Gotham

:

Season 1
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 22, 2014
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Sep 22, 2014
    60
    More troubling is the show's undercurrent of utter confidence, which sits uncomfortably with the clunky drama and borrowed style onscreen. Its best moments are carried by the actors; its worst might give you the disquieting impression that the makers of Gotham think you'll watch pretty much anything if the characters have the same names as characters from the DC universe.
  2. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Sep 16, 2014
    60
    It’s unclear from the pilot how all these players fit together.... Gotham could rebound from its overly familiar opening episode. Maybe the villains will become more than the sum of their early cameos. And certainly the presence of actors of the caliber of McKenzie and Logue, capably playing odd-couple police partners, offers promise.
  3. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Chuck Bowen
    Sep 26, 2014
    50
    Though it abounds in diverting window-dressing, Gotham is literally all dressed up with nowhere to go: It's a derivative copy of a copy in search of a real governing identity.
  5. The Huffington Post
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Sep 17, 2014
    50
    It's too dour and it takes itself too seriously, but it has potential.
  6. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Sep 17, 2014
    50
    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. 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.
  7. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Sep 17, 2014
    50
    While other comic book shows try to replicate the fantasy of the source material at every level, Gotham tries to walk a thin line between realism and fantasy. It seems to work--for now, at least. But you have to wonder about the challenges the series will face once those larvae become full-fledged, whackadoodle villains. Trying to have it both ways is courageous, but courage doesn’t guarantee success.

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Best TV Season of 2014
5
#5 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
14
#14 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 730 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 545 out of 730
  2. Mixed: 91 out of 730
  3. Negative: 94 out of 730
  1. cdsmusicchart
    Sep 23, 2014
    10
    I thought that a lack of the Bruce Wayne/Batman character would ruin it, but "Gotham" proved me wrong thanks to its interesting prequelI thought that a lack of the Bruce Wayne/Batman character would ruin it, but "Gotham" proved me wrong thanks to its interesting prequel events, slew of well known actors and pot of memorable characters.… Full Review »
  2. Evan2814
    Sep 22, 2014
    1
    Holy foreshadowing, Batman! Where do I start? This show is decaffeinated Batman. (Batman without the actual Batman) It is 80% nods andHoly foreshadowing, Batman! Where do I start? This show is decaffeinated Batman. (Batman without the actual Batman) It is 80% nods and references to existing characters and 20% poor dialog and acting.
    The plotline is weak as it is overshadowed entirely by introducing characters we already know in the corniest fashion! (ex. Ivy stroking her plants in the background) Gordon is the goody-goody cop cliche that makes up for his lack of tact with the charming desire to do the right thing, and somehow prevails despite the fact that he should have died at least twice so far. Stupid writing loopholes! Not to mention his terrible motivational speech to heart-broken Bruce Wayne. And at the end, that awful, poorly scripted scene where he tries to earn the trust of young Bruce. I don't know what to hate more, the cheesy dialog or the actors' unconvincing attempts at their characters.
    Penguin struts his psychopath side in this episode as he becomes the most freakish moron to grace the scene. And why does Alfred sound Austrailian all of a sudden? "Good on you, mate." Totally not Alfred's character! But I'll get back to that later.
    In general, the characters all have their quirks but lack truly compelling personalities. I guess there's still time to establish that, though. But seriously, I was laughing the whole episode at the ridiculous attempts to make it cool or suspenseful by illogical turns of events and 'edgy' dialog. Whenever a character was trying to sound cool they wound up dusty as my grandma's dentures. Serious, who says "keep it frosty" seriously when they're not at Wendy's?!?
    Oh, and the soundtrack! I don't know who's idea it was to hire a drunken amateur rock group, but it was worse than dubstep soundtracks! I have never in my life heard a soundtrack that made me cringe in that way before! And it didn't even fit the mood in the least bit!
    The Star Wars prequels were more clever and gripping, for crying out loud! I found it at a total lack of quality! If Batman weren't already famous, this show couldn't have aired at all. All in all, I'd say this show is worth watching, if only for laughs with a buddy who knows Batman.
    This show is the true reason Batman is haunted by his past.    … Full Review »
  3. XenonQ
    Sep 22, 2014
    9
    I liked the pilot a lot. The city is atmospheric and feels big. This is a city you believe a lot of **** goes down, but also where amazingI liked the pilot a lot. The city is atmospheric and feels big. This is a city you believe a lot of **** goes down, but also where amazing people live. All main and supporting characters were memorable, well maybe except for Alfred. They made him straight up American, and he didn't deliver a single line of wisdom. Fish Mooney was surprisingly good. I didn't expect to get so invested into a character that will probably get killed off in the second or third episode. Penguin is brilliant. I can't get enough of him. This is how you'd expect the famous crime lord of Gotham to start off.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »