Gotham is a tv show based on the Batman comic book, but with a difference. It opens with the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents. So there is not yet a Batman, nor are there any supervillains. Oh, they are there — just not as we know them. Catwoman (Selina Kyle) is a young street girl, Riddler (Ed Nygma) is a forensic scientist, and Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot) is a low-level aide to a mob boss. But the focus is not on any of these, rather on Detective Jim Gordon, an idealistic member of the corrupt Gotham Police Department (needless to say, long before he becomes commissioner.)
In his investigation of the Waynes’ murder, Gordon becomes acquainted with teenaged Bruce Wayne and promises to solve the murder. But Bruce is not content to wait for the police. He starts his own investigation, not only of his parents’ murder, but also of strange dealings at Wayne Enterprises. Along the way, he meets and becomes friends with Selina Kyle, who helps him through her knowledge of Gotham’s underworld.
Meanwhile, Cobblepot rises through the ranks, Nygma shows his true colors, and other villains arise to thwart both Gordon and Bruce in their efforts. Gordon must also stand against his superiors and colleagues as he tries to clean up Gotham, while dealing with a complicated personal life.
Due to all these forces, Gordon, and to a lesser extent, Bruce, are always getting into trouble. In fact, it has become somewhat tedious the extent to which Gordon is constantly being discredited then redeemed, becoming a “What is Going to Happen to Jim Gordon This Week” scenario.
Still, having said all that, the second season has really taken off with the addition of Dr. Hugo Strange, played magnificently by B. D. Wong. Best known for his role as Dr. Huang on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Wong has experience playing a psychiatrist. But Strange is much different from Huang. Rather than trying to help people, Strange is involved in research to resurrect the dead and give them super powers. The season finale is like something out of The Walking Dead, but instead of mindless zombies, the citizens of Gotham have to deal with supervillains.
Wong has really injected some new life into this series. If you haven’t seen it, watch it. If you’ve given up on it, watch it again. I can’t wait for Season 3.