Gotham is an icy rendition of our very own New York City. This mysterious allure has brought the notorious, dark epicenter to light in the new series Gotham, which premieres tonight.
Gotham’s vast, untamed landscape should prove to be the show’s main attraction, though the series is a D.C. Comics origin story following a slew of villains and vigilantes. The show’s creators are promising a visual spectacle only comic books are capable of bringing to life. Just like the sensory-loaded, surreal backdrop of Sin City, Gotham is a star in its own right—Batman or no Batman.
And there really won’t be a Batman. The show’s story begins years before the masked vigilante arrives on the scene, instead focusing on Commissioner James Gordon, played by Ben McKenzie. The series starts with a preteen Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) witnessing the murder of his parents, as the saga always begins. Gordon comes to the boy’s rescue and offers support, promising to hunt down his parents’ killer. His pursuits lead him down the grotesque rabbit hole that is Gotham, where he encounters gang boss Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith).
Viewers can expect a twisted, fictional city that is all too familiar, where crime and corruption reign supreme. The gothic mystique of Gotham, with architectural influence from New York and London, is enough to draw an audience. But looking good is only half the battle. Because really, what’s a show with Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), Riddler (Cory Michael Smith), and Catwoman (Camren Bicondova), without our caped crusader?
It might not be a bad thing. Over the years, some of the most standout roles in the Batman saga have been the villains, meaning there’s plenty of potential for Gotham despite the lack of bat. The trailer captures Oswald Cobblepot, the future Penguin, in a scuffle with Gordon, during which Cobblepot proclaims, “There’s a war coming; a terrible war. There will be chaos, rivers of blood in the streets, I know it.”
We wouldn’t expect anything less from our beloved City of Gotham.
Gotham airs tonight on FOX at 8:00 p.m. EST.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d1zpt6k5OI[/youtube]
1 Comment
I really want this show to be good. I have to admit, I am a little bit put-off by a Gotham in which, costumed criminals existed before Batman. Many times in the comics they have played with the concept that Batman is almost directly responsible for the emergence of the “freaks” in Gotham as he caused an escalation by dressing up first. However, I am a firm believer in a property existing in many different iterations across several different mediums. I am definitely going to check this out tonight.