Considering the fact that "Batman" adaptions are the cash cow that DC keeps milking, I wasn't particularly excited about the TV series "Gotham." What can be done with the Batman origin story that hasn't been done already? But after hearing the great reviews of "Gotham," I decided I put off watching the show for long enough. And honestly, after finishing season one, I wish I watched this show sooner.
"Gotham" isn't so much the origin story of Batman as it is the origin story of the city that the dark knight must one day step up to protect. It explores the origins of the Riddler and Penguin, two villains that rarely get the spotlight, but very well deserve it in this show; as well as the origins of Catwoman and Poison Ivy. Before Bruce Wayne put on the mask, James Gordon tried to take on the task of cleaning up the city, and this show provides more than enough reasons why cops are not enough to rehabilitate Gotham (not that it stops Gordon from trying). The city is teeming with crime, corruption, and insanity. Which is why it is so much fun to watch. And so, as a tribute to the amazing show that is "Gotham," this is a list counting down some of the most memorable scenes from the first season.
11. Crime Alley.
Naturally, the series starts off with the scene that marks the birth of Batman -- the murder of Martha and Thomas Wayne. It's violence really sets the stage for the gruesome, bloody season to come. This scene is really the jumping point for the show, and it's done well, so of course it deserves a spot on this list.
10. Bruce Doesn't Play Nice.
In episode 8, "The Mask," Bruce runs into some trouble with bullies at school. What does he do? With Alfred's blessings, he beats up the kid who taunted him. This was one of the more memorable displays of Bruce's anger in the season and is the first reveal of his dark side.
9. The Cat and The Bat.
Bruce and Selina's first meeting in episode had me shipping them faster than FedEx priority next day delivery. It is just an adorable moment, and one that I love as much as every moment Bruce and Selina are on screen together.
8. Isn't That Neat?
Episode 15 "The Scarecrow" has some slow moments, but this moment was my favorite in the episode, even though it doesn't last for very long and doesn't further the plot. Nygma and Penguin cross paths and exchange a few words. Yes, that is all that happens, and I still love this moment between them. They are my two favorite characters in the show and having them both in one scene, however brief, is amazing.
7. Circus Freak.
Episode 16, "The Blind Fortune Teller," culminates to one moment: Jerome's creepy smile, and thus his reveal as the future Joker. That smile is just too perfect an embodiment of Joker's insanity. After I finished the episode, I imagined what Cameron Monaghan's audition for the part must've been like. He probably showed up, flashed that psychotic smile, and immediately casted.
6. Crushed In A Compactor.
This probably one of the most creative ways to kill someone that I've seen in the show, and deserves props for that. Plus, I just love the fact that Penguin got out by making a threat over the phone as he was nearly crushed to death.
5. The Cat Is A Killer.
This is one of the most jaw-dropping scenes in episode 19, if not in the entire season. Selina Kyle commits murder. This scene is a definitive moment for both Bruce and Selina, and establishes "the line" concept that distinguishes the two of them in that Bruce will never cross it and Selina just did.
4. Meet Mama.
The visual style of "Gotham" oscillates between gritty and cartoonish, and Penguin's mother definitely fits into the latter category. Which is fine with me because, honestly, it's the one I prefer. She's so strange, odd, and fun, even though the scene between her and Penguin in this, the sixth episode, is a bit awkward and hints at an Oedipal relationship. Any scene with Gertrud Cobblepot is a great scene in my book.
3. Run Away Screaming.
As you are well aware, this list is clearly biased, and no place is that more evident than here. Since the pilot, I've anticipated Barbara's death and in episode 20 she's almost murdered by the Ogre, except he doesn't murder her because he starts to fall for her. My disappointment was tempered by sudden interest in this weird connection and chemistry the gorgeous psychopath (played by the gorgeous Milo Ventimiglia) has with her. In this scene, I actually liked her. Plus, it foreshadows her own transformation into a psychopath (which is not on this list because she didn't die in that scene).
2. The Riddler Has Arrived.
The same goes for Edward Nygma. After seeing Nygma stab an officer to death in "Beasts of Prey", "All Happy Families are Alike" lets us see Nygma become truly unhinged. The Riddler may have been born in "Beasts of Prey," but it's in this episode that he takes over. It foreshadows his status upgrade from lowly forensics guy to notorious villain, and I look forward to it.
1. Fish Scoops Out Her Eye.
There is no other way to say this: Fish Mooney scooped out her eye with a spoon. It is the only thing I really remember from the episode "Red Hood," and it is the most memorable moment of the season, not to mention the most gruesome (which is why I couldn't put the picture in here). At some point, each character shows just how far they are willing to go, and this episode proves that Fish Mooney is willing to go farther than anyone else in order to win.
