Another Batman show without Batman, we've seen this before and it was called GOTHAM, and it ran on FOX for a bunch of seasons. This was my first thought when I saw the trailer for GOTHAM KNIGHTS, one more superhero show on the CW. Most of the reaction among the Bat fans, always a contentious group, was more or less negative. At first glance, who could blame them. Bruce Wayne is murdered, but there is no Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Jason Todd, or Damian Wayne to be found anywhere. Instead, we get an adopted son named Turner Hayes that we've never heard of before, who is framed for the murder of his adoptive father (who he didn't know was really the Caped Crusader) and ends up going on the lam with a bunch of other teen fugitives, including the Joker's daughter, Duela, and end up taking on the Court of Owls who framed them for various crimes. There's also Harvey Dent, the honest DA who has a bit of a split personality problem. It all looked like an attempt to mine the DC comic universe one more time in an unlikely venture to find some elusive ratings gold.
But in spite of low expectations, GOTHAM KNIGHTS proved to be a pretty good and solid series. The writing was focused, the episodes were filled with suspense and action, as clearly the writers and producers had acquainted themselves well with the Batman universe. Despite it not being canon or continuity, it knew the right beats to hit. It helped that the young actors cast in the title roles were very appealing and written in a way that got the viewer invested in them despite them being something of a stretch, like the Joker having a daughter. Olivia Rose Keegan was terrific playing this character, and it was a great plot turn to have her fall into a romantic relationship with Oscar Morgan's Turner. The other great piece of casting was fan favorite Misha Collins as Harvey Dent, who managed to pull off both personalities nicely. He really did bring the "Big Dent Energy" to the show. This being a CW series, there was some potentially clunky diversity, the kind that was painfully obvious on some of their other superhero shows, but GOTHAM KNIGHTS never made it feel as if the viewer was being beaten over the head with it. There were some eye rolling moments, as when Harper Row and Stephanie Brown take down two goons working for the Owls easily even though they are no physical match for a pair of grown men.
The season finale, "Night of the Owls," wrapped things up nicely with the evil Rebecca March, having dispatched her fellow Owls, going forward with her plan to kill the Knights (which now includes her son, Brody), and frame Duela for blowing up half of Gotham. It was action packed, and emotionally satisfying in the way it played out a number of character arcs including Harvey Dent, who was forced to use his evil side to extricate himself from a deadly situation. In the end, we really see the birth of Two Face, though some might quibble with the makeup job. Henry Ducard is introduced, and the Knights, having vanquished Rebecca and the Talons, decide they like being heroes.
But that will have to be the end of the story, as the CW has no plans to make a second season of GOTHAM KNIGHTS. The whole cycle of superhero shows which became known as the Arrowverse, has come to an apparent end, with only SUPERMAN AND LOIS coming back for a shortened season four to wrap that series up. I think GOTHAM KNIGHTS proved there was still some gas in the tank, and the CW made a mistake in not going for another season. But Warner Brothers has been doing some hinky stuff with its DC Comics properties and the fans, as usual, are getting the worst end of it. So, this apparently is it for Turner, Duela, Harper and Cullen, Stephanie, Carrie, Brody, and Harvey Dent as well. No doubt they will turn up in fan fiction, but as for this show, I think in years to come it will be one that Batman and DC fans will remember as beating expectations and recall fondly. My hope is that it will find the audience it deserved on streaming.
But in spite of low expectations, GOTHAM KNIGHTS proved to be a pretty good and solid series. The writing was focused, the episodes were filled with suspense and action, as clearly the writers and producers had acquainted themselves well with the Batman universe. Despite it not being canon or continuity, it knew the right beats to hit. It helped that the young actors cast in the title roles were very appealing and written in a way that got the viewer invested in them despite them being something of a stretch, like the Joker having a daughter. Olivia Rose Keegan was terrific playing this character, and it was a great plot turn to have her fall into a romantic relationship with Oscar Morgan's Turner. The other great piece of casting was fan favorite Misha Collins as Harvey Dent, who managed to pull off both personalities nicely. He really did bring the "Big Dent Energy" to the show. This being a CW series, there was some potentially clunky diversity, the kind that was painfully obvious on some of their other superhero shows, but GOTHAM KNIGHTS never made it feel as if the viewer was being beaten over the head with it. There were some eye rolling moments, as when Harper Row and Stephanie Brown take down two goons working for the Owls easily even though they are no physical match for a pair of grown men.
The season finale, "Night of the Owls," wrapped things up nicely with the evil Rebecca March, having dispatched her fellow Owls, going forward with her plan to kill the Knights (which now includes her son, Brody), and frame Duela for blowing up half of Gotham. It was action packed, and emotionally satisfying in the way it played out a number of character arcs including Harvey Dent, who was forced to use his evil side to extricate himself from a deadly situation. In the end, we really see the birth of Two Face, though some might quibble with the makeup job. Henry Ducard is introduced, and the Knights, having vanquished Rebecca and the Talons, decide they like being heroes.
But that will have to be the end of the story, as the CW has no plans to make a second season of GOTHAM KNIGHTS. The whole cycle of superhero shows which became known as the Arrowverse, has come to an apparent end, with only SUPERMAN AND LOIS coming back for a shortened season four to wrap that series up. I think GOTHAM KNIGHTS proved there was still some gas in the tank, and the CW made a mistake in not going for another season. But Warner Brothers has been doing some hinky stuff with its DC Comics properties and the fans, as usual, are getting the worst end of it. So, this apparently is it for Turner, Duela, Harper and Cullen, Stephanie, Carrie, Brody, and Harvey Dent as well. No doubt they will turn up in fan fiction, but as for this show, I think in years to come it will be one that Batman and DC fans will remember as beating expectations and recall fondly. My hope is that it will find the audience it deserved on streaming.
