“Gotham”: The Story Before the Bat

Have you ever wondered what Gotham City was like before Batman was there to save the day? The gritty new series, “Gotham,” which airs each Monday at 7 p.m. on FOX, gives viewers a chance to get to know several of the secondary characters in the DC universe.

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There is a new show on Fox that combines the typical dark and dirty Christopher Nolan-style Batman with all the great aspects of a successful origins movie.

“Gotham” is the origin story of Commissioner James Gordon and his rise to prominence in pre-Batman Gotham City.

The show stars Benjamin McKenzie, former cast member of “The OC.”

His brooding nature makes him a perfect fit for the dilapidated and crime-riddled city, while his puppy-dog eyes fit Gordon’s naïve and hopeful outlook.

The Pilot episode starts off and is centered on the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne.

A young Detective Gordon and his partner Detective Harvey Bullock are the first to arrive on the scene and after speaking to Bruce, Gordon makes it his mission to find their killer.

He reassures Bruce by saying, “However dark and scary the world looks right now, there will be light,” therefore reaffirming the optimism that Gordon possesses.

Donal Logue plays the part of corrupt cop, Harvey Bullock.

He is astounding in this role as you see him already begin to unravel, and if you know anything about the comics, this makes you a bit weary.

The whole episode leaves you hesitant to let yourself like him.

Throughout the course of the episode, Gordon encounters several of the illustrious and iconic villains of the Batman franchise such as Oswald Cobblepot (The Penguin), Edward Nygma (The Riddler), Carmine Falcone, Selina Kyle (Catwoman) and Ivy Pepper (Poison Ivy).

In my opinion, the attempt to squeeze in all these characters, and more, proved to sell the main characters short and didn’t allow much development.

The basic idea of introducing these characters in the pilot was a good one, but because the episode was only an hour, I found it lacking in much depth.

However, one villain that was introduced had a lot of screen time and left me wanting more.

Jada Pinkett Smith brought to life a new character, a Gotham City mob-boss named Fish Mooney.

I especially love this character because she brings a strong, beautiful, sassy woman into a usually male-dominated character type: a villain.

It’s refreshing to see a woman be tough and ruthless in the boy’s club that is organized crime.

The pilot episode of “Gotham” was as good as anticipated.

I saw some of my favorite comic book villains before “The Bat.”

I was taken through the tainted streets of Gotham city.

I watched Gordon’s innate sense of good start to harden as he witnessed first-hand the venality of Gotham.

I can’t wait for the next episode.

“Gotham” airs on Monday nights at 7 p.m. on FOX.

This is one origin story you won’t want to miss.