“Gotham” is a TV show about Batman before he became Batman. It follows Jim Gordon as a young police officer trying to clean up Gotham City while villains like the Penguin and Poison Ivy start their rise. The show ran for five seasons, ending in 2019. Critics gave it a score of 7.1 out of 10, and that number holds up as a fair reading of the series.
Trailer, via FOX.
Jim Gordon’s Early Days
The show’s best moments come from its lead character. Ben McKenzie plays Jim Gordon as a man who sees the city’s corruption clearly and tries to fight it anyway. His scenes with Captain Essen, played by Donal Logue, give the show its moral center. The show also does well with Gordon’s family life, showing how his wife and daughter ground him amid the chaos around him.
The Villains Take Shape
The villains get most of the attention. Catwoman, played by Camren Bicondova, is the standout. Her arc moves from thief to protector in a way that feels earned. The Penguin, played by Robin Lord Taylor, becomes a chilling presence over time. Poison Ivy, played by Jessica Lucas, gets less screen time but still lands her moments well.
Weak Points
Not everything works. The show’s early seasons lean heavily on soap opera drama, with romantic triangles and revenge plots that slow down the pacing. Some viewers found the tone too dark, and the violence grew harsher as the series went on. The final season tried to tie everything together, but the payoff felt rushed compared to the build-up.
Season Ranking
Here’s how the seasons stack up:
- Season 1 — the strongest, setting up the world with confidence.
- Season 2 — steady, though some storylines drag.
- Season 3 — uneven, with a few standout episodes.
- Season 4 — mixed, leaning on spectacle over character.
- Season 5 — rushed, trying to wrap up too much too fast.
Comparing the Seasons
| Season | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strong setup, memorable villains | Some pacing issues |
| 2 | Solid throughline, growing cast | Romantic subplots slow things down |
| 3 | Darker tone, deeper character work | Uneven episode quality |
| 4 | Big set pieces, larger scope | Shallow writing |
| 5 | Fast pace, resolution attempts | Rushed storytelling |
Final Word
“Gotham” isn’t perfect, but it has a strong core. Its version of Jim Gordon carries the show, and its take on the villains is often sharp and surprising. The show’s later seasons lose some of that focus, but the early years remain worth watching. It earns its 7.1 out of 10.
