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. 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
  2. SrPepe
    Jul 5, 2018
    7
    Esta buena pero tiene varios conceptos raros y bastantes malos. Muy por debajo de la siguiente.
  3. 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
  4. kk84
    Nov 3, 2017
    10
    best show i have ever watched! i love the GOTHAM, the city, the characters good and evil, the actors and their acting, the make up, the stories, the whole Batman universe is so great!
    Best time of the week is to see another episode of this show! dont miss it its the best!
  5. Peanutdesforets
    Oct 12, 2017
    9
    We must take your time with this show because it's going better each episode at a time. The villains are nice, Alfred is awesome and even if Bruce aka young Batman is sometimes muche more that annoying the acting is good and the next season is going to be epic.
  6. TheOnlyMr
    Jun 6, 2017
    9
    The first five episodes were boring to be honest , But after those episodes that explain the backstory of this TV series the action starts and goes deeper in the DCEU.
    The idea of killing off huge villains and getting them back from the dead isn't really fun. On one of the season finale's I believe they " killed " off fish mooney , And then Hugo Strange appears and gets her back from the    The first five episodes were boring to be honest , But after those episodes that explain the backstory of this TV series the action starts and goes deeper in the DCEU.
    The idea of killing off huge villains and getting them back from the dead isn't really fun. On one of the season finale's I believe they " killed " off fish mooney , And then Hugo Strange appears and gets her back from the dead. Then Galavan dies and returns as a ninja warrior , So things just dont add up in the series and I think that they should fix these small issues then Ill consider a 10/10.    … Expand
  7. flylex
    May 18, 2017
    8
    Gotham from the beginning already defines how the series will be in the case a police series on the department of the gcpd of gotham the city and the series itself are dark, dark and give a certain intimidation, the protagonist is the policeman james gordom while he is new And is not commissary in the beginning the series follows a language of the recipe of a villain per episode and a clueGotham from the beginning already defines how the series will be in the case a police series on the department of the gcpd of gotham the city and the series itself are dark, dark and give a certain intimidation, the protagonist is the policeman james gordom while he is new And is not commissary in the beginning the series follows a language of the recipe of a villain per episode and a clue to a larger plot in the future, villains in general are good falcone, maroni, fish mooney and the penguin are great character pincally penguin and fish Which has strong personalities that are being molded and defined more and more, we also have bruce wayne that is relatively well but does not pass full credibility of what would be the future millionaire egocentrico and grumpy, alfred is very similar to the comic always giving sermons and how Always very badass, jim gordon itself is not very impressive in the series and harvey would be the supposed relief comico the series is good but also has many mistakes and holes in the same script So amuses and learns from past mistakes note 78… Expand
  8. TiagoGM18
    Mar 27, 2017
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great first season, too bad the show kind of collapses after the death of Azrael. Great characters, you can really get invested both in the heroes and the villains, especially Penguin… Expand
  9. 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
  10. eagleeyeviking
    Sep 26, 2016
    6
    Sporadically solid but not without it's flaws, Gotham's relation to it's Batman mythology is unfortunately what sets it apart from other similar shows.
  11. ProGamerZix
    Sep 20, 2016
    9
    The start blew my mind. The writing and screenplay are amazing. The Music is exceptional. The display of the city Gotham is very dark and gritty !

    If you are a DC fan this is a must watch
  12. XxramezxX
    Aug 2, 2016
    10
    Incredible show, i'm amazed with the incredible talent of the whole cast and the script, it really is worth a watch..i don't usually follow tv shows but this ones just blew me away, it does not stick to all the original versions of dc we know but it sticks out due to its originality , 10/10 a true masterpiece
  13. georgio
    Jul 18, 2016
    8
    I watched first 15 episodes of the TV show and I am loving it. However I understands why some of the die hard fans of DC Comics franchise may be disgruntled. I will address some of the stuff:

    Setting: you will not see some dark Gothic themes and weird supervillains much. The TV shows is set in a modern US city although much more twisted and corrupted but in an ordinary way. Gothem seems    I watched first 15 episodes of the TV show and I am loving it. However I understands why some of the die hard fans of DC Comics franchise may be disgruntled. I will address some of the stuff:

    Setting: you will not see some dark Gothic themes and weird supervillains much. The TV shows is set in a modern US city although much more twisted and corrupted but in an ordinary way. Gothem seems to be closer to cynicism of "The Wire" rather than fairy tale dark atmosphere of Marvel franchise. So you see the corrupt police, mob wars and corporate greed played out in various plots. It picture Gotham as a complex maze that is hard to navigate by "heores" and "villains" alike. I am loving it.

    Characters: There are some really wonderful and strong characters in the show. However to me it seems that support characters may be better acted than main heroes. This reminds me a little bit of "The Grim" series. Additionally there seems to be no presence of some silly/supernatural aspects in the show. Penguin is creepy rising star in italian mob. Enigma is weido working as lab rat in police department. really well done.

    Plot: There are several plot lines of various characters that meet and divide again and again with murder cases of detective Jim Gordon as a common thread to connect everything. So you get to see "murderer of the week" episodes with no longterm effect as well as episodes where plots that were long in preparation are thwarted or changed. All in all the pace is good.

    What I find lacking: Humor. I mean it. The TV show takes itself too seriously. I think there is a lot of potential for some sort of dark and cynical humor in the Show. You have cynical detective in Harvey Bullock. You have your english butler in american metropolis. I cannot imagine that people of Gotham could take everything they live through without some sort of humor. Look no further than "The Wire" for some tips.

    Anyways all in all this is a very good detective TV show that is also a probe into the life of citizen of totally corrupted city. It has a lot of potential even if you are not particular fan of DC Comics franchise.    … Expand
  14. Graham433
    Jul 7, 2016
    10
    When I wake up and think of a word to describe Gotham it would be 'Masterpiece.' Gotham sets a new bar for
    superhero tv shows with its suspenseful, retro, gory vibe. Gotham Season 1 is better than Season 2 though Season 2 is also a masterpiece. In Season 1 we are introduced to Jim Gordon, Black Mask, & Joker or Mad Hatter. Overall, a masterpiece that must be watched.
  15. 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.
  16. daneyuleb
    May 25, 2016
    10
    Stylish, gritty, atmospheric, a little gonzo at times. Superbly cast. This is easily the best of the comic book based dramas out there no matter what anyone tells you--if anything made better by the fact that it's carving it's own spin on the origin stories of Batman and his various friends and enemies.

    The characters are near-perfectly cast--especially Gordon, Penquin, Alfred and the    Stylish, gritty, atmospheric, a little gonzo at times. Superbly cast. This is easily the best of the comic book based dramas out there no matter what anyone tells you--if anything made better by the fact that it's carving it's own spin on the origin stories of Batman and his various friends and enemies.

    The characters are near-perfectly cast--especially Gordon, Penquin, Alfred and the Riddler--and MOST especially David Mazouz,as the young Bruce Wayne.

    I know that Agent Carter, The Flash, Daredevil, Jessica Jones are all the darlings of the critics, but after this show got rolling deep into its first season, it clearly grew into taking the crown as the best of the super hero shows, the others all too often suffering from too much camp, too much talk or too much self-importance and angst.    … Expand
  17. MEFzelder
    May 22, 2016
    6
    "Gotham" es una buena serie, con sus altas y bajas, con elementos cuestionables para fans de Batman pero que en general logra entretener y representar con el estilo Nolan a personajes como el Pingüino y el Acertijo.
    La serie nos introduce justo en el evento que más definió la vida de Bruce Wayne, el asesinato de sus padres, de aquí se pone el foco de la cámara en un joven James Gordon    "Gotham" es una buena serie, con sus altas y bajas, con elementos cuestionables para fans de Batman pero que en general logra entretener y representar con el estilo Nolan a personajes como el Pingüino y el Acertijo.
    La serie nos introduce justo en el evento que más definió la vida de Bruce Wayne, el asesinato de sus padres, de aquí se pone el foco de la cámara en un joven James Gordon (Ben McKenzie), policía del departamento de Gotham, quien inicia la investigación sobre el homicidio en contra de las ideas de su compañero, Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue).
    De aquí se van introduciendo los personajes más llamativos de la saga de Batman, como los ya mencionados Pingüino (Robin Lord Taylor) y Acertijo (Cory Michel Smith) entre otros como Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova) y Poison Ivy (Clare Foley) quienes aún no han desarrollado el personaje en que se convertirán en el futuro.
    Uno de las fallas más grandes que tiene la serie son los protagonistas, Ben McKenzie y Erin Richards, quien interpreta a Barbara Gordon, son malos actores. Ben al menos añadió una expresión tras la primer mitad de la temporada, mostrar los dientes; pero Erin fue tan mala que la hicieron desaparecer luego de la primera parte y cuando reapareció le dieron un rol donde su conducta era no expresar emociones.
    En general la serie es entretenida, te atrapa más por los villanos que por los héroes y esta bien producida, aunque la serie hace ver a Batman irrelevante, ya que su forma de impartir justicia causó que los villanos imitaran su método dramático para ser criminales a su altura, aquí parece que es a la inversa.    … Expand
  18. TornadoCreator
    Apr 9, 2016
    8
    This is yet another show in quick succession that seems to be bringing back an aesthetic long forgotten; film-noir. While other shows have seen more conversation started over them, namely Daredevil, this stands along side it as one of the pioneers of the emerging genre and an equally interesting offering from DC as the ones provided by Marvel.

    Focusing more on the city before Batman    This is yet another show in quick succession that seems to be bringing back an aesthetic long forgotten; film-noir. While other shows have seen more conversation started over them, namely Daredevil, this stands along side it as one of the pioneers of the emerging genre and an equally interesting offering from DC as the ones provided by Marvel.

    Focusing more on the city before Batman exists, we have a show that focuses more on the atmosphere and style of the city itself while telling a police-periodical crime-noir drama, steeped in style as it explores the nature of corruption and organised crime. A thrilling show that keeps the energy up while being relateable through the characters of Gordan and Bullock who play a fantastic police duo. Highly recommended viewing even for those who don't particularly enjoy superheroes as you'd be completely unaware that this was based on a comic if you're not previously familiar with the setting.    … Expand
  19. royv
    Feb 14, 2016
    10
    Gotham’s hooks

    You’ve my applause FOX Your excellent display of gruesome narrative, in an era of indifference, in a hoary metropolis, where the ’stale’ is banished and the bloody is made mainstream…….well, I do declare my loyalty to all things ‘Gotham’! Don’t you know/your writers are top tier, their exposés unrivaled And that they’ve my eyes and ears on Monday nights when I    Gotham’s hooks

    You’ve my applause FOX

    Your excellent display of gruesome narrative, in an era of indifference, in a hoary metropolis, where the ’stale’ is banished and the bloody is made mainstream…….well,

    I do declare my loyalty to all things ‘Gotham’!

    Don’t you know/your writers are top tier, their exposés unrivaled

    And that they’ve my eyes and ears on Monday nights when I sink into a Victorian lounger, pull at my lower lip, pinch a corrosive hook Twix my forefinger and thumb, wait for the clock to strike eight, click the clicker, and slowly pierce it in and through?

    My fantasy, a mild bleed, makes me flush, I’m warmed, and then made nauseous; what’s more, escape into a dark miserable reality is somewhat curiously soothing …..I taste my own blood……there’s a hint of metal/rust in it; nevertheless, I’m out-and-out hooked!

    So reel me in FOX……..I ‘wanna’ be reeled in

    And for you, whom are unaware,

    ‘Gotham’, the show, is in the midst of laying foundations, building transformative walls, painting a portrait of an iconic city morphing from a dull harmony/old-style lawbreaking to outright bedlam….

    Citizens known more for their inflexibility and nonconformity are at first confused, then inured, and ultimately struck hard, stunned to ever escalating senseless bloodletting….

    The populace, like frogs in a crock, is slowly cooked/ is conditioned for villainy untold

    What simmers to a boil is a complete disregard for original forms of crime and sleaze swapped for a constant flow of corruption/misconduct/ wickedness/treachery/ and the noxious brew is spiked to the brim with indescribable fury….

    The ‘law’ is railed at……’wake up damn it…… get your ass out of bed, get to your feet, and stand up’!

    But ‘he’s’ crippled, and when he walks he staggers, he’s dejected

    ‘Evil has spilled over and ‘performance’ has taken to the stage’!

    ‘Badness’, she’s a grisly sort, her learnt knacks are made the rule/ not the exception
    And ‘Brutality’, her lackey, makes the people salivate
    They want eyes to be stabbed and gouged
    They want flesh to be ‘lit up’ to fuel the light that brightens their dark alleys
    The cries from living torches is unsettling but not unconscionable
    They want Stilettoes (her heals) to be pressed through defenseless throats conjuring the sounds of desperate gurgles
    Fresh corpses are cut up, handled sloppily, and contempt for morality/ethics/ life has taken on a perverse significance

    An intellect that feeds on unbridled egotism is birthed,

    Gotham is made gross;

    With the rise of the villains she’s no conduct for what is civil

    And at the core of this new spirit are a riddle joined to a bird, tempered by a cat, while a disreputable fish is exiled

    At present, these are Gotham’s ‘hooks’, and I’ve no other reason for watching the wonderful spectacle that is

    Gotham    … Expand
  20. cwetzel4
    Feb 7, 2016
    10
    I was extremely skeptical of this show because all of my friends told me it was very good but it wasn't about batman so I as a lover of everything batman wasn't to interested in a show about the city of gotham that wasn't all about batman. I end up binging on super hero tv shows on Netflix and once i found my self done with The Flash and The Arrow I figured why not and decided to make theI was extremely skeptical of this show because all of my friends told me it was very good but it wasn't about batman so I as a lover of everything batman wasn't to interested in a show about the city of gotham that wasn't all about batman. I end up binging on super hero tv shows on Netflix and once i found my self done with The Flash and The Arrow I figured why not and decided to make the jump and watch Gotham. Lets just say I watched every available episode with in two days and if it was a possible career choice I would sign up today to be a member of the GCPD (Gotham City Police Department). I highly recommend watching Gotham… Expand
  21. JoeBlair
    Nov 20, 2015
    10
    The show is great fun if you overlook some awkward compromises that were made to retain mass appeal.

    2nd Season has a fantastic Michael Chiklis performance.
  22. 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.
  23. Soma9840
    Nov 11, 2015
    8
    The show is definitely worth a watch with interesting characters, interesting story, and lack of major filming mistakes. Also, I find the multiple storylines idea incredibly well done and interesting. There are very few cop show cliches. Some of our favorite characters are made believable through means not possible in film or comics. This is one of the few shows I can find myself invested in.
  24. Jimmus
    Oct 12, 2015
    6
    What a mess. "Hey, let's throw all the Batman story, throw it up in the air, and make a show about the villains! Naw, we don't have to pay any attention to the origins of anyone, nobody will care if we mess with that."
  25. 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
  26. johnyct9760
    Sep 28, 2015
    9
    On the whole I thought it was good, I would have liked to have seen a little more character exploration on a few of the main and secondary characters (EG: detective bullock) but all and all it was really solid and fun to watch. I did notice there were just a few to many impossible escapes by and hammed up over the top gun fights thrown in that did kind of break my immersion in the story.On the whole I thought it was good, I would have liked to have seen a little more character exploration on a few of the main and secondary characters (EG: detective bullock) but all and all it was really solid and fun to watch. I did notice there were just a few to many impossible escapes by and hammed up over the top gun fights thrown in that did kind of break my immersion in the story. My final verdict is Solid B+ Well done, room to grow and I'm definitely going to tune in for season 2.… Expand
  27. EnderA
    Sep 24, 2015
    4
    Pros:
    *The backgrounds and styling are cohesive and smooth, with the classic Batman Film-Noir feel.
    *You get to see nearly all of the classic Batman characters together. *Penguin's plot line is a lot of fun, with interesting twists. (Literally the only reason I kept watching was because of Penguin.) Cons: *There is almost no character development or depth. *The plot stretches    Pros:
    *The backgrounds and styling are cohesive and smooth, with the classic Batman Film-Noir feel.
    *You get to see nearly all of the classic Batman characters together.
    *Penguin's plot line is a lot of fun, with interesting twists. (Literally the only reason I kept watching was because of Penguin.)

    Cons:
    *There is almost no character development or depth.
    *The plot stretches itself pretty far in terms of actions being in-character.
    *Very little real action, mostly just posturing.

    As much as I wanted to keep watching the Penguin story line (I watched 11 episodes hoping it would get better,) I couldn't justify watching a show for just one plot line.    … Expand
  28. CoNn3r_B
    Sep 15, 2015
    6
    This show is OK but it is let down by all the inaccuracies for the sake of plot for example Fish Mooney is a non-person in all the comics which honestly I wouldn't mind if the character had depth and a decent actor.

    Penguin, though very well acted I have to say, is a very poor portrayal of the character, Penguin is short and fat, while the Penguin isn't tall in the show per say he is    This show is OK but it is let down by all the inaccuracies for the sake of plot for example Fish Mooney is a non-person in all the comics which honestly I wouldn't mind if the character had depth and a decent actor.

    Penguin, though very well acted I have to say, is a very poor portrayal of the character, Penguin is short and fat, while the Penguin isn't tall in the show per say he is still a good 5ft 8 while the penguin in the comics is 4ft something, the actor is also very lean and should have a British accent due to him being sent away to boarding school. All in all the story is similar though where he rises up through the ranks of the mob and despite the character inaccuracies it is a compelling story.

    I don't like the way Gordon is portrayed though in this, if the city was as corrupt as they say he would be dead by now, he should be dead but he was saved by ridiculous technicalities so the plot can go on, instead of a cop who is squeaky clean and fights the system I would rather see a good cop forced to do bad things and has to fight to keep himself on the 'right' path, and while Gordon does make some deals from time to time it is so clean it is ridiculous, his character is just too Hollywood.

    The kid they got to play Bruce Wayne was a good choice, I'm not a fan of child actors as of 99% of the time they suck but this kid has potential. I do see him as a young Bruce Wayne.

    Alfred is a joke in this, the actor they got to play him (Sean Pertwee) has the wrong type of accent, as an English person I can tell you his accent is a British accent it isn't the right kind, pretty much every role Sean has had in the past (from what I've seen) is that of a Villain due to the aggressiveness of his accent.

    And another problem I have with this show is that it's too pretty. We're supposed to be looking at a city on the verge of collapse due to corruption with people living in fear and get beat up by cops and thugs and live in poverty and then you get a young Catwoman with an immaculate pretty face. (before you go on she's 16 which is legal in the UK and I'm 18 so don't start.) the homeless kids didn't look homeless, Gordon got battered and his face his back to normal in a few hours and the city itself looks too clean.

    I want to make something clear there IS something compelling about this show but they chose the wrong franchise, if it wasn't Batman this show would feel more natural but alas it is Batman and all I can do while watching is notice the inaccuracies and the extremely obvious foreshadowing that they ram down your throat, "You need help Nigma" give me a break.    … Expand
  29. marc5477
    Sep 7, 2015
    9
    What a pleasant surprise. I was expecting more garbage like Arrow and Flash but was treated to something that might climb to the top of my list of TV shows to watch. The dialog is good and the acting is extremely good. For the most part the plots are well done however several episodes had some big plot holes that didnt make sense but on average, the writing was good. Do not expect thisWhat a pleasant surprise. I was expecting more garbage like Arrow and Flash but was treated to something that might climb to the top of my list of TV shows to watch. The dialog is good and the acting is extremely good. For the most part the plots are well done however several episodes had some big plot holes that didnt make sense but on average, the writing was good. Do not expect this show to follow the comics loyally. If you are one of those idiots who think that everything needs to follow the comics, I invite you to snort some cool aid because even the comics themselves do not follow their own origins and turn non-nonsensically bad 90% of the time. There is no difference between a comic writer writing Batman or a TV show or Movie producers. They are all PAID BY THE OWNERS to do exactly that. This show is very good and possibly the best adaptation of a comic in history... all that said, and Batman is not even a factor since he is just a kid at this point. I cant wait for season 2 and while you are at it, maybe during the off season, go help the morons at Flash (Arrow is not salvageable) which is a travesty and embarrassing to watch.… Expand
  30. king5ter
    Aug 31, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. While it's first few episodes get the show off to a shaky start, Gotham is overall a brilliant show, blending detective drama, origin stories and mob wars into an intriguing, enjoyable show. The main character Jim Gordon is likable and dynamic, and the main characters are mostly fleshed out and human, with one or two exceptions.

    The pilot is rough around the edges, introducing the characters while at the same time cramming in so many references that every single minute of the episode is packed with them. They aren't exact;y subtle either, with the show throwing every conceivable plot device and clue at you to get you to notice the reference. It does this a lot in the season. An example is a scene in a mid-season episode where both the viewer and Jim meet Harvey Dent for the first time, the lawyer who later becomes Two-Face. You see him with a client of his, making a decision based on a coin flip, a nod to the character he will later become, and had that been all that happened, the reference would be okay, subtle enough to not scream "LOOK EVERYONE IT'S TWO-FACE" but obvious enough that Batman fans would understand it. However, Dent then proceeds to explain the whole thing to Gordon, dragging the reference out needlessly. At first Gotham can be forgiven, but after twenty-two episodes it becomes tiring.

    The main premise of the show is that Jim Gordon is just starting out as a Detective in Gotham, long before he becomes Commissioner, and he works to fight both corruption, gang violence and the villains that are slowly populating Gotham. This first season focuses largely on the gang wars, although there are some notable villains thrown in every few episodes - namely Scarecrow, the Electrocutioner and possibly the Joker - to name a few. A couple of the villains have bigger roles than just one or two episode affairs, especially The Riddler and Penguin. Penguin, in fact, plays a vital role in Gotham, serving as both a protagonist and antagonist when it suits him. Ultimately, though, he is destined to become a huge gang leader and super-villain, and watching him rise from nothing to a great force over the course of the season is hugely entertaining.

    Over the course of the season, the balance between the origin-like cases and the gang war is well kept, and tensions rise between the two biggest gangsters, Falcone and Maroni, as the season goes on, culminating in a finale that changes things a lot.

    Speaking of the finale, that brings me to one of my favorite things about Gotham. Now, I know this review is tagged with spoilers, but this is probably the biggest spoiler you could reveal about the show, so if you want to leave, do it now.

    In the final episode, Maroni is killed off, something that goes off canon from Batman, as he plays a big part in a lot of Batman stories. One of my favorite things about this show is that it isn't afraid to take risks and go off canon. It does this a lot, including:

    -Maroni dying
    -Barbara not being pregnant when they move to Gotham
    -The Riddler working for the GCPD
    -Barbara killing her parents
    -Bruce and Selina's friendship as children
    -And many other things

    This non-canon attitude allows Gotham to be more creative and flexible in it's approach and gives it a lot more freedom, which I think is definitely needed to give the show a breath of fresh air.

    Most of the characters are portrayed brilliantly. The duo of Jim and his partner Harvey Bullock are likable and yet not perfect, giving the audience someone to root for while still questioning their actions at points. The villains are almost all played perfectly, particularly Riddler and Penguin. If there is one character I don't like, it's Fish Mooney. Fish is a gangster working under Falcone whose plan is to rebel against him and bring his empire down. For the entirety of the season she is portrayed as selfish and brutal, and she is very one-dimensional, never at all seeming human. Even the mob bosses, Falcone and Maroni, can be understood and empathized with at points.

    All in all, Gotham is a good show. While the references are obvious and often unnecessary, the characters are played brilliantly, and the non-canon approach lends itself brilliantly to the show.    … Expand
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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.
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  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.
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  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.
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