Gotham

:

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

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  1. 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 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    Holy 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.    … Expand
  2. Olzar
    Nov 16, 2015
    3
    Show premise has it as a prequel, but since creators seem to regret the show's very premise, they make unrealistically convenient reasons to keep would be important villains and heroes around and have turned the show into a bad Muppet Babies of Batman.
  3. breathassure
    Oct 24, 2014
    0
    This show can be hilarious to watch, if you don't mind a bit of torture. The constant exposition, the laughable scripting, the actor-character mismatch...it's all so poorly done. Actors who might have been decent elsewhere seem completely out of their element here. The other DC shows aren't great but at least they don't try and fail so miserably to be taken seriously. Watching thisThis show can be hilarious to watch, if you don't mind a bit of torture. The constant exposition, the laughable scripting, the actor-character mismatch...it's all so poorly done. Actors who might have been decent elsewhere seem completely out of their element here. The other DC shows aren't great but at least they don't try and fail so miserably to be taken seriously. Watching this show pretty much feels like you're watching some kind of webisode or YouTube video.… Expand
  4. vvcrazy01
    Sep 30, 2014
    2
    The pilot was not intriguing at all. The direction was mediocre. It is like the worst cop show ever. I expected more from Gotham. It just failed to entice me. One show off my list. Not going to watch again. Poor acting, except for Ben.
  5. Bgrod
    Oct 3, 2014
    2
    A real downer of a comic book inspired series. If Gotham spent even half as much time on developing characters I could care about and interesting stories with at least a little tongue in cheek humor rather than self consciously emphasizing how great its film noir looks are, it might be a bearable hour. Otherwise, this is a depressing, dour and boring way to spend an hour.
  6. Disbelief
    Sep 22, 2014
    2
    If you ignore the dialogue, acting, writing, casting, music as well as the attempt to awkwardly introduce every character from the Batman universe in just one episode, then you would have at Gotham's core an interesting show. Magically in the midst of the Gotham train wreck the Penguin happens to be a well acted decent character. Not quite hopeless as a show, however, it's pulse isIf you ignore the dialogue, acting, writing, casting, music as well as the attempt to awkwardly introduce every character from the Batman universe in just one episode, then you would have at Gotham's core an interesting show. Magically in the midst of the Gotham train wreck the Penguin happens to be a well acted decent character. Not quite hopeless as a show, however, it's pulse is beating very faintly.… Expand
  7. xolve
    Sep 28, 2014
    3
    Pretty poor. I mean, introducing all the major villains in the first episode?
    Just shoehorned in there?
    Granted, comics aren't known for their subtlety, but jeez, they could've made something grim, strong, and unpretentious with this. Instead, we get every major Gotham city character's backstory in the first episode. Poor showing, fan-service, at-best.
  8. jedly1975
    Dec 12, 2014
    0
    Unwatchable, and cringe worthy. I wanted to gag. It's a disgrace to the Batman universe. I really can't understand why it's doing so well. There really isn't much of a redeeming quality about this show.
  9. JDSCigano666
    Jan 16, 2015
    0
    Why even bother? Apart from the money maybe but even then if this is a cashgrab just make it about Batman. It's kind of like the Star Wars sequels, terribly written and you know what happens anyway.

    Maybe the idea of fleshing out the infamous rogues gallery sounded good but if that was the point then they missed it by some margin. It seems like the cool thing is to completely desecrate    Why even bother? Apart from the money maybe but even then if this is a cashgrab just make it about Batman. It's kind of like the Star Wars sequels, terribly written and you know what happens anyway.

    Maybe the idea of fleshing out the infamous rogues gallery sounded good but if that was the point then they missed it by some margin. It seems like the cool thing is to completely desecrate the characters from the comics and introduce new ones that are just too obviously out of place.

    The acting is on par with the writing in that it's cringeworthy to witness. Donal Logue is about the only one trying and even his version of Harvey Bullock is way off. Ben McKenzie well, when he played Batman he sounded like he was asleep and it seems like he hasn't woken up for Gordon either. As a fan of Sean Pertwee I have no idea why they chose him of all actors. He is nothing like Alfred Pennyworth.

    Zero usually seems harsh but there is truly no saving grace for this turkey of a show. They ought to just fast forward and give everyone what they're waiting for.    … Expand
  10. MarcioTadeu
    Oct 10, 2014
    3
    Bad writing, bad acting, really bad ideias with my favorite characters. Gotham should get axed before it makes more damage. Episode 3 of Gotham and I`m still not liking at all. Beginning to think this show should get cancelled before they screw even more with my favorite characters.
  11. batmanaaron
    Aug 14, 2015
    1
    Gotham has some really bad pacing with joker being introduced in season 2 and the red hood gang in episode 17 you can tell gotham doesn't suffer from bad acting but bad writing, but the worst part of gotham is the ogre story arc,his secret base looks like something from 50 shades of grey
  12. Baudim
    May 30, 2016
    2
    I couldn't get through the first episode. Too cliché, too predictable, too "hey look that character is gonna be a villain, can you guess which one?!?". Also the old cop / young cop dynamic is not modern at all and just made me roll my eyes the whole time.
  13. Epic_toast
    Sep 27, 2014
    0
    In one word, Garbage, mediocre garbage at that. The only good actor is Ben McKenzie but it seems he is struggling through his lines. The story is a slap in the face of Nolans Batman series, and stinks like CASH IN
  14. doughsleyes
    Sep 26, 2014
    2
    The only part I like was how awesome Gotham City looked... Though it was like a preschooler easteregg hunt for comicbookies.... yup... take Batman outta Batman and you get crap
  15. Garon010
    Oct 1, 2014
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For a life-long fan of comic books - particularly, Batman, I might add - this was a major letdown. The grit of the comics, recent movies and games has been abandoned in favour of sloppy scenes and senseless and random violence. There is hardly any build-up to the shaky-cam chase scenes (guess, they needed to fill the hour) and comic regulars are dropped in here and there - perhaps 'crammed in' is more apt. Even if one could ignore the cheap treatment of the source material, one is left by a badly produced show: many scenes are brief and utterly pointless. For example, when Gordon's future wife goes to the GCPD in hopes of discovering the whereabouts of her dearest, Gordon's cookie-cutter-dirty-cop partner informs her that he is on a stake-out and "his phone ran out of juice". Without batting an eye, she except his word and leaves. These are minutes of my life I lost forever...… Expand
  16. ana_melinte90
    Nov 17, 2014
    1
    I tried watching two episodes but it was pure torture. The actors play so bad. And the script is full of cliches. I don't get why people praise this show, especially the critics.
  17. TomaAmer
    Aug 24, 2015
    2
    This show is way overrated here. To be clear, i'm no fan of the Batman universe, I've seen and loved Burton and Nolan's movies but that's it.
    After the pilot, which is really really bad, I tried to go on and see if the show becomes better, but here i am, 3 episodes later, still confused about why this show is rated 71 here. It is terrible, the acting is bad, the dialogues are poor. Ok the    This show is way overrated here. To be clear, i'm no fan of the Batman universe, I've seen and loved Burton and Nolan's movies but that's it.
    After the pilot, which is really really bad, I tried to go on and see if the show becomes better, but here i am, 3 episodes later, still confused about why this show is rated 71 here. It is terrible, the acting is bad, the dialogues are poor. Ok the stories aren't so bad, but it's always uselessly brutal and bloody, with horror movie music in the back, and that's only because this is what keeps people in front of the tv today, and i love bloody shows but it just feels terribly wrong and useless here. I'm gonna watch marvel's daredevil now, hopefully it'll be better. I'd even prefer watch the entire Smallville series all over again than this ****    … Expand
  18. Smee
    Oct 18, 2014
    0
    Most predictable show ever,Oswald Cobblepot's script is so predictable ,can guess what he does so easily .How come ,people use cell phones and modern cars before pre Batman era.Character development is one dimensional.Dark characters just dark ,Stupid writing at one point ,to finalize the selection to send a girl as a spy, Fish Mooney made them beat other,that can potentially cause themMost predictable show ever,Oswald Cobblepot's script is so predictable ,can guess what he does so easily .How come ,people use cell phones and modern cars before pre Batman era.Character development is one dimensional.Dark characters just dark ,Stupid writing at one point ,to finalize the selection to send a girl as a spy, Fish Mooney made them beat other,that can potentially cause them lost teeth or permanent scars.… Expand
  19. tombren
    Oct 9, 2014
    0
    I really really wanted to like this. The first episode had a flub within minutes. But still a decent start. This last episode, well is the last episode I will watch. I get that the comic book beginnings did not tell us how the characters started ( ie. James Gordon) But, I know that no one was a lesbian in the original comics.
  20. mams2000
    Jan 14, 2015
    2
    Honestly, I couldn't see more than 1 episode of Gotham. It was enough for me to see that the show is thousand of miles away from the high standards set by Nolan or the new comic books editions (Renaissance).
  21. maxtotal22
    Feb 18, 2015
    3
    I had high hopes for this show, but after watching until the mid-season I somehow lost all hope. For me, there are too many inconsistencies in story telling, concept of the show, character design and screenplay.

    Our view on Batman and Gotham has been mainly influenced by the recent movies of Nolan and of course by the early Tim Burton movies. Now imagine you would try to mix both    I had high hopes for this show, but after watching until the mid-season I somehow lost all hope. For me, there are too many inconsistencies in story telling, concept of the show, character design and screenplay.

    Our view on Batman and Gotham has been mainly influenced by the recent movies of Nolan and of course by the early Tim Burton movies. Now imagine you would try to mix both movies. Imagine to take the crazy characters with their quirks from the Burton movies and put them in a criminal and corrupted city like the Nolan Gotham. It just doesn't work. And that is why the show Gotham doesn't work.

    While Detective Gordan is depicted as a down-to-earth always grim looking goodiegoodie cop, a character that could work in bad drama show, interacting with Enigma "Fish" or the "Penguin" makes him look out of place. Gotham looks great. The town, the cars and the light makes you feel that you are in gothic-like New York of the 70ies, but why the hell does every one have cell phones of the late 90ies?

    The dialogs are dumb and shallow, due to the tendency to follow a comic-like character design the dialogs are mostly accompanied by very bad overacting. The shallow diologs might be attributed to the fact, that the show might be for inattentive viewers who do not care for inconsistent plot turns, dumb and overacting dialogs. I don't know and at this point, I don't care.

    The show looks so good, but there is no sparkle, no soul and no suspense that could catch my attention.    … Expand
  22. boubadiop
    Feb 19, 2015
    3
    Watched every episode to this date think am about half way through the first series so I cant really give up now. But with every episode my motivation decreases a little more its really not that great, the main actor in the show is just bad and the story for the whole thing makes no sense, all of sudden one of the characters is a leader of some slaves on a boat? The whole stupidity of theWatched every episode to this date think am about half way through the first series so I cant really give up now. But with every episode my motivation decreases a little more its really not that great, the main actor in the show is just bad and the story for the whole thing makes no sense, all of sudden one of the characters is a leader of some slaves on a boat? The whole stupidity of the main story just angers me and really not worth the time and effort even if you are batman fan… Expand
  23. ikkei
    Mar 21, 2015
    3
    Where no AAA dared go before... A cheesy collection of evident cliches, all but redeemed by a predictable void in lieu of intrigue: unfortunately, that statement doesn't even begin to cover how Gotham fails at pretty much everything.

    I find it hard to believe that one of the highest-budget show would get such an awful treatment. Yet, that's what happened here. Most of the writing,    Where no AAA dared go before... A cheesy collection of evident cliches, all but redeemed by a predictable void in lieu of intrigue: unfortunately, that statement doesn't even begin to cover how Gotham fails at pretty much everything.

    I find it hard to believe that one of the highest-budget show would get such an awful treatment. Yet, that's what happened here. Most of the writing, directing, storytelling, the vision really, feels rushed and unspeakably shallow. When most of something is so bad, what little good there is feels stained, slightly out of place.

    For a twisted cultural interest, you really owe it to yourself to watch episode 1, just to appreciate how bad money can be spent on a huge license.    … Expand
  24. really11
    Oct 11, 2014
    0
    This show disgusts me. I knew it would be bad but how bad I could not fathom. It has no redeeming features and I really feel bad for people that made it and watch it. I could barely stomach the first episode and couldn't wait for it to be over. I have since seen two other scenes and put it up there with the worst shows on tv, The acting is bad but the writing is unforgivable.
  25. Thebuzz
    Dec 1, 2014
    3
    It's dark version of all the Batman series going back decades...If your depressed you'll like this stuff...
    I left Batman long ago, much better programs, with better action and drama and content, that doesn't offend your sensibilities...
  26. elamin13
    Feb 20, 2015
    0
    how in the hell are you introducing robin already? robin is nowhere near the same age as batman. they need to take this garbage off of the air. this will be my last comment on this show because i cannot watch it any longer. i was only watching it because of Jada Pinkett-Smith, but i can no longer do it. i would rather rip my own eyes out of my head and cut of my ears that watch thishow in the hell are you introducing robin already? robin is nowhere near the same age as batman. they need to take this garbage off of the air. this will be my last comment on this show because i cannot watch it any longer. i was only watching it because of Jada Pinkett-Smith, but i can no longer do it. i would rather rip my own eyes out of my head and cut of my ears that watch this garbage any more.… Expand
  27. GSpark
    Nov 2, 2014
    1
    Honestly, the worst show I've watched in a long time. Terrible, cheesy acting. Ridiculous plot elements. I know you're meant to suspend your disbelief when watching a TV show, but for the writers/directors of this debacle to expect you to do so is plain insulting.
  28. pete1977
    Nov 14, 2014
    1
    What a horrible show. To the writers and producers of the show i just want to say, please stop wasting our times with such bs, and cancel this stupid show. This show is exactly how i expected it to be.
  29. Broyax
    Dec 31, 2016
    0
    Meeerde... 3 saisons ? déjà ?... j'arrive pas à finir la première. Et puis quoi... 22 épisodes ? sérieusement ?... meeeerde.

    J'en suis au troisième et déjà... j'en peux plus. Oui, le putain de troisième épisode. Et de de toute façon, je l'ai même pas fini. Pourtant, je vois bien un peu ce qu'ils ont essayé de faire avec ce pré-prologue de Batman, ce temps où Batman n'était pas encore    Meeerde... 3 saisons ? déjà ?... j'arrive pas à finir la première. Et puis quoi... 22 épisodes ? sérieusement ?... meeeerde.

    J'en suis au troisième et déjà... j'en peux plus. Oui, le putain de troisième épisode. Et de de toute façon, je l'ai même pas fini.

    Pourtant, je vois bien un peu ce qu'ils ont essayé de faire avec ce pré-prologue de Batman, ce temps où Batman n'était pas encore Batman mais un môme de 10 ans. Pareil pour Catwoman. Et pour les autres vilains ou déjantés qui roulent plus ou moins (déjà) leur bosse dans la ville du crime, c'est le même principe : "regarde un peu avant comment j'étais sans collants. Et sans mon costume violet ni mes chaussons verts. Regarde comme j'étais plus jeune et plus petit."

    D'accord mais est-ce intéressant ? les détraqués sans leurs costumes ? j'ai un gros doute. Et qu'est-ce qu'on a à la place ? cette andouille molle de Jim Gordon... qui c'est çui-là déjà ? ah le flic idiot dans les films, le faire-valoir crétin, le demeuré de service, le constipé du règlement. Eh ben il a une série rien qu'à lui et pour lui maintenant. Et sa blondasse de bonne femme, une grue sortie d'on ne sait où.

    A part ça, rien à signaler : il ne se passe rien. Rien du tout, que dalle. Juste des meubles plus ou moins parlants. Des dialogues écrits avec le fion récités par des acteurs à la masse. Je passe.    … Expand
  30. tigerskin84
    Sep 29, 2015
    0
    Instead of this garbage they should done a batman year one tv show, this show is bad , bad acting, poor choice of casting and why the hell is catwoman and every villain in this show a bad guy almost since they are born... i watched the fisrt 4 chapters and im done, theres a lot out there a lot better than this cr@p
  31. Lirezh
    Apr 6, 2018
    1
    We have one great Season one, one good Season two and two horrible seasons 3 and 4.

    The series started well thought through, well done and greatly acted. It turned out into a stupid mess of repeated high phantasy acts. It's really a shame how such a nice start can be so extremely ruined. They didn't even want to get new actors, they keep killing the same actors over and over    We have one great Season one, one good Season two and two horrible seasons 3 and 4.

    The series started well thought through, well done and greatly acted.
    It turned out into a stupid mess of repeated high phantasy acts.

    It's really a shame how such a nice start can be so extremely ruined.

    They didn't even want to get new actors, they keep killing the same actors over and over again to find a new way of making them "alive again" again and again.
    Stay away from it.    … Expand
  32. WandaFukawa
    Jan 6, 2019
    0
    Get writers who understand the English Language. "I could care less," used in several places in episodes is incorrect. That phrase indicates one is capable of caring less. The idea that the writer wanted to convey is "I couldn't (or could not) care less." Think about the phrasing...thanks

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  1. 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.
    Read full review
  2. Sioux City Journal
    Reviewed by: Bruce Miller
    Sep 22, 2014
    80
    An absorbing, intelligent new drama that gives the Batman mythology one more layer of depth.
    Read full review
  3. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Vicki Hyman
    Sep 22, 2014
    91
    The city--neon-washed, Chanderlesque, somewhat anachronistic--is itself also a character, and it turns what could be "Law & Order: Gotham" into something infinitely more layered and watchable.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »