While the review is late, here is my take on the premiere of Gotham. First of all, I thought this show looked ridiculous. I was not a fan of the premise, and the trailer did not help. I went into the premiere with relatively low expectations and to my surprise, it was not all bad.
Witness the Origins
While there are some notably bad aspects to the show, let’s focus on the positives for right now. There is something poetic about knowing how a character will end up, and witnessing the path that leads them there. I believe that is Gotham’s strongest aspect. These are characters that are well known in the Batman Mythos, it will be incredibly gratifying to see them become the characters we know from the comics. The show itself is very well made. The shots are well done, and the feel of the show is very grounded. The acting, for the most part, is pretty solid. Ben McKenzie does a good job Portraying Detective Gordon. Occasionally he does come across as excessively gruff, but I am hoping he dials it down in the future. Donal Logue plays Harvey Bullock, and he is really great in his role. There is a lot of mystery with his character, and Logue keeps you guessing. The only other people worth mentioning are Robin Lord Taylor, Jada Pinkett Smith, and David Mazouz. Robin Lord Taylor does a fantastic Job portraying Oswald Cobblepot. He makes the audience feel sympathetic towards the character, which makes his future even more interesting. Jada Pinkett Smith plays Fish Mooney, and she really brings a sinister attitude to the character. She also adds to the ambiguous nature of Mooney. Lastly, David Mazouz plays Bruce Wayne. I think he was simply okay, but I really despise the yell he gives when his parents die. I do not think it was well acted, and it added to his unevenness as an actor.
Only the beginning
This show is off to a relatively solid start, but it has to make some changes in the future. First of all, they need to tone down the characters on screen. There was too much going on in the episode. I hope that is only the case because it is the premiere. Another problem is through the acting. While there were several actors I praised, both Ben McKenzie and David Mazouz need some work. They aren’t terrible by any means, but I think they could be better. I did not mention Erin Richards as Barbara Keen because she is by far my least favorite character and actor. There is just no depth, and she acts disinterested in her acting. Another weak aspect is with the writing. Occasionally the show is fairly well written, but sometimes it reaches into the bag of clichés. The show also needs to reduce the amount of references to certain characters’ future.
Closing Remarks
Overall, the show is in the right direction. I hope it dials down the references and characters, but keeps focusing on why certain characters end up where they do. Some of the acting needs to improve (along with the writing), but I think Gotham will improve throughout its season.