So far, Gotham has won a Critics Choice Television Award for Most Exciting New Series and a Gracie Allen Award in the Outstanding Drama category. The high critic acclaim and fast-growing fanbase, set the tone for season two. It is in development now and the first episode is expected to come out in September 2015.
So many intriguing characters eventually became famous Batman icons, originate from the dark and deeply corrupted Gotham City. Gotham's plot focuses on the events after the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents. Through series of events, the show reveals the personal stories of some of the most infamous Batman-related supervillains before they turn into dark symbols of evil, as we know them. Each episode tells a thrilling story that explains why they started to act in their bad way. This is arguably the most fascinating and admirable thing about the show. The Joker, The Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Riddler, The Penquin, The Dollmaker, The Ogre – they are deadly dangerous, but in a very interesting and exciting way. Some are dangerous; others are simply larger than life. Of all villains, perhaps, The Dollmaker and The Ogre remain the scariest ones. Penguin, on the other hand, even when we know how bad and corrupted from inside he is, a cold-blooded murderer and psychopath, we actually begin to like him. The Ridller, too. Watching Oswald Copplebolt and Edward Nygma on Gotham, these two evil masterminds that will confront Batman in the future, they seem so likeable and sympathetic, which brings some bizarre excitement. And how it can be otherwise when such talented actors deliver truly believable characters.
Furthermore, Gotham is not only about re-inveting the villains. The major storyline centers on Jim Gordon’s early years as a detective in the Gotham City Police Department solving crimes with his partner detective Harvey Bullock. Also, series follow the relationship between Gordon and young Bruce Wayne, how it develops over the episodes and even takes some sharp turns.
For the loving fans of the Batman-prequel we put together some facts and trivia to feed your curiosity and tease you a little bit while waiting for the exciting new series.
- Jada Pinker-Smit is a big name in the film industry. Will Smith's wife is famous for delivering memorable perfomances in highly-rated films such as The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Ali, Reign Over Me. However, she excels in so many levels portraying the Fish Mooney character that she probably outrun all her former heroines. Jada left producers speechless when auditioning for the role of Fish Mooney she came out with a young shirtless man on a leash having the word "LIAR" written in lipstick on his forehead. Well, under these circumstances how could they not offer her the role, it fits her perfectly.
- Inspired by Dannny DeVito's portrayal of Oswald Copplepot a.k.a Penguin in Tim Burton's Batman Returns Robin Lord Taylor cited some of his lines, which as it appears, got him the role.
- In 2011 Ben McKenzie was the voice of Bruce Wayne in the animation Batman: Year One. Back then he co-worked with Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston who voiced Commisioner James Gordon. McKenzie is the second actor to portray both Batman and Jim Gordon. The first to do so was Bruce Thomas . In 2001-2002 he played the Dark knight in OnStar commercials and later, in 2014, he voiced James Gordon in the action adventure animation Son of Batman.
- Naturally, Robin Lord Taylor has blonde hair and for the role of Oswald he dyes it black every 14 days.
- Gotham is the first Batman-based television drama featuring DC characters Renee Montoya and Harvey Bullock since Batman: The Animated Series, aired in 1992.
- As of 2014 Camren Bicondova became the youngest actress who ever played the character of Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman.
- Fish Mooney is a brand new character brought into the DC universe, created especially for the series. Mooney is a major mob boss running her own gang of criminals in Gotham. She stuns the audience in her own significant way.
- Before she appear on Gotham as Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Morena Baccarin has some comic career experience. She has voiced the Gideon computer on The Flash and starred in Deadpool portraying the comic character of Vanessa Carlyle / Copycat.
- The time setting in Gotham is not clearly defined. Although the ambience reminds of New York City during the late 1970s and the early 1980s, the characters use modern mobile phones and computers.
- Camren Bicondova is an American dancer and participated in the girl dance group 8 Flavahz. Her dancing skills and flexibility certainly helped her with Selina Kyle's moves in Gotham.
- Robin Lord Taylor uses an old Hollywood technique to re-create the Penguin's limp. He puts a bottle cap in his right shoe so it will cause enough discomfort to make him walk uneasily.
- Were you familiar with villain Victor Zsasz before seeing him on Gotham? The character of Zsasz appeared on-screen for the very first time in Shadow of the Bat, which belongs to a four-part story Batman: The Last Arkham. The original story of Zsasz, written by Alan Grant and drawn by Norm Breyfogle, was revealed in Batman Chronicles in 1996. Zsasz has a thing to prey young women. After he cut his victims' throats he adds a skin-cutting mark to himself as some sort of a reminder how many people he has killed. The philosophy he follows is that no one and nothing matters, life is meaningless so he has dedicated to "liberating" people from their worthless lives. Creepy, isn’t it?
- In Nolan's The Dark Knight the character of Sal Maroni was portrayed by Eric Roberts and in Gotham it is David Zayas who plays the mob boss. The two stars met on the set of The Expendables where they play the principal antagonists James Munroe (Roberts) and General Garza (Zayas).
- Top fashion designer Martin Greenfield makes Oswald Cobblepot's suites. He is famous for custom-tailoring costumes for some high-standing politicians. Among them are U.S. presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
- Batman is not going to appear in the series. That is what the producers have announced. The storyline focuses on the life of Jim Gordon and the murder cases he is trying to solve along with Harvey Bullock.
Due to its high concept, dark style and brilliant cast, Gotham set the fire on the viewers. Hopefully, it keeps it that way with season two.
