Gotham is a show about two unlikable cops and the drama that surrounds organized crime and police corruption in a big city. The big city happens to be Batman’s famous stomping ground Gotham, though the show includes the twist of taking place right when Bruce Wayne’s parents are murdered in front of him as a young teenager. Gotham acts as a prequel to Batman’s story, as well as the numerous colorful characters that inhabit the city – including our main protagonist of the series Jim Gordon, played by a dead serious Ben McKenzie.
Exploring the world of a superhero without said superhero should throw up all kinds of red flags, and instead of lingering on an emotional and troubled Bruce in his young life, the series focuses on our would-be police commissioner. Gordon is new to Gotham and a good entry point for the audience to follow around as he’s introduced to the various players with his new partner Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue).
Bullock is another character pulled form the comics; though he’s never been portrayed on the big screen his role as a corrupt, gruff Batman-hating cop has certainly been used in various characters. Bullock’s reliance on the delicate balance between crime and order is in direct opposition to Gordon’s straight arrow ethics, and this difference of opinion looks to be a big focus of the series’ overall tone.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.