Parents' Guide to

Gotham

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Dark, violent drama tells compelling Batman backstory.

TV Fox Drama 2014
Gotham Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 14+

Based on 30 parent reviews

Home3478
Home3478 Adult
March 3, 2022
age 14+

I very love this series!!!

"Gotham is a cursed land where corruption has devoured every sector that the series tells not only superficially but also conditions the birth of the villain." The main theme of the story, it's about fighting with influential groups. And investigating in various cases. But as the season progresses through season 2 onwards, we'll find characters with more quirky abilities, more comics. I like about the plot of this story is that not bringing back Batman and focusing on the main character, Batman. The audience will get nothing unless they know more about the story of Batman's childhood. But this series intentionally focuses on the other characters more. And that's what makes this series so different and interesting. If talking about the atmosphere of the city. It felt that Gotham City in this series, it's gloomier and feels like a hopeless city than in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy. There were a lot of crimes, gangs of influential people filled the city. Whatever you did, you had to be afraid of tripping over someone's feet. So many influences that even the police department can't do anything to these groups. And where are the psychopaths who are ready to commit murder at any time again, can be called the city of filth. Each of the characters are interesting. Although most of the chapter focuses on James Gordon as the main character of the story. But other characters have some roles as well. The characters that appear are all familiar: The Joker, Mr. Riddler, Penguin and many more. Have you ever wondered who Penguin is, and why he is the enemy of Batman? In the movie, is he really the bad guy? Catwoman, the image we follow from the cartoon or movie. She always has a pretty, sexy image. Who is she? Why did she become Catwoman? I appreciate all of series team they can find very good actor, the role and character match with the actors. The components make your imaginary city come true.This series will make you fall in love with Batman even more. It's more fun to watch Batman's next movie, it has insights into life, love, and a good perspective on Gotham's society. "The Batman disciples will be completely satisfied. Especially the familiar characters presented in a way we have never seen before." Overall, I give 4 stars because there are still some plot holes in the story. I won't mention it because that would be a spoiler.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
3 people found this helpful.
Tony F.
Tony F. Parent of 11-year-old
May 18, 2023
age 17+

Way to scary for kids

Very graphic and brutal violence This is a very darker story of Batman‘s backstory, very mature show for mature teens+

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 30 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is still learning the ropes of his new job in the GOTHAM City Police Department when he's called to the scene of the double murder of local billionaires Thomas and Martha Wayne. After talking to the only eye witness -- the couple's 12-year-old son, Bruce (David Mazouz) -- Gordon promises the boy he'll see justice served, even as his seasoned partner, Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue), bemoans their involvement in the case. Soon Gordon comes to understand Bullock's reservations, as they're thrust into the corrupt inner workings of Gotham City, coming face to face with the likes of gang boss Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) and mobster Carmine Falcone (John Doman) as they seek the killer. But what Gordon discovers not only puts him at risk but also threatens his fiancée, Barbara (Erin Richards), as he must decide how he defines justice and how far he'll go to see it happen.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (30):
Kids say (121):

This is a mesmerizing origin story that follows the development of characters and relationships factoring into the well-known DC Comics Batman tales. Gotham focuses on Detective Gordon (whom it's implied becomes the Commissioner Gordon of the comic book series), beginning with a meaningful encounter with Bruce Wayne that inspires his drive for justice. Other eventual standouts such as Catwoman, the Joker, and the Penguin also have roles that hint at their future identities, weaving intriguing backstories that may or may not change your impression of them in the Batman saga.

A prequel's success is never a done deal, particularly when you start tweaking a classic such as Batman, but Gotham does two things so well that viewers will be willing to give it a chance. First, it walks a very fine line between telling enough story to entice those without previous Batman knowledge and telling too much story that's off-putting to the Caped Crusader's established fans. It's a rich, gripping presentation in either sense. Second, it always returns to the characters' inner conflict (and that of Gordon in particular) concerning the definition of justice, which plays on viewers' sense of the same. If your teens are mature enough to handle the dark themes and the violence, this can generate some good talking points for you.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about justice and the law. Teens: Is breaking the rules ever justified? Who gets to decide that? Is there something to Gotham's theme about doing bad things to achieve a good end? Should everyone be allowed to interpret the law in his or her own way?

  • This show implies that there are multiple standards at play in a society. Have your teens ever witnessed favoritism at school? In athletics? What role could prestige or wealth play in an otherwise fair contest?

  • How are we shaped by our surroundings? To what degree is our destiny predetermined by where and how we start life? Are our opportunities truly equal to everyone else's? What role do our choices play?

  • Does this show seem more violent that other network dramas? Does TV seem to be getting more or less violent? What influences these changes?

TV Details

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