Editor’s note: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of “Gotham.”
(CNN) — With Fox’s “Gotham,” we have the chance to see Batman begin once more.
The much-hyped fall series made its debut on Monday night, starting off with a storyline that’s pretty familiar to Batman fans and non-fans alike: the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents.
“Gotham’s” take on the scene was more violent than usual, but it also added a new twist. A young Selina Kyle (played by Camren Bicondova, and destined to become Catwoman) also witnessed the young couple being gunned down.
Monday’s premiere did give screen time to a young Bruce (David Mazouz) as he grieved the loss of his parents, but the future superhero isn’t the real star of the show. That title belongs to Detective Jim Gordon, who’s not yet a commissioner, as played by “The OC” and “Southland” star Ben McKenzie.
Gordon arrives in Gotham City because it’s where the action is, but he soon finds out that things are far more complicated. Crime bosses Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett-Smith) and Carmine Falcone run the city’s underworld, and Gordon’s partner, Harvey Bullock, isn’t exactly the most ethical cop around.
But compared to McKenzie’s straight-as-an-arrow Gordon, the villains are so far the best part of “Gotham.” Fish and her lackey Oswald Cobblepot — who’s also called by the nickname he hates,”Penguin” — were a treat to watch, as were the younger versions of Gotham bad guys Riddler and Poison Ivy during their very brief introductions.
Thus far, McKenzie’s Gordon seems like a one-note, righteous character, so we’ll have to see if he gets fleshed out in future episodes.
For critics, “Gotham” had a nice start but doubtful longevity.
“Taken strictly on its own terms, the Fox series is a handsome, gritty crime drama, with Ben McKenzie as the idealistic young cop and Donal Logue as his grizzled, ethically compromised partner,” Brian Lowry said in Variety’s review. “Yet if the show is supposed to work for its peripheral connection to the Dark Knight and his colorful menagerie of villains before they became such … well, that bat simply won’t fly.”
Mike Hale at the New York Times tried to focus on the positive, pointing out that at the very least, “Gotham” has “consistent style.”
“If you’re going to make yet another show or movie about an honest cop in a corrupt city,” Hale said, “you’d better make it look good. (A)nd this Gotham City, with its nightmarish gothic skyline under perpetually gray skies, looks pretty good.”
Viewers on Twitter had mostly positive responses to the show — and particularly its casting — although not everyone was immediately sold.
“Amazing cast. I was impressed because this isn’t the type of show I would watch in the past,” said KE Vargas Barrett.
Added another fan, “I like the look and style. Characters known and unknown seem interesting. Glad Gordon was the focus. We’ll see how it goes.”
Marcus Alan Sheperd, however, “was disappointed,” he tweeted. “Good thing I follow a 3 episode rule.”
The-CNN-Wire
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