User reviews

I'm going to just throw out there that there will be a fan boy rant during this review. I'm an unabashed DC fan boy even though if I chose one right now Marvel would be my pick. I'm not sure how I heard about Gotham as a show. It was probably something on Facebook my friends tagged me in or an article I read that was posted numerous times on a dozen different websites. I wasn't really on board with another show that was a superhero show without the main superhero. I sat through Smallville already. I love Superman but I stopped watching that show for the main reason 'no flight, no tights' rule. I would love to revisit that show but it just turned me off.

Gotham gets announced and I had my qualms. It was going to be a prequel to the whole Batman legacy. That was an interesting idea. There have been flashbacks in the comics and the films. But the show was going to focus on the villains mostly and a few of the heroes of Gotham outside of Batman. That concept intrigued me more. DC is focused on keeping their film and TV franchises separate. That means that the producers and writers had free range to the whole Gotham candy store. That made me want to watch the show more. I would like to see the origins of the rogues gallery. It would be cool to see what turned these people into the villainous beings that we all know.

Last night's pilot expressed many different emotions for me. The show starts off with the murder of Bruce's parents. It's was more violent than I had expected. That scream that Bruce (David Mazouz) emits still gives me chills. Then we are introduce to what could be the main characters of the show detectives Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) fresh from war and his experienced partner Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue). They will be our main highlights through these trips inside the vivid world of Gotham. What follows is the two detectives meeting seedy beings and challenges while trying to solve this high profile murder.

I'll start off with the positives I took out from the show. It looks incredible. The muted tones clash with vivid colors making each shot look like it was lifted from the comic books. The whole tone of the show felt more gritty and noir more than shows like Arrow and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I think this show will benefit from no superheroes. McKenzie and Logue have excellent chemistry. They feed off each other very well. With McKenzie playing the straight laced headstrong cop and Logue enjoying being the guy you don't really know what side he's on. Jada Pinkett Smith shined as Fish Mooney, a villain created specifically for the show. She exudes charisma and terror. She seems to be having a lot of fun with her role. Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot was a nice start. He underplays what could be the craziness of his character until he's let unleashed. And when he does it's quite disturbing.

*Warning fan boy rant coming* I know that the creators have been given the keys to the candy store. Even more so because this show is on a prime time spot on a one of the big network channels. But there is no need to dive in headfirst and show your hand. There is so much going on anyone who knows anything about this universe will have their head spin. I'm not sure if there are that many people who don't know many of the characters introduced in this pilot. I guess they felt the need to make sure they set up for what is coming but ease people in. In this episode we are introduced to at six different high profile characters and one who could be lead to believed to be another.

That's just too much for a opening episode. I don't know if they get that sprinkling each character in maybe their own episode down the line would have gone better to hook me in. That's not even counting a few characters who eventually become big get a few lines here and there. It's a lot to take in. I am glad that they kept the concept of a "Batman show without Batman". Bruce gets three scenes and that was more than enough. It should make for good episodes down the line to see where the show goes. Many of us fans know that the city of Gotham has to get much worse in order for Bruce to think about donning the cowl and try to save the city as the dark knight.

So in the light of that we know that Gordon wants to save this city. In his plights he has to fail in order for the Batman to rise. For me, that seems like an great end game to play with. The show could do some things most normal things won't do. It can also go to place most cop dramas don't like to go to. But so far it seems this show is more about the characters and the city of Gotham than the procedural cop drama. I'm perfectly fine with that.

I was not sure about this show but now I've seen the first episode I will make a point not to miss any future episodes. This is really for the teens and adults because of it's violent content. I must say I was not disappointed, it gets off to a great start and ends with great promise for the next installment. Not strictly for Batman fans but for anyone who appreciates classy and gritty entertainment. Yes, this could be one of the great ones. The kid playing young Bruce Wayne I remember in another great series called Touch and I thought he was really good in this also. I would expect he and young Selina Kyle to meet at some point and realize that their destinies are intertwined. It's not flawless of course but it has so much going for it I will be amazed if it never reaches a second season. I predict it will be a huge hit.

Pilot episodes are akin to test flights, and thus must be held to a different standard. It takes a period of trial and error before a series can work out all the bugs. What you're looking for in the pilot is to see if it has the makings of a good or even great show. I'm happy to say that despite its flaws, Fox's 'Gotham' does have what it takes to be something special.

The production values are first rate, and appropriately enough, Gotham City itself is a character. As for the human characters, a very solid cast all fall comfortably into place and gel rather impressively. It's a good sign. Particularly strong are Donal Logue as the world weary Det. Harvey Bullock and Jada Pinckett-Smith as the crime boss Fish Mooney. I had an issue with a few characterizations. In particular Alfred, Bruce Wayne's trusted butler, who has gone from being the wise and avuncular mentor we know from the films to being a rude, tough love jerk.

Unlike the Smallville of the series with the same name, Gotham City is a much larger dramatic sandbox in which to play and it won't require the same types of contrivances. Keeping all of he various elements in balance and keeping us guessing even as its building toward what we know is an inevitable conclusion will be the true test.

I'm seriously conflicted. It was a great pilot with a good pace and shifting the focus to Gordon was executed very well. The tone and the acting of the show is also very fitting and I would definitely watch it if it wouldn't be the mothership of flawed prequels. The name dropping aside the show's premise will have a hard time to convince people that there are any stakes. Because they either have to change the Batman mythos or they have no story. Gordon can't be successful in cleaning up the PD and the streets, because then there's no need for Batman to rise. Which leaves him with solving the Wayne murder as an overall series arc and some random crime investigations for episode stories. But even then there is the component of the perp being a random punk that also motivates Batman. He never got real closure and he used the randomness and unfairness of the crime that defined him as a view on crime itself. So basically you have to accept that they don't stay close to the Batman mythos or that Gordon will ultimately fail. And right now I'm lacking imagination to see an alternative, but I'll stick around for a while to see if they can surprise me.

Overall, if you aren't bothered by people tinkering with Batman's background but you still like the Gotham City angle on crime then this show is definitely worth watching.

Good twist on an popular story line. Characters are strong and acting is well done with the exception of Jada Smith. Hopefully her role will get reduced in the future or she will only be used to introduce stronger characters. It gives a nice back story to the time between the Wayne murders and the arrival of a super hero to save the day. In the mean time Gordon walks a fine line desperately trying to keep the city afloat. One of the best new shows to take place this year. Don't expect your typical comic book story line. In light of how all other 'hero saves the day' shows use of light humor, this one is unique in that omission. A true drama.

The corruption in GCPD is established, as is resentment about it. Several layers of organized crime conflict is established. The Alfred/Gordon/Bruce hierarchy is solid. All in all, it is a solid foundation.

The best part of the show, for me, was the focus on giving Gotham City it's own distinctive look. For everything the Nolan movies did right, they really skimped out on giving Gotham City it's own visual identity. In The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, I don't see Batman patrolling Gotham City. I see Batman patrolling New York and Chicago. Which is kind of sad, since in my opinion, Batman Begins really did try to make the city look like Gotham, from the yellow smog and the pouring rain, and the art deco architecture of the subway tracks and the Wayne Enterprises building.

Wow! When I first heard that Fox was creating a series about the origins of James Gordon and a little bit of Batman, I was a little skeptical, because I thought that they would not be able to be on the same level as Smallville. I was wrong.

Gotham's pilot was great. It opened up with an integral scene in Bruce Wayne/Batman's life. I don't know much about Batman mythology other than seeing the Tim Burton films and Christopher Nolan trilogy. This series is all about the rise of James Gordon. James Gordon is not the Gary Oldman seasoned Gotham commissioner we see in the Christopher Nolan trilogy. He is a rookie rising through the ranks of the GCPD. He interacts with a vast array of characters including Penquin, The Riddler, Poison Ivy, Carmine Falcone, Fish Mooney, and Harvey Bullock before they became Batman's supervillans. Fish Mooney is a completely new character in the DC universe I read, and it would be interesting to see where they go with her.

I loved the acting in the pilot. The casting was spot on with all of the actors portraying their characters brilliantly. Erin Richards as James wife was good in her role, but I hope to see her character develop more. She only had a couple scenes. It was amazing to see how James interacts firsthand with the characters mentioned above and how he could shape Batman's enemies in the way his actions are. Compared to the Smallville pilot, Smallville had more of a slower pace and better development of the characters than Gotham. Gotham's pilot was great in introducing the characters at a little faster pace than Smallville, but still maintaining the good amount of development needed for the pilot.

I can't wait to see what happens next week. If you're a fan of Batman even if you're not well versed in the mythology, this is a pilot and possibly a series worth checking out.

Hopefully it will last for many years and be as popular as Smallville was.

Enjoy.

To be honest I want to give 7.5 Pilot was good enough to make audience to look forward to this new series. It doesn't try too much to impress audience which is nice. Good to see that this show is not cheesy or kiddish. Its somewhere between being serious and entertainment which is best for the Batman's story. Acting is done well by all the actors. Dialogues are good too. The show borrows some element from Nolan's Batman Begins to a certain level, which is a good thing. Hope DC continues their good work on Television and create more shows. By the way, All characters are introduced well to begin a good show. Can't wait for some new episodes.

I was fairly disappointed with the pilot episode of Gotham. I felt it beat us down with showing villain after villain. We know these character and love them but do we have to see them all in the first 30 minutes. Jada Pinkett-Smith was hamming it up way too much. A little bit of subtlety would be nice. Though admittedly she wasn't getting much help from the script. Some of the dialogue was just downright awful. I also felt that the lead actors weren't all that interesting.

I will say that the look of the show is great. Some beautiful cinematography and sets. The best part of the show was when Gordon was with Bruce and Alfred. I found myself caring about what was going on in those scenes more than any other.

In the end, the show itself has potential. It just needs some better dialogue, and to concentrate less on Gordon and his partner and more on Gordon and all the characters that people actually care about.

The show contains a lot of violence, some implied sexuality, and minor language.

Sorry the return of Jada Smith and her poor acting has lost me for good. A horrible character. A nice show otherwise with just enough tongue in cheek and cheese to make it enjoyable. Robin Taylor (Cobblepot) is easily the best character on the show. A good show that should be an 8 but with the Fish character and Smith's over acting a 4 when she is on screen. A great concept that show how the villains emerge. Also the story the of the Wayne years between the murder of his parents and his return as Batman is a novel concept. The interplay of Selena and Bruce is especially good which should evolve into the torn love affair later in life. Nygma is another well played character. Was looking forward to see the Fox character come alive. But I will pass on the show while Smith is still on.

After viewing that 10 people took the time to vote down my review and checking that other reviews that were positive were also mostly voted down, i would gather people are disappointed by the pilot and I understand why. I was myself disappointed by the script, as it lacked originality and felt like statements from a telegraph message. My other problem was with pacing and particularly Barbara's relationships being rushed and crammed into one episode. Very enthusiastic and hungry performances from Cory Michael Smith and Robin Lord Taylor. A cultured Falcone will be a bit getting used to but a nice addition. Mrs Smith was delicious as Fish Mooney, who wouldn't wanna rub her feet. Not enough of Sean Pertwee. Loved his character being more opinionated and influential in Bruce's life. Who really was the man in the shiny shoes? Hope they come with more good writing for the rest of the series. I'd watch this show even though the pilot was a bit disappointing because I'm hoping enthusiasm from the shows creative/arts team and the actors will make up for it. I donot understand the mental process of some people giving the show poor ratings based on its depiction of some prominent Batman rogues gallery members as children. The child like depiction was already revealed in the trailer for the show. I've decreased my rating from 9 to 7.

I loved the darkness and dreariness of Gotham city in the opening of the pilot. The ominous and sinister feeling of the city was around every corner.

The young Bruce Wayne played by David Mazouz seemed a bit wobbly to me but they are big shoes to fill. However, I had thought they could have developed the character more and not introduce us to so many of the dastardly villains in the pilot.

Donal Logue is one of my favourite television actors as he always seems to play the gritty and cynical characters well.

Alfred is a big disappointment. I didn't get that warm and fuzzy feeling that he was protective of Bruce Wayne.

When I heard about Gotham and that Ben McKenzie was going to be playing James Gordon I wasn't sure he could pull this role off. I was mildly surprised that he actually did well with the character.

As soon as I heard some of the cheesy lines I knew this could be a hit. I enjoyed the old television series when Batman was played by Adam West. The writing in Gotham has some of the same cheesiness as that series did also.

The visuals are done well, the characters for the most part seem to be selected well and the writing I was certainly surprised that it was so well written for a pilot.

I will definitely watch more episodes. I am very intrigued to see where they go with the episodes and hopefully won't ruin Batman by making it a television series with the premise being pre-batman.

I am in no way an expert on Batman comics but the show felt like a comic book to me.

Very enjoyable first Episode. James Gordon and bullock are Great together. Love the Villan cameos. Excited for ridler and penguin. Really nice world building with most batman villans still being young. Really good unique tone. It definitely distinguishes itself from other comic book shows (or at least pilots) that i have seen. Can't wait to watch more.

The casting is superb especially Robin Lord Taylor. Erin Richards is hot, indeed! Selina is a stunning character and full of surprises. The only issue was for Bruce Wayne's trusted butler who is a rude guardian, It has the various ingredients in balance and I hope I will love this TV series as I have started from scratch.

I didn't expect much from this pilot. I was looking forward to seeing Donal Logue in a major role again. He's always good to watch. Unfortunately the writing of the pilot was awful. Aside from the dialogue, my biggest issue was that they put too many Batman villains in the first episode. We got to see the younger versions of Catwoman, Pinguin, Riddler and Poison Ivy. All in the very first episode. It's like the writers are trying too hard to connect the show to the Batman universe. Lets hope the next episodes will be better.

Overall it had a great look. Gotham looks like I was expecting it to be. There are good actors and some not so good actors in the show, but with bad writing, there isn't a lot a good actor can do...