Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Ben McKenzie, Robin Lord Taylor, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Sean Pertwee, Camren Bicondova, B.D. Wong, Erin Richards, Cory Michael Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Morena Baccarin, James Frain, Jessica Lucas, Chris Chalk, Drew Powell, Michael Chicklis.
The city of Gotham, majestic, proud, historic and so it seems rotten to the very core of its existence with just a few people holding the barrier tight against all out disorder and mayhem – just the place for the man who is to become one of the city’s leading lights to hone his skills and get to grips with the darkness under his watch.
Gotham may be the prequel to the life of Batman, the young Bruce Wayne, but its real hero is the anarchistic, stubborn and down-right cool Detective Jim Gordon and it is through him and his actions that the second series of this partially unexpected television hit has been as explosive and brilliantly portrayed as it has been.
Of course the story, the over-whelming arc that spans the entire series is one that keeps the viewers interested and coming back for more, the sub plots which are on a par with the sensational post 2000 smash Lost and the characters, chiefly those portrayed by the likes of Robin Lord Taylor as The Penguin, arguably the best version to grace the screen, Camren Bicondova as Selina Kyle and the genuinely cool Sean Pertwee as the loyal guardian of the man to come, Alfred Pennyworth.
It is though to the superb Ben McKenzie and Donal Logue as Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock that the show really captures the graphic novel enthusiast by the heart strings. The interplay between the pair, the trust that goes with partnerships is framed with great sincerity by the production team and by the actors themselves throughout the second series.
With great heroes, incredible and disturbing villains and those that walk between the lines of dark, shade and light, must also come about and the writers have had their hands full in keeping many of them happy and on screen. It is a balancing act that has been justifiably praised and the sub title of the series, Rise of the Villains and Wrath of the Villains has been extraordinarily well thought out.
The final kick, the thought that Channel Five were able to secure this series shows there can be faith in terrestrial television major programmes and serials don’t have to appear on pay for view channels just to be seen and admired, is to hold your hands up praise for the forward sightedness of which ever planner got hold of Gotham and saw its absolute potential.
Gotham: What Monday nights were invented for.
Ian D. Hall