I was always a Marvel guy.I just was.I checked out  DC’s ARROW about 6 episodes into it’s first season and was impressed.Since then I am hooked on it ,and each new episode gets better and better.I intend to watch FLASH here in a few weeks also.However, tonight was my chance to check out the first episode of Gotham i had PVR ‘ed earlier in the week.

It tells the story of early Gotham,before Batman,when crime families ran the streets, but nobody ran around in masks.I think they wisely tonight made the focus more on Jim Gordon and less on Batman.He’s more of a Catalyst, then a player in the story which is a wise move(though I could stand to see more Sean Pertwee as Alfred the Butler).We received introductions to a unhealthy(see below) amount of players tonight.They played around with the Batman Mythology a bit, but they kind of had to for this to work.Some were full introductions.Some were only glimpses of what was to come.

Jim Gordon is played by Ben Mckenzie.I’m not familiar with his work on Southland or the O.C, which to me is a good thing since I like when i don’t compare actors to their previous work, and let them flesh the role out in their own way.Unfortunately, I could not say the same thing of Harvey Bullock. Donal Logue, who I had seen play a masterful bad ass in SONS OF ANARCHY seemed a bit contained playing this character.I know he does not have NEAR the leeway on Fox as he would have had on pay channel FX, but i know his range, and tonight he did not come anywhere near it.

Rounding out the rest of the cast, is a who’s who of future Batman villians .Penguin, Catwoman,Poison ivy, Riddler,Fish Mooney(played ruthlessly,sexy and slyly all bundled in one tight package known as Jada Pinkett Smith) and Carmine Falcone.I suspect we’re going to see these characters grow into their persona’s as the series moves on, but i’m not sure I would have dropped so many of these characters tonight.We got to meet Jim’s fiancee Barbara played by Erin Richards.To me she is the weakest link of the cast.Carmen Bicondova (spoiler alert) never said a word as Selina Kyle and i thought she did a better acting job tonight.

It’s beautifully shot and they definitely gave Gotham a more updated feel to it then any of the movies(minus Nolan’s possibly) ever have.They did not shy away from showing the violence and brutality that Gotham now lives under .Bloodletting is important when there is a point to be made.Gotham seems to get that.The story flowed nicely and they foreshadowed the coming season correctly.

I always give new Series 5 Episodes before I continue, or call it a day.After 1 episode I suspect “Gotham” will get a full seasons worth of viewing from me.Thanks for reading

Scott Carey

I found this on the Internets, and was astonished by how well it is done.That’s songs going to be stuck in my head for the rest of the day probably.