[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ur introduction to the world of corruption, iconic villains and our future Batman begins with the premiere of Fox’s new show, Gotham. This highly anticipated TV show stars Ben McKenzie, Jada Pinkett Smith and David Mazouz. It follows the rise of many known comic book villains like the Penguin, the Riddle, Cat Woman, Ivy, and many other iconic villains.
The show opens with a girl watching from the tops of buildings, where she then works her way to a man, who she eventually mugs—stealing his wallet and a half gallon of milk from someone she bumps into. We then see her feed a kitty some milk.
Next we see a young boy and his parents walking through an alley, where a thief approaches them with a gun pointed at them. He demands their wallet and the woman’s pearl necklace. He then shoots them dead leaving young Bruce Wayne standing with his dead parents’ bodies lying in front of him. Once again we see the young cat woman watching, and has witnessed the murder.
Gotham is swarming with thieves and criminals with guns. One has even taken an officer’s gun inside the precinct and pointed it at the officer’s head. Jim Gordon introduces himself to the gunman, and manages to distract the criminal in order to get the gun. However, Detective Harvey Bullock preferred he killed the criminal instead.
Detective Harvey and James Gordon are called in for the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Gordon introduces himself to young Bruce Wayne. You can see he immediately connects with him. He tells him there will be light, even if there is a dark and scary world. Before he leaves, he tells him that he will find the killer. We then see Alfred Pennyworth come and pick up young Bruce to take him home.
Detective Harvey wants the case closed quickly, as they usually do. But come on, it is Thomas and Martha Wayne, Gotham’s most prominent wealthiest people. Anyway, the Major Crimes unit shows up with Montoya and Allen wanting the case. They also want some press attention, but that’s not going to happen. Bullock doesn’t want to work with Gordon on this big case, but he has no choice since Captain Essen has insisted on it.
So off they go visit Fish Mooney. Mooney gets some leeway because that’s the way it is. She is busy torturing Raoul. She is also with Butch and Oswald (Penguin), where the latter gets to take his turn beating him. Unfortunately, no one cares and they are not interested in pressing charges.
Gordon goes home and is greeted by his fiancé Barbara. He is upset because he wants results as promised to young Bruce.
Bullock calls Gordon to meet him since Mooney has supposedly found a drug dealer, and street thug with the name Mario Pepper who has the pearl necklace. Gordon chases Pepper, but Pepper attacks him and Bullock shoots Mario dead. Police go to the apartment of Mario Pepper, and sure enough the necklace is there. Meanwhile Oswald gets inside the car of Major Crimes Unit and tells them that Fish Mooney and the GCPD set Mario Pepper up.
At the funeral of Bruce’s parents, we see the young girl from the rooftops (cat woman) watching the funeral. Bruce is glad Gordon kept his promise and shakes his hand.
Montoya from Major Crimes pays a visit to Barbara, Gordon’s fiancé. She tells her the police and the mob set Mario Peppers to take the fall. Barbara defends Gordon, knowing he would never do that. Barbara tells Gordon about Montoya, and he gets upset. He meets up with Montoya and Allen, telling them to stay out of his way.
Gordon returns to Mario Peppers apartment to talk to Pepper’s wife, Alice and daughter Ivy. We are left with the impression that it’s our future Poison Ivy, as she is shown standing by the plant. Gordon discovers that Mario was indeed framed, since he did not find any shiny shoes in his closet. He wants to investigate the framing (it’s what a good cop would do), but Bullock just wants him to forget about it.
Making a visit to Mooney ends up bad for Gordon when she knocks him out. Later that day, Barbara goes to the station and tells Bullock she hasn’t heard from Gordon since. To calm her down, he tells her he’s in a stakeout. He then decides to go find Gordon, and he knows exactly where the mobsters do their business… in the meat locker.
However, Bullock pretty much digs a hole for himself, making Mooney feel threatened. She ends up telling Butch to hang Bullock with Gordon.
Mooney knows Oswald is the snitch, so she just beats him up, all the while a comedian on stage watches. Don’t mess with Mooney. Seriously, she is tough. Just when some big thug shows up to kill Gordon and Bullock, top mobster Carmine Falcone shows up. He tells Butch that if Mooney wants to kill the police she needs to ask for permission. Yup, there are rules. Gordon has a little chat with Falcone where Falcone tries to win him over by saying he knew his dad and that they were friends. He wants Gordon to keep quiet. He tells him that you can’t have organize crime without order. Next he orders Penguin’s death.
Bullock tells Gordon he has to kill Oswald or else he’ll be killed. Meanwhile, Oswald has developed his Penguin limp. We watch as Gordon takes Oswald toward the water and shoots the gun. But before Oswald falls in the water, Gordon tells him never to return to Gotham.
But of course the big mistake Gordon makes is actually leaving Oswald aka. The Penguin alive.
Later on, Gordon visits young Bruce again to tell him that Pepper did not kill his parents, and was in fact framed by the Mob and the Police department. Bruce tells Gordon it’s alright, but he would like to meet the killer again. As Gordon leaves Bruce’s home, cat girl is watching from the top.
Just before it ends we see Oswald resurfacing and killing his first victim, hence the reign of the Penguin.
Join us again Monday at 8/7c for the next episode of Gotham.
[photo credit: FOX]
