Nowadays, there are television shows that are based on the DC and Marvel comic book universe that are popular among audiences. Shows like Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Agents of Shield, Daredevil, and Luke Cage have reached a new level of popularity since their releases. However, there is a television show that few people in my comic book circle talk about and we all favor that show more than the aforementioned programs, and it is called Gotham.
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There have been criticisms from fans of the Batman universe that focused on how the writers are introducing the majority of the villains in the comics earlier than expected, or how the adventures in the show do not follow the story lines in the comic books. However, there were films based on the Batman comics that did not follow the specific stories. For example in the 1989 Batman film, the Joker played by Jack Nicholson was responsible for killing Bruce Wayne's/Batman's parents at an early age, but in the comics it was a man named Joe Chill. I don't know why these people would not watch Gotham because they claim that it does not stay relevant to the comic books when most of the films and animated shows did not follow the story lines either.
Having said that, I believe that Gotham is an awesome show with amazing characters and story lines, and here are the reasons why.
Our Love for the Villains
Most of us know that the villains of "Batman" are horrible people who terrorize Gotham City almost every day. However, we need to remember that these villains were once people who became corrupted by the dark society of Gotham or damaged from the loss of loved ones. I mean when I watched the first season of Gotham, Edward Nygma (Riddler) was a forensic scientist at the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD) who had a fascination with puzzles and riddles. After he was rejected many times by his peers and the woman he loved by calling him a "weirdo" and psychopath", he turned to the dark side. It is the need of acceptance that these characters long for, but once they get pushed aside as nothing, they turn dark. The development of these "villains" are why we cheer them on more than the heroes of Gotham. There is also another person living in Gotham who we root for more than anyone else, and that man is Oswald Cobblepot (The Penguin).
We Love "The Penguin"!
Before the show aired in 2014, everyone's favorite Batman villain was The Joker and we all thought that the villain "The Penguin" was a bit of a joke. However, our view of the feathered bird changed once actor Robin Lord Taylor stepped into his shoes. Once the casting of the Penguin was announced in late 2013-early 2014, a lot have criticized Taylor's appearance saying something ridiculous like, "he's too tall" or "too skinny". However once the first couple of episodes aired in the first season, everybody loved the Penguin due to how Taylor portrayed the character's damaged soul, along with how Cobblepot has been tormented due to his appearance throughout his childhood. Even though he has done terrible things to people such as murder and manipulation, I still cheer him on because of how he has been bullied and pushed around for his entire life. I also believe that the reason why Cobblepot is like this is due to his desire for love and acceptance, the same feeling that he received from his mother as a child. Taylor's portrayal of The Penguin is what makes his character beautiful, and I have to say: Keep on Fighting Penguin!
Bruce Wayne's Childhood
In every Batman animated show or film, we have seen what Bruce Wayne had experienced when he was a child, which was the murder of his parents. What we didn't see was how that event has changed him into the vigilante who we all know today. Watching the growth of Bruce Wayne from a child to a young man has been one of the highlights of Gotham, because when I first saw Bruce, I thought of him as a frightened and damaged young boy. As the show progressed, he has been growing and trying to determine why the people in Gotham City are so corrupted. Another plus side is seeing his romantic side evolving when sharing adventures with the young Selina Kyle, who will become Catwoman.
So here are my reasons why I believe that Gotham is an awesome show compared to the other comic book universe television programs. Do you agree with my reasons, or are there any other points you would like to add?
