So we’ve finally reached the premiere of Gotham. As the first of DC’s live action properties to debut this year it’s arguably the best. This is a show with a distinct voice, fantastic lead performances, and real sense of scope.

I can distinctly remember my excitement for this show when it was announced. I figured a show that focused on the inner workings of the GCPD would be ripe for a dark character driven drama. I loathed the casting process. Week after week key players from the Batman mythos were added to the show’s huge roster. But I’m happy to report they don’t distract… much.

The episode begins with a young Catwoman, of all people. She’s gallivanting through the moody streets of Gotham, and comes upon a mugging in the alley. We all know the one. Martha and Thomas Wayne are gunned down and it’s up to Harvey Bullock to solve the case with his new partner James Gordon.

The timing of James’ arrival to the GCPD is questionable, but nevertheless he’s thrown headfirst into a world where justice is determined by the highest bidder. Ben McKenzie does a killer job at capturing Gordon’s own frustration in cooperating with the rampant corruption. He’s perfectly paired with Donal Logue who has his own brand of justice as Harvey Bullock. He’s a hard drinking, crooked cop who frames things in just the way he needs in order to keep working the bare minimum amount required. They couldn’t be more different, but still over the course of the hour develop a bond that is believable and an interesting source of conflict.

In this first outing, our heroes (?) come into contact with Edward Nygma, Oswald Cobblepot, Fish Mooney, and Carmine Falcone. Mooney proves the most interesting out of the bunch thanks to a great performance by Jada Pinkett Smith. She chews the scenary and allows for a particular brand of menace we haven’t seen in Gotham before.

Almost every character has their personal skewed powerplay for the city in the making. It’s a world where those in control don’t seem to stay there for long. Fish is tired of being the second fiddle to the Falcone family. The first episode deals with her attempt to go above her boss to create a quick solve in the Wayne homicide.

The plot isn’t really anything special, it’s standard procedural murder mystery fare in a comic book paintjob. The characters are the real draw. Robin Lord Taylor is a complete treat as Penguin. He’s a sniveling shell of the criminal mastermind we know, and it works to the show’s advantage. He fucks things up in all the right ways.

But the real star of the pilot is the art direction, cinematography, and world building on display. Gotham is a city that exists out of time. It’s filled with old luxury sedans, gothic architecture, and a complicated skyline. Against a warm color palette is really incredible lighting that evokes a noir feel in almost every aspect.

The result is closer to David Fincher’s Se7en then you’d first imagine. The creative team behind the show has stressed how unique their vision of Gotham is, and the pilot made me a believer. There is a certain layer of inexplicable attraction in this gothic dystopia. Perhaps it’s because this is the closest realization of the Gotham I grew up loving from Batman The Animated Series. I still haven’t seen enough to know whether or not the look sticks, but for the time being, I’m impressed.

Gotham is a horrible place. This much is certain. It’s filled with an assertive sense of terror that comes with danger being down every street. There is no protection from the law enforcement, and just about everyone wants you dead. Jim Gordon has found himself in the middle of this terrifying world, and he’s dead set on cleaning it up.

Gotham does have its issues. There was far too much insertion of Batman lore for my liking. Catwoman felt like a distraction and served to add nothing to the pilot, as well as the inclusion of a young Poison Ivy. Some of the dialogue comes across like the writer thought it would be far more introspective than it actually is, when it reality it sound melodramatic.

But hell if it isn’t Gotham. It’s the living breathing scum-ridden city, delivered to us on a weekly basis. The show is pitched as a Jim Gordon vehicle, but the main character is the city, and it’s never looked more alive. I’m really excited to see what things look like on a weekly basis because if this pilot is any indication than we’re in for one hell of a ride.

Stray Thoughts:

–       Really didn’t understand when Gordon arrived to the city. Almost wish we got that Year One intro of him riding into the city via the train.

–       I like the Alfred we’re getting here. He seems to be inspired by the Earth One version more than anything.

–       The skyline was beautiful, and the sense of gothic architecture throughout really has me excited to see more.

–       Are we case of the week after this? Or is it going to be an ongoing plot? I sincerely hope it’s a little of both.

What did you think of Gotham’s Pilot?