the idea that most of Batman’s
primary villains started on their career paths a good ten to fifteen years
before Bruce suits up. The show clearly takes a number of cues from Frank
Miller’s Batman: Year One, mixes in
some of the thematics of Nolan’s film, and a healthy dose of the more freakish and
pulpier comic elements. The tone is a bit oddball and I like that; it feels
like an interesting mashup of the Batman aesthetics.
Brubaker and Rucka's Gotham Central, art by Michael Lark
2. Death in the Family:
The Wayne’s murders took place a little early. While, we know the Waynes have
to die eventually, I was hoping that this could be held off until the middle or
end of the season. On one hand, it does give Gordon and Bullock a case that the
show can sustain and twist around for a while, but on the other it denies the
show an opportunity to explore a facet that even the comics haven’t opened
much: Bruce’s relationship with his parents. There haven’t been many opportunities
to really know the Waynes (Greg Rucka’s Batman:
Death and Maidens and Scott Snyder’s Batman:
Zero Year are probably the best at
example at injecting the Waynes with some character). For most of Batman’s 75
year history, Thomas and Martha have never really been taken off the mantle and
made into real flesh and blood human beings. I think an exploration of this
would have added a greater sense of understanding to Bruce’s drive and his
inability to heal. While Bruce had a positive relationship with his parents,
his reaction to their death is by no means normal. So what kind of parents were
the Waynes to shape a boy like that? Maybe we’ll be treated to some flashbacks
that touch on this later down the road.
Batman #0 (1994) by Doug Moench, art by Mike Manley
3. Dynamic Duo:
Gordon and Bullock’s relationship forms the crux of the show and both Ben
McKenzie and Donal Louge make compelling leads. Their buddy cop banter also adds
some levity to a rather somber show. I appreciate the fact that so far the show
has given them actual cases to solve, and hopefully this continues and they don’t
simply turn into superheroes with badges. Despite the fact that Gordon and
Bullock are the shows leads they sometimes feel sidelined by the introduction
of too many characters. Hopefully this will even out as the show progresses,
but at this moment I’d much rather see more of Gordon and Bullock than whatever
sub-plot is happening with Gordon and his fiancé, Barbara.
Batman:Earth One by Geoff Johns, art by Gary Frank
4. Master Wayne:
David Mazouz gives an impressive performance as Bruce, capturing not only his
intense fixations but also his earnest compassion and interest in doing good. I
hope that as the show goes on we get to see all of the training Bruce went through
in his preparation to become Batman, a preparation far more exciting than any
of the films have shown. I’m not crazy about Sean Pertwee’s Alfred. There’s a
bit of Michael Kane is his performance but he creates a much harsher figure,
more like the grizzled soldier in Geoff Johns’ Batman: Earth One. While he seems far more capable of rearing a
child than comic-book Alfred, he also makes Bruce’s transformation into Batman
seem far less likely from a standpoint of character consistency.
Batman:Earth One by Geoff Johns, art by Gary Frank
5. Organized Crime:
The mob element of the show is working
well so far and ties in pretty closely to the comics and the idea of the mob
being supplanted by the freaks. Jada Pinkett Smith’s Fish Mooney is over the
top but entertaining. Her character, who doesn’t exist in the comics, is an interesting
choice for a first season baddie. I’m calling it now that she doesn’t make it
out of the first season alive. The show’s mob boss Carmine Falcone is a bit of
a bland cliche, and I would’ve liked to see something more akin to his
representation in the current Batman:
Eternal. Right now, I’d be far more fearful of Mooney than Falcone.
Batman Eternal #2 (2014) art by Jason Fabok
6. The Cat and the Penguin:
Robin Lord Taylor’s Oswald Cobblepot is definitely the show’s highlight and he
completely steals every scene he’s in. I think his progression over the seasons
will be the most interesting to watch. Of all of the show's villains (or pre-villains)
his inclusion feels the most necessary in staying true to the comic mythos. Carmen
Bicondova has a strong handle on Selina Kyle’s personality and while she hasn’t
had much to do yet, her storyline could end up rivaling Cobblepot’s. I do hope, however, that show will stop trying so hard to shove the fact that these
characters will become The Penguin and Catwoman at every chance they get. For a
show based in the world of such iconic characters, the
writers don’t have to try so hard to remind people of that.
Catwoman #21 (2013) by Ann Nocenti, cover by Rachel and Terry Dodson
7. Future Plans and Hints:
Gotham is delivering some very
off-key characters, which is part of what makes the show so interesting and
different from the usual police procedurals. Episode two points us to the villian responsible for kidnapping Gotham's homeless youth, Barton Mathis-The Dollmaker, a fairly recent
Batman villain who’s most noteworthy act was removing the Joker’s face (at his
behest). Barton Mathis’s father was a cannibal and a serial killer who was
killed by Jim Gordon. Barton eventually became The Dollmaker and wore a mask
made from his father’s face. He’s a particularly grim character whose close
connection to Jim Gordon may be something we see play out later this season.
Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Faces of Death by Tony Daniel
8. Concerns:
My main issue with the show thus far is that we’re getting a lot of concepts and
characters very quickly. While I think it’s interesting to see some of these
characters before they became the iconic villains, there comes a point when the
planned introductions of Harvey Dent, pre-Joker, and unfrozen Mr. Freeze take away
from the believability of this world for the sake of convenience. Batman comics
have long relied on the concept of Batman’s villains emerging because of his
existence (Christopher Nolan termed this “escalation” in Batman Begins.) So assuming this show is aiming to be on for the
long haul, there will come a time when these pre-villains will need to become full-fledged
criminals in order to maintain momentum. And if we’re getting supervillain monikers,
masks, and crimes that Gordon and the rest of the GCPD can handle before
Batman, what then is the point of a Batman? While I may be getting ahead of
myself here, I do think it’s an interesting conundrum that the show may have to
deal with at some point.
Verdict: I think the first few episodes show that Gotham is still finding its footing as network shows must do, but it’s off to a much better start than most comic-based
shows.
Gotham
airs Monday on Fox 8/7c
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