Josh provides a recap of the Gotham series premiere, where we meet a young Detective Gordon, and several other familiar characters from the Batman universe! Following the recap, both Josh and Violet share their thoughts about the pilot.
Don’t need the Gotham episode recap for Pilot? Click here to jump directly to Violet’s thoughts on the episode!
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Episode Recap of Gotham, Season 1 Episode 1: Pilot
Gotham opens up with a young Selena Kyle (Catwoman) pilfering through unsuspecting victims in what appears to be Chinatown in Gotham. Eventually she observes a family, with a young boy being robbed. The man gives his wallet to the would-be robber, but that isn’t enough. The robber shoots both parents dead, and leaves the young boy–Bruce Wayne, alive. Bruce breaks down crying as Selena Kyle watches from a fire escape.
At Gotham PD, we meet Gordon, who is a young cop. He has to take care of a hostage situation in the precinct when a suspect grabs a cop. His partner isn’t happy about the way Gordon handled it though, and thought shooting the suspect was the best option. His partner is Harvey Bullock.
They’re given the case, Bullock and Gordon then head to a crime scene–Bruce’s parents’ murder scene. Bullock wants no part of the case, but Gordon decides to talk with Bruce Wayne. Gordon shares a moment with Bruce, explaining his father was killed in a car accident. Gordon swears to catch the murderer. Alfred Pennyworth then comforts Bruce Wayne, and takes him home.
Heading to a diner, Bullock expresses his unhappiness for Gordon getting them into the case. Meanwhile “Major Crimes Unit” pays Bullock a visit, and they ask if the case should be taken off their hands. Bullock seems to now want to keep the case. They part ways, not on good terms.
Bullock meets with the Captain, and asks to be reassigned. She doesn’t allow it. Bullock resorts to telling Gordon to transfer out of Gotham, but he refuses.
The two decide to go out and do some investigating. Then we meet Ed Nigma, a forensics officer who loves to speak in Riddles. But the information he provides shows that the murderer of the Waynes was a professional killer. Bullock decides they should visit Fish, a mobsterette. She is out back, beating some of her staff, to pulp for stealing. Oswald, AKA The Penguin, seems to be her lackey.
Bullock suggests Gordon to check out the beating going on outside, to see if anyone needs help. They seem to refuse any help. Back inside the bar, Gordon returns just in time to miss all of the conversation between Fish and Bullock, and the detectives head out.
Heading home, we meet Gordon’s girlfriend, Barbara.
Bullock calls him the next morning, with a lead. They meet up, and Bullock is a little inebriated. Fish apparently got a suspect–Mario Pepper, and passed along the info to Bullock. We then meet Ivy, who says her father, Mario Pepper is “mean”. Gordon and Bullock talk with him, but Pepper spooks, and flees. Gordon pursues. Pepper gets the drop on Gordon, but Bullock shows up, killing Pepper.
Pepper’s house is investigated, and a pearl necklace is found. At the precinct, the two receive a standing ovation.
Oswald, then meets with Major Crimes Unit, and he explains that Pepper was framed. He thinks Falcone is behind the murder, and the cops seem to think that Penguin is looking to move up in his little world–getting Fish out.
The episode then flashes to the Wayne funeral, and Selena Kyle watches again from afar. Bruce Wayne thanks Gordon for finding the murderer.
Then one of the Major Crimes Unit’s officers, Rene, visits Barbara. Rene tells Barbara that Gordon and Bullock framed Pepper. Barbara doesn’t believe that Gordon would be in on such a dirty deed. Later that night, Barbara asks Gordon if he did frame Pepper.
Gordon confronts Rene Montoya, and demands to know the evidence that proves it. She refuses, so Gordon says he will find out who framed Pepper. Gordon then pays a visit to the Pepper family again. Gordon decides to take a look at his shoes, and can’t find the shiny pair that Bruce Wayne described.
Gordon then confronts Bullock, who disbelieves the framing theory. Bullock tells Gordon to forget about it, but Gordon can’t seem to do that. Gordon pays a visit to Fish Mooney, who realizes based on the conversation that Mooney must have been in on the framing. Gordon tries to leave, but is taken out by Mooney and a couple guards.
Barbara the next day asks Bullock what happened to Gordon. He tells her that Gordon is on a stakeout. However, we find out he has been taken to a butcher, but Bullock shows up. Bullock talks with Mooney, who is currently watching a jokester on stage. Bullock tells Mooney that Major Crimes is on to her, and she realizes someone must be talking. Bullock is then added to the menu for killing.
Back with Mooney, she has a conversation with Oswald, and realizes he is the betrayer. Penguin then attacks Mooney, but Mooney takes him out with a chair and bat quite easily.
Both Bullock and Gordon now hang upside in the meat locker, and “Frankie” comes out for some carving. Falcone shows up though, and saves the day. He tells one of the abductors to tell Mooney that she has to ask permission to kill cops.
Falcone and Gordon have a conversation, and Gordon seems to believe Falcone didn’t kill the Waynes. Falcone explains that he framed Pepper to put the city to rest, making his organized crime run smoother.
Josh’s Thoughts: Gotham, Season 1 Episode 1: Pilot
So Violet and I first the saw the series premiere for Gotham at Comic-Con. We were dead tired though, after camping out and at that time, I was unable to get into the show. I actually was a little disappointed even. It was a show I was really looking forward.
The second time around, I was able to appreciate it a little more. But I still feel that there is something missing. Actually, it might be that there is too much going on. This episode introduced almost every Batman villain within the first 45 minutes of the show—Catwoman, Riddler, Poison Ivy, Penguin, and hints at a Joker although that one is never made clear. This seems way over the top for the first episode. What is worse is their origins seemingly are going to be mangled. I guess this isn’t a problem if it is done right, but at the moment it feels really cliché. Poison Ivy as a child played with plants in every scene she was in. Riddler’s every line spoken was a riddle, Penguin gets an injury that makes him walk like a penguin. I really think a more subtle approach to the characters would have been a lot better. Seeing the transition from a more “normal” person to who their villain is would be more entertaining I think.
Another thing that I thought was a little weird—apparently Catwoman is stalking Bruce Wayne as a child. She witnesses the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents. I think this is far form canon, unless I am missing something.
But so far the series seems like it will mostly be about Commissioner Gordon. Or, in this “prequel”, he is Detective Gordon. What I hope is that the show introduces new villains. I would also like to see the psychology of Bruce Wayne turning into Batman, as he gets older. I have a feeling the show will not be going so far that we actually see the transition though.
But for the moment, I will hope that the show entices me further, as I watch it. Hopefully the show will calm down and not throw every villain of Batman in our face repeatedly. Let the show develop over time, and let us see the transition more naturally!
Violet’s Thoughts on Season 1 Episode 1 of Gotham: Pilot
The first time I saw the Gotham pilot was at San Diego Comic-Con. I remember thinking it was boring. I actually dozed off a bit towards the end of it. Although, if you know me, that’s not necessarily an indication as to a show being boring, because I have movie narcolepsy and can’t watch a movie or TV show after a certain time without falling asleep! Not to mention we didn’t get much sleep the night before, and slept on concrete, and were in Hall H all day, sooo that might have been a factor in how I felt towards the pilot.
This time around, I was able to get into it a little more, now understanding more about what was going on. But I still felt like it gave off an overall boring vibe in some instances, especially the relationship between Gordon and Barbara. Plus, the episode starts out with the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents — which we’ve all seen a million times before. Or it feels like it, anyway. I mean, I know they gotta do that because that’s how they pull in the Batman fans, but yawn. The only thing I found interesting about that scene was that I recognized the actor who played Bruce Wayne’s father as the actor who played Dusty Donovan on As the World Turns! (Yes, I grew up watching soap operas with my grandmother.)
It also felt like a bit of a stretch coming up with all these excuses of how to get all of the villains into this episode, despite sacrificing their true origin stories. I guess they’re going to make up their own stories though.
Some of the set was kind of fake looking to me, well, mainly the police station. The placement of the jail cells looked really weird to me, very makeshift, like they didn’t belong in that spot.
So, we’ve already covered the murder of the Waynes, and met many potential villains. What next? Hopefully the excitement can ramp up by next episode, as well as the credibility of everything. I went into this show thinking what a lot of people were thinking: how much material can a show about Commissioner (er, Detective) Gordon cover, and still be interesting — without Batman? In general, I’m just not really into police procedurals, and I’m afraid that’s what this might turn out to be, based on this first episode. But I’m willing to give it a chance.
Scenes from Gotham, Season 1 Episode 2: Selina Kyle
Here are scenes from the next episode of Gotham, titled Selina Kyle:
The premise is awesome. I just hope they do it justice and do a great job. Also – if it does do well – hope Fox doesn’t cancel it like they have all their other awesome, promising shows.
I really liked the pilot episode. They could have gone a little easier on the villain introductions but all in all it was an enjoyable watch. 2nd episode was even better.
really liked the episode some twists and turns