Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is an earnest new police detective in the corrupt Gotham City. His girlfriend Barbara Kean takes a turn into darkness. His partner Harvey Bullock is revealed to be a weary veteran willing to work within the corruption. There is Bruce Wayne, the billionaire orphan, with his butler Alfred Pennyworth. Selina Kyle is a street kid who finds connection with Bruce. Oswald Cobblepot is a minor crime figure who rises to the top. Edward Nygma is the police tech who goes mad for riddles.
The show was initially sold as Batman without Batman or Gotham with young Jim Gordon. It's actually teen Batman before Batman. It's a little weird to have Catwoman/not Catwoman, Joker/not Joker, Penguin/not Penguin, Riddler/not Riddler. What may be worst are the non-comic book characters. The Balloonman in the third episode is probably the quintessential new character. It's odd. It's a valiant try but it doesn't work. It doesn't fit as drama or comedy. I actually don't mind Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney but she struggles to fit as the tone keeps changing. Eventually the show figures out how to be an alternate Batman verse. Cameron Monaghan as Jeremiah Valeska is the high point as Joker/not Joker. Robin Lord Taylor is consistently great as Cobblepot and probably kept more of my attention through those first two inconsistent seasons. It's a shaky start but the show eventually finds its footing.
