Gotham Episode 1 Recap: Is This The Best New Show Of The Fall Season (Series Premiere)

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Gotham City In An Unspecified Time Period

"Gotham" has been one of the most touted shows of the new Fall TV season. In case you've been living under a rock and havent heard, its the prequel to Batman. All of the major characters are younger and some (like Bruce Wayne) are children. "Gotham" tells the story of their origins. Marvel has spun off one TV show "Agents of Shield" (with another "Agent Carter" to come later). It's now time for DC Comics to do the same.

So what did ya think? Did it live up to all the hype? So far I'm going with "yes". The pilot episode was visually beautiful. It looked like a movie. It was SUPER action packed. We were introduced to our favorite characters at a rapid rate. .

Here's the specifics of the episode 1 goings on:

The episode begins with a young Selina Kyle (Catwoman) scurrying around on rooftops, picking pockets and stealing milk to feed a cat. She inadvertently witnesses the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents in an ally. We dont see the identity of the killer.

Next we're at the GCPD (Gotham City Police Department). A paper shows the headlines "Crime Wave Of The Century". We establish that Harvey Bullock wants to solve problems by "shooting the sons of bitches". The new detective, James Gordon" wants to try handling things differently. We know he will eventually become Commissioner Gordon. Gordon has high morals and Bullock may have no morals. Obviously things wont end well for those two.

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Bullock and Gordon

They go to the murder scene. Gordon tries to comfort a young Bruce Wayne. Alfred appears and Bruce runs crying to him. Gordon says he will find the person responsible for killing the Waynes. We meeting Renee Montoya and Crispus Allen from the Major Crimes Unit (MCU). We know its them because that's exactly what Bullock says when they enter the diner.

Edward Nygma (ie the Riddler) apparently works in the Gotham CSI department. He gives the cops details about the crime weapon. He keeps trying to make riddles about everything. Bullock tells him he seriously needs mental help.

Next Bullock and Gordon are off to see Fish Mooney (played by the wonderful Jada Pinkett Smith). She is a ruthless crime boss who has a thing with Bullock. She also apparently reports to Big Boss Carmine Falcone. We also meet her assistant Oswald Cobblepot. One of the baddies calls him "Penguin". He says he doesnt like that name.

Jim has some quiet time with his fiance Barbara Kean. I'm not sure if I like her character yet or not. Bullock catches a lead on someone trying to fence the necklace taken from Mrs Wayne. A little girl named Ivy Pepper answers the door (so now we have Poison Ivy). Her dad (Mario Pepper) puts up a fight. There's a long chase scene across the roofs of buildings, through a sewing sweat shop and a restaurant and into an ally. He's beating up on Jim when Bullock finally shoots him in the back.

Penguin rats out Fish to Allen and Montoya. He says Fish had Mrs Wayne's necklace and that it was planted on Mario. He says he's just doing his civic duty but they suggest he's staging a coup to become the crime boss himself.

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Renee Visits Barbara With Some Intel. These Two Obviously Have A Past.

Next Montoya goes to Barbara and says Jim framed and killed an innocent man. Barbara says she she knows Jim and he's a good man. Montoya asks if Jim knows Barbara... like Montoya knows her. Hmmm, I've thinking those two have a past and not just as besties. Barbara of course tells Jim about the framed man (and not about her lesbian relationship). He confronts Montoya, then Bullock, then goes back to the Mario's apartment. Remember Bruce said the man that killed his parents had shiny shoes. That guy didnt own one pair of shiny shoes.

Jim confronts Fish ALONE. Well that's a really bad idea. Next we see Jim in a meat processing plant. Bullock heads over there. He calls Fish and says she has to let him go. Fish disagrees and tells her men to get rid of both men. A big scary guy with a meat clever approaches in slow mo. Uh oh, not good. I assume his name is the Butcher. When all looks lost, some men enter with guns a blazing. Falcone arrives and says "There are rules" and that Mooney has to ask his permission if she's going to kill cops. Bullock and Jim are saved. Falcone tells Jim that he used to know Jim's father and that's the only reason he's still alive.
Back at the club, Penguin rubs Fish's toes. They have a little chat. She knows he betrayed him. He denies but she knows. She beats the crap out of him with a chair and then stops to adjust her wig. LOVE IT! During all of this, Fish was interviewing comedians for her club. Will that dude on the stage become the Joker? Nope. The writers are apparently throwing out a few decoys to make us think each is the Joker.

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Get Ready To Play Dead Cobblepot

We see Bullock and Jim at the pier. Bullock opens the truck. Cobblepot is inside. Bullock says Falcone told Jim to kill Oswald so Falcone knows he's with the program. Jim walks him far down the pier where Bullock cant see them. Jim pretends to shoot Oswald saying "dont even come back to Gotham". Penguin falls into the water. Later he resurfaces and sees a fisherman on shore. He kills the guy for a sandwich. I bet if you asked him, he would have just given you the sandwich.

Jim visits the Wayne estate. He sees Bruce on the roof. It loos like he's trying to commit suicide but he's really just trying to conquer his fear. When Alfred yelled at Bruce to get down immediately, that was funny. This version of Alfred doesnt tolerate any fools. Jim tells Bruce that Mario Pepper did not kill his parents. Jim asks Bruce to remain silent so Jim can investigate the crime from inside the police department. Bruce agrees.

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Probably The Maximum Number Of Baddies That Can Be Introduced In One Hour

So in summation, we have: Catwoman, Batman, Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, Riddler, Penguin, Fish Mooney, Barbara, Montoya, Allen, Poison Ivy but NOT the Joker.

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Alfred Comforting A Young Bruce

The actor playing a young Bruce Wayne was excellent as was Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish. Some people have complained about her accent but I think she's just doing an Eartha Kitt thing. I love it. Villains who talk really slowly seem even more menacing for some reason. The other standout for me was the Penguin. And I enjoying the reboot of Alfred. He's very protective of Bruce but he can let his rough side out when need be.

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Do Not Mess With Fish, Unless You Want To End Up Fish Food

Favorite Quotes:

"Boy if you let this hair go frizzy, you will be."- Fish to Penguin.
"One of my staff has been stealing money from me so we're beating his punk ass"- Fish to Jim.
"Does he know you, like I know you?"- Montoya to Barbara about Jim.
"I would open a vein right here and now if you asked me to."- Penguin. Fish hands him a knife and says to go ahead and do it. He replies "I was speaking poetically".
"There are rules."-Carmine Falcone.
"There is a war coming. A terrible war... There will be chaos, rivers of blood in the streets. I know it. I can see it coming, I'm clever that way!"- Penguin to Jim.
"Fear doesnt need conquering. Fear tells you where the edge is. Fear is a good thing."- Jim to Bruce.

Grade: 4 3/4 Monsters (out of 5). An excellent episode. It's premature to predict, but Fox ya may have a big hit on your hands. My one major gripe with the show is that it's not in closed caption. Come on people. I miss a lot of the really good dialogue without the closed caption.