If you’re expecting a show named after Batman’s crime-ridden hometown to be about the Dark Knight himself, Fox’s “Gotham” will turn off that mental bat signal.
The show centers instead around a smaller but still crucial character in the DC Comics narrative, Detective James (Jim) Gordon (played by “Southland” and “The OC” veteran Ben McKenzie).
The pre-commissioner Gordon and his brash but lackadaisical partner Harvey Bullock (played by Donal Logue) are paired up to navigate the city’s dark depths in the years before Bruce Wayne became Batman.
Described as an “origin story,” the show’s premise also features the beginnings of some of the beloved comic universe’s most notorious villains.
In the pilot alone, there are at least four big-time baddies that are either seen or name dropped. Penguin, Riddler, Poison Ivy, Catwoman – the gang’s all there, and they haven’t even morphed into their psychotic and, in some cases, homicidal maniac selves yet!
It’s an intriguing premise and the angle is refreshing, particularly for longtime fans of the brand.
A lot of mysterious seeds are planted in the first episode: How exactly is Harvey involved with crime boss Fish Mooney (a new character created for the show, played by Jada Pinkett Smith)?
What is Jim’s fiancee Barbara (played by Erin Richards) hiding? And, of course, the timeless question that has been debated for years: Who murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents?
McKenzie’s Gordon is strong-willed but hesitant. Being thrust into a world where the crime bosses and police department intermingle is tough, but McKenzie keeps his character grounded in realism rather than bravado.
The ensemble cast is diverse.
Logue’s Bullock is full of exasperated sighs and sarcastic remarks that only give glimpses of the anxious man underneath.
Robin Taylor’s Oswald Cobblepot is sneaky, slimy and overall pitiful — the precise formula for the makings of a true bad guy.
And the pre-teen Bruce Wayne (played by David Mazouz) is only just beginning to navigate his dark path, but not before he and Gordon form a connection that will prove to be crucial in years to come.
There are a lot of mysteries to solve in “Gotham,” from police cases to back-alley deals.
As Bullock says in one moment, “You can’t have organized crime without law and order.”
To see how these characters and storylines intertwine might prove to be quite the riddle.
Check out the premiere of “Gotham” on Monday at 8 p.m. on FOX.
Wanna chat about it after the premiere? Tweet your thoughts @AlyssaVHolcomb.
[A version of this story ran on page 7 on 9/18/2014 under the headline "‘Gotham’ brings grit to Fox primetime"]
