Gotham: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)

Plot: What’s it about?

Batman. Bruce Wayne. The Dark Knight. Ok, yeah, they’re all the same thing.  For years, DC Comics has been churning out stories about Batman in various incarnations and it’s no secret that Christopher Nolan’s vision of the Caped Crusader (oops, forgot one) wowed both audiences and critics alike. And, to no surprise, there’s no sign of this slowing down. Batman has animated movies, video games and he’s battling fellow DC comic magnate Superman in 2016.  Are we sick of it? Not really. I’m willing to bet that so long as a profit is to be made, we’ll see Bat-something everywhere we go.  In the ever-expanding universe, we’re now treated to a series simply called Gotham.  The show isn’t so much about Batman, but the rise to prominence of would be Commissioner Gordon. We see a different side of the city and some of the influences that will eventually lead to what we’re already familiar with. Is it too much or a new spin on an already familiar theme? Warner and DC want you to find out…

Before there was Batman, there was Gotham City. Everyone knows the name of Commissioner Gordon (Ben McKenzie), but what of his rise from rookie detective to Police Commissioner? What did it take to navigate the layers of corruption in Gotham City, the spawning ground of the world’s most iconic villains? Gotham tells the story of the world’s most iconic DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes from the very beginning, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. This crime drama follows GCPD Detective James Gordon’s rise through a dangerously corrupt city, while also chronicling the genesis of one of the most popular DC Comics Super Heroes of our time. Although the crime drama follows Gordon’s turbulent and singular career, it also focuses on his unlikely friendship with the young Bruce Wayne – with his mentorship a crucial element in developing the mythology of Gotham City.

Video: How’s it look?

If you’ve seen the previews for the show or, more to the point, the show itself, then you’ll know how dark it is. Then again, I’d wager that everything associated with Batman has to have a darker side to it. Agreed? Having said that, Gotham looks pretty dark, dismal and gloomy but that’s the way it was intended. The 1.78:1 AVC HD image is second to none with deep, rich blacks, strong contrast and detail that’s sharp as a knife. The flesh tones seem a bit muted, but there aren’t a lot of “traditional” shots in the series, so it’s hard to get an accurate read on anything normal and natural. Fans of the films or the dark knight in general will get the sense of how this series is shot and presented. These Blu-ray’s more than adequately convey the show’s tone.

Audio: How’s it sound?

Equally as impressive as the way the show looks is the surprisingly robust DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack. There seems to be a depth to this mix that I really wasn’t prepared for and it really works with the show. Vocals are rich and pure with the lead characters each having their own “voice” so to speak. Surrounds are very active and the LFE even got in on the action from time to time. Just because this is a television show doesn’t mean that it can’t have a kick ass soundtrack but that is exactly the case here. Color this guy impressed!

Supplements: What are the extras?

Anything and everything having to do with Batman is owned by Warner, so it would stand to reason they’d take care of their caped crusader and anything he might be associated with, no?  The first season of Gotham is fairly loaded with supplements, some better than others – let’s don our cowl and investigate.

• Gotham Invented
  Building Our Gotham – Producers Bruno Heller, Danny Cannon, and John Stephens discuss the physical look and feel of the show, the production design and so forth.

  Paving the Way for the Caped Crusader – The same trio from the first (and subsequent) feature discuss both the protagonists and antagonists and how they came to be for the show.

  Fractured Villains of Gotham – Pretty much that – some of the more lively villains from the first season are profiled.

• Designing the Fiction – This twenty minute feature is essentially a look at the production design for the show. Granted, in other shows the physical atmosphere might not play as much of a role as it does here, hence the look at it.
• The Game of Cobblepot – The character of the Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot) is profiled here with comments from the production team as well as the actor who plays our umbrella-clad villain.
• Gag Reel – Shenanigans from the set.
•  Deleted Scenes – Six total, though they’re not in a nice, cohesive location. Rather they’re spread across a few discs. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to see what didn’t make the final cut.
• DC Comics Night at Comic-Con 2014 Presenting Gotham, The Flash, Constantine and Arrow – Pretty much that – the DC universe is well-represented at last year’s Comic Con and we get some Q & A from audience members and so on.
• GOTHAM: The Legend Reborn – We get a bit of an update from what we’ve grown to know and accept as “fact” from the Batman lore. It sets up the series and gives us a bit of insight into the new world of Gotham.
• Character Profiles:
  Detective Harvey Bullock

  Detective James Gordon

  Oswald Cobblepot

  Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth

  Fish Mooney

  Leslie Thompkins

  Killer Character

The Bottom Line

It appears as if there is no end in sight for Bruce Wayne/Batman or anyone he’s associated with. Still, I really enjoyed this new spin on a tale we all thought we knew. Gotham is a tightly-woven tapestry of a story and with good writing and acting I have to admit that I might have to make this part of my weekly rotation when it comes back for a new season. The Blu-ray features amazing audio and video as well as a nice offering of supplements. Recommended.