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Let Gotham Be Great


I admit it, I was one of the people who thought Gotam's writing was just flat out bad during the first season. But, I also applauded them for making big changes in the second season. They've continued the formula that works for them during the third and it's a great show. But, here's the thing, thew show is still getting a lot of hate, especially from the people who call themselves "real comic book fans."

It's understandable where they're coming from. The TV show is nothing like the comics it's based on. We've got Batman's villains running around decades before he puts on the cape. Jim has great friendships with Bruce and Harvey, but he wasn't supposed to meet them until he was an old man moving to Gotham for a new start. Villains like Mr. Freeze, Penguin, and Riddler are all holding Gotham hostage, when Bruce hasn't even learned to drive yet. I used to be in that group of people too.

Then one day I was reading Justice League 3000, and I remembered something. I love reading elseworlds stories. Stories that place the characters we know in strange situations, alternate timelines and universes. It hit me, Gotham is an elseworlds comic, depicted in film. At that very moment I stopped hating the show and watched it as what it was. Soon I not only found myself liking the show, but enjoying it enough to live tweet the show.

See, Gotham isn't a superhero show. It's not a show about Batman and we just have to accept that until he inevitably makes it into the CW Universe like Superman. It's not even a cop drama about Jim, Harvey and the rest of their crew. Nor is it a crime drama about Penguin, Butch or even Fish Mooney. It's a show about the city of Gotham.

The show is dedicated to proving that Gotham was, is and always be a crazy place to live. The reason the show can make someone like Fish be the main star of the first 2 episodes and then not show her in the next 3 or go entire episodes without even a mention of Bruce or Jim, is because it's not about them. The show is about the city and all of it's aspects. Gotham has always been the most corrupt city in the DC Comics universe.

Every aspect of that corruption is shown in Gotham. Penguin becomes mayor because people like him, but he ran a dirty campaign through blackmail and even purchasing votes before Nygma returned the money. During season one we saw how there was even corruption within crime organizations fighting for control of Gotham. Season two let us finally see why sending criminals to Arkham never helps by showing the corruption in their mental health system. We've also been treated to seeing the corruption within the police force through all seasons. During season one Harvey would routinely beat confessions out of people before Jim had to teach him to do things the right way. Even now we have Captain Barnes telling Jim he should shoot first and ask questions later, when we know Jim has no problems letting the chopper spray.

After you sit down and realize what Gotham is really about you'll be able to enjoy the show. It takes a while to realize it's not a show about Batman, but we have to remember Batman isn't the only thing in Gotham. Despite Jim getting most of the screen time, it's not about him. Gotham has always been about the city, it's just an elseworlds story, using characters we know to show us Gotham for what it really is. Now we just have to sit back and let Gotham be great.

You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet. You can also check out his playthrough of Sleeping Dogs.
Darrell S.

Hey, I write stuff, a lot of different stuff, that's all.

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