Approximately midway through Season 1, these are some of my current free flowing thoughts on Gotham. The magic within Batman as a superhero has always been my favorite. Rooted in reality for the most part and someone I’d believe in is what draws me in. Here we go:
Painted skies and a muted palette across the cityscape of Gotham are beautiful as they glide over the screen between frames.
All of such scenery illustrates how much corruption can be lurking within the shadows.
At this point, we are so far away from shaping our caped crusader and dark knight as Batman’s story begins.
Alfred is the fearless mentor of Master Bruce, always providing guidance as a fatherly figure and delivering honesty about life in its truest form.
He is surprisingly resilient, resourceful and a great guardian for our troubled orphan.
As a young hero Bruce is learning the unforgiving nature of many experiences while he develops strength within himself on a path toward justice in an unjust world.
Watching him grow into something great contains some exciting moments and we cheer him on knowing who will ultimately become, The Batman.
Also introduced to the viewers, is the fledgling start of Selina Kyle and Poison Ivy who both deliver an interesting dive into their past. Personally, I have always been a huge Poison Ivy fan, we shall see how she reveals her identity throughout the series.
Now, with gritted teeth, unshakable conviction and a (mostly) immovable moral compass, Jim Gordon is the foundation of hope for Gotham.
Alongside him is Bollock as the raw and real co-defender of the law who protects his partner against the criminal forces. Harvey frequently offers pure cathartic expressions of who he is juxtaposed to a wonderful dose of comic relief.
Conversely, there is a display of magnificent mobster machismo by Don Maroni (especially by Zayas) and the cold, calculating, stone stoicism of Falcone.
There is a pleasantly great dichotomy between the flashy persona of Maroni and guarded demeanor of Falcone as mafia bosses.
In a strange way, such orchestrators of mayhem are not always the most evil in their actions.
Within this realm of diabolical doings, some venomous villains fall short of memorability, others are quite striking.
In an attempt to choose who is the most chilling versus the most ineffectual, I’ll return to this quandary at some point. As of right now, The Goat was quite chilling to me, I can say that.
Definitively, as a reoccurring foe, Penguin is of course, a thief of many scenes.
With a wavering and wobbly gait, awkward nature, but powerful performances, Robin Lord Taylor has my full attention.
His voice harkens back to the ethereal haunting echo of his supernatural spirit as the Outsider from the Dishonored game series.
Taylor is talented in many ways, taking shape of whichever role he must fulfill, especially Oswald Cobblepot, and does so, with excellence.
Plus, what a wonderful reappearance of Carol Kane, as she is the perfect oddball to be Oswald’s mother. Her gaudy garb, and overall look seems to be frozen in time, perhaps the Victorian Era and it suits her so well.
Drop Gertrud Kapelput in another story and I would not be surprised to see her behind a bubbling cauldron with eye of newt, wing of bat and who knows what else. Fantastically cringeworthy, but I digress.
I simply cannot wait to see Edward Nygma evolve (or devolve) into his mysterious persona as The Riddler.
Yes, he is quirky, off putting, but overall intriguing, and thus the magic of his perplexing aura. While it is a slow burn, I’m in.
As a lesser figure of intrigue (for me), Fish Mooney is a predator circling in the waters, searching for the smell of blood. You can’t trust her, and I don’t believe you’re supposed to like her either. Perhaps that is the very point, she is there as someone who is not quite an ally, nor is she the most heinous nemesis to everyone she encounters. Her fate is undetermined at this point, and so is my opinion.
Overall, the world of Gotham can be tragic and full of darkness, but that is what makes the victories of our heroes shine the brightest.
Rating: 8.5/10
Through the Looking Glass 