NOTE: Spoilers
The streets of Gotham are dark, yet bustling, and Selina Kyle is on the prowl. Already a master at taking what isn't hers, she's thieving and then feeding the stray cats hidden down a dark alley - but not everybody's night is going to end with a hearty meal and cheery smiles.
Little Bruce Wayne is walking home after a night out at the movies - his parents flanking him at either side. And, if you're a fan of the Batman franchise, you know exactly what comes next. His parents are mugged for a wallet and pearl necklace, both then shot dead in cold blood, with Bruce the only spared survivor.
Thankfully, we don't see much else from Bruce. He's angry and wants revenge whilst learning to control fear, and has a special bond with new-cop-on-the-block James Gordon, but other than this he's mostly sidelined. And that's how it should be. This is a show about the city of Gotham and ALL who occupy it, not just the boy who turns into the Caped Crusader.
Ben McKenzie is a joy to watch as Gordon. He's effortlessly charismatic and easy to root for, partnered with longtime Gotham detective Harvey Bullock - also played brilliantly by Donal Logue. They bounce off of one another with ease, and though their relationship is at first strained, it's looking to be one of the more interesting ones going forward.
It is however the villains who steal the show.
Going into Gotham, I had some weird, pre-conceived notion that Jada Pinkett Smith was going to be awful in the newly invented role of Fish Mooney. For me she just didn't seem to fit in at all - how wrong I was. Glamorous and dangerous, she knows exactly how to tap into the mindset of a hardened criminal ready to claw her way to the top, with no issues in turning her back on those who have wronged her.
Standing in her way is just one man - Falcone. He calls the shots when it comes to the mob, but she feels he's gotten too old for the job. Though his appearance is fleeting in this start-up episode, he certainly makes his presence known in just the beginnings of a plotline that promises to progress throughout this first season.
Then there's Oswald Cobblepot, known to many as Penguin. He hates that name - at least for now. Perfectly portrayed by Robin Lord Taylor, he's unhinged, unsteady and unwilling to learn from his mistakes. He enjoys living dangerously and is pushed to his very limits by the time the episode comes to an end. Thank the casting directors that Taylor has been given his big break here.
Ivy Pepper - future Poison Ivy - and Edward Nygma - future Riddler - are also touched upon very briefly. The glaring obvious nature of where they're headed is a little overbearing - Edward throws riddles out at a rate of five per second and Ivy plays with plants - but this is easily forgiven. Fans have to be given their Easter Eggs, after all.
Demonstrating that Gotham is a city ran by the mob, Gordon has to quickly adapt and learn to run "with the programme" or face being killed. But he's not happy with the way things are and wants better for Gotham. Just what effect that will have on events remains to be seen, but I for one will be sat with my popcorn watching it all play out.
I truly enjoyed Gotham. So much so, I want to watch the premiere again. It continues Monday nights in America on FOX, and comes to Channel 5 in the UK this October.
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