Gotham
Season 1 Episode 1: “Pilot”
Directed by Danny Cannon
Written by Bruno Heller and Bob Kane
Starring Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sean Pertwee, Robin Taylor, David Mazouz, Cameron Bicondova, Cory Michael Smith, Erin Richards, Andrew Stewart-Jones, and Victoria Cartegena
FOX
Air Date: Monday, September 22, 2014, 8pm

DC is looking to make another mark in the television universe, with FOX reaping the eventual accolades and profit. Gotham, premiering tonight at 8pm, is an origins story that predates Batman. This story focuses on rookie detective, Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie), two weeks into his new position at his new precinct in the heart of Gotham City, partnered with corrupt Harvey Bullock (the always enjoyable Donal Logue). His first major case is the murder of billionaires Martha and Thomas Wayne. The only witness is their 12-year-old son, Bruce (David Mazouz), or so we think. It is there the friendship is forged, with Jim promising young Bruce that he will find the killer, much to Alfred’s (Sean Pertwee) skepticism.

Young Jim Gordon is thrust into Gotham’s miring maze of mafia and political hierarchy and corruption. How will he navigate this while still staying true to his honor and beliefs? We will see. This is not only Jim’s story. It is the DC villains origin story as well, with interesting connections between a teenage Catwoman (Cameron Bicondova looking like a young Michelle Pfeiffer) and Bruce Wayne; future Riddler (Cory Michael Smith) working for the police but clearly riddling away; and the Penguin (Robin Taylor, who has already earned the moniker) and Jim.

The show already seems it will use the successful formula of individual plot inside an overarching storyline, but time will tell. New York City is dressed up in its grittiest clothes, as the appropriate setting of our story. Jada Pinkett Smith as new villain Fish Mooney, who works for mob boss Carmine Falcone (John Doman), slinks around sexily like a champ, telling everyone how it is and how it’s going to be. Those of us familiar with the battles between adult Bruce Wayne and getting along in his years Jim Gordon, against the Riddler, the Penguin, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy (played by little girl Clare Foley), will enjoy seeing the smaller nuanced (and some larger) interactions that make you go, “Oh! That’s why!”

Spoiler alert!

I cannot wait to see young Joker, Bain, and Mr. Freeze in the future! I do know he will not be introduced like this:

“Allow me to break the ice. My name is Freeze. Learn it well. For it’s the chilling sound of your doom.”

The Gotham extended trailer:

A sneak peek: