Gotham

Gotham, not a movie but a riveting television series, thrills viewers as it delves into the darker, most sinister corners of the infamous city before the arrival of its iconic superhero, Batman. This gritty, crime-drama series primarily revolves around three central characters - Detective James “Jim” Gordon (Ben McKenzie), prominent crime boss Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith), and Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue), a detective in the Gotham City Police Department.

From co-creator Bruno Heller (also known for "Rome" and "The Mentalist"), Gotham pays homage to classic Batman lore while delving deep into a captivating origin story. It shows us a city on the brink of absolute chaos, teetering between order and anarchy. The narrative draws the audience into a world where good and bad are not flat, contrasting entities, but are often confusing in terms of morality and justice.

At its core, Gotham chronicles the journey of a young Jim Gordon, a newly appointed detective in Gotham City. Retaining his integrity in a city that is anything but pure becomes a daunting task for this fledgling cop. Far from the grizzled police commissioner we know from the Batman franchise, Gordon is portrayed as a green but determined officer of the law, striving to keep his moral compass pointed north amidst a whirlpool of criminality and corruption.

Gordon's counterpart, Detective Harvey Bullock, is adept at navigating the moral ambiguity of Gotham. Donal Logue brings forth a riveting performance as Bullock, a gruff yet effective cop who often rides the line between right and wrong. This character serves as an intriguing contrast to Gordon's unwavering moral code, offering the audience different perspectives on serving justice in Gotham City.

Breaking away from traditional depictions, Jada Pinkett Smith's original character, Fish Mooney, is a powerhouse addition to the classic Batman lineup. Dominating the underworld of this crime-ridden city with ferocity and flamboyance, Mooney's character provides a contrasting criminal perspective that dampens, yet enriches, the morals espoused by Detective Gordon. Fish Mooney's unique brand of ruthless ambition and cruel cunning provides a representation of Gotham's underworld that's both intriguing and terrifying.

Gotham fills its darkened alleyways and cobbled streets with a whole host of familiar Batman villains-to-be, each in their formative stages. The Penguin, The Riddler, Catwoman, and others weave in and out of the narrative, hinting at their malevolent futures while providing a thrilling sense of anticipation for long-term Batman fans.

While the series is indeed a prequel to Batman's story, it confidently stands as its entity, transcending from mere backstories to gripping and engaging narratives. Gotham is an experiment in world-building, with atmospheric cinematic shots that bring the monstrous city to life. It is a complex, sometimes convoluted, labyrinth of crime, corruption and resistance, with each twist and turn bringing forth a new antagonist, challenge, or moral quandary.

Moreover, Gotham turns the city itself into an important character. As much as this series is a tale of its inhabitants, it's also a grim portrait of the city that shaped them. Gloomy, Gothic architecture, eerie alleyways, and a pervasive sense of dread blend together to create an atmosphere that's both haunting and entirely compelling.

Gotham is no ordinary crime drama. It's a thrilling exploration of a city at its breaking point and the figures poised to keep it from tumbling into the abyss. It's a homage to Batman's roots and a testament to the strength of characters within a world on the brink of chaos. Batman fans and newcomers alike will find themselves captivated by the tangled web of Gotham's murky morality and the intriguing origin stories of the city's most infamous criminals.