Now that most TV shows are on their mid-season hiatus it seemed like the perfect time to discuss and analyze the three new DC Universe shows that are currently airing on three different networks. Those shows are, of course, "Gotham" (Fox), "The Flash" (CW) and "Constantine" (NBC).
The DCU's triumph on the small screen has its roots in the success of "Smallville," of course. If that show failed to gain any traction when it first hit the air in 2001, I highly doubt that we'd be seeing as many comic-based TV shows as we are today. Personally, I was never a fan of that show myself, as I've always found Superman to be one of the least interesting DCU characters. But Batman, The Flash and the "Hellblazer," John Constantine, are three DCU characters that I truly enjoyed reading in the comics, so TV shows based on their worlds are right in my wheelhouse.
Let's start off here with the show I've enjoyed least so far this season, Fox's "Gotham." I must say that this show started off painfully slow, and I almost stopped watching it after the third episode, "The Balloonman," which was just awful and seriously crushed my hopes that the show was going to be something cool. But somehow I found the strength to solider on...and my perseverance has been rewarded for the most part. Last year, I had a similar reaction to "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." I stopped watching after about five episodes and never went back to it. I know people say that the show is "awesome" now, but I have little desire to check it out once again because of the initial bad taste it left in my mouth.
My main issue with "Gotham" is that it feels like the show's creators are trying to shoehorn too many characters and situations into these hour-long snippets. There's no need to start throwing all these ingredients into the pot right away; it's going to ruin the stew. Do we need to see Mr. Zsasz, Harvey Dent, Edward Nygma and "kid" versions of Poison Ivy and Catwoman right now? No, not really. Let Jim Gordon, who is ostensibly the main character of the show, have his day in the sun before all these other characters are thrown into the mix. I think these introductions into the show were done not to serve the overall story but to whet the appetites of the fanboys and girls who are watching. And that's a bad move.
My two other issues with "Gotham" are how uneven the acting has been and the difficultly I'm having discerning what the show's end-game is ultimately. Robin Lord Taylor, who plays Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a The Penguin, is far and away the best performer on the show. I've even joked around by saying that the show should be re-named "The Penguin Show" and let him be the main character...that's how good he's been. But for as excellent as Taylor has been, we then have Jada Pinkett-Smith, who plays crime boss Fish Mooney, and Camren Bicondova, who plays Selena Kyle, a.k.a Catwoman. Both of their performances leave much to be desired. I almost literally cringe every time Pinkett-Smith comes on the screen in anticipation of all the unabashed scenery chewing that's about to commence. She's just trying too damn hard to be the nasty criminal-lady, and it shows in every scene that she's in. With Biconodva, while she's gorgeous and does remind one of a young Michelle Pfeiffer (I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that's why she was chosen to play the young Catwoman), she's incredibly wooden and, like Pinkett-Smith, almost ruins every scene that she's in. She is quite young, so hopefully she'll get better over time.
What is "Gotham" about, really? Hard to say at this point. Is it the evolution of Jim Gordon into Commissioner Gordon? Or is it the evolution of Bruce Wayne into Batman? Or is it both? Any way you slice it, there's a good 10 years in real-time before that would happen (Bruce Wayne appears to be about 12 or 13 on the show, and I'm assuming he wouldn't don the Dark Knight's cape and cowl until he is in his early 20s at least), and I just don't see this show having that kind of staying power. Obviously, things can be done creatively to advance the timeline if need be, but there doesn't seem to be much of that (flash-forwards or flashbacks, etc.) going on the show so far.
"Gotham" has been given a full-season order by Fox, and I'm hoping that by the end of this season these wrinkles will be ironed out and the over-arching narrative will become more focused. If not, I'll have a difficult time tuning in for season two.
Now, let's move on to NBCs "Constantine," which I am enjoying, but not quite as much as I am enjoying "The Flash."
To me, what was pivotal here was finding the right guy to play John Constantine...and NBC did just that. Matt Ryan is excellent as the acerbic "Hellblazer" from Newcastle who creator Alan Moore based on rocker Sting in terms of his overall look. The main reason the 2005 film version of "Constantine" failed was because they cast Keanu Reeves as Constantine. I really have nothing against Reeves (who does get an unwarranted bad rap in a lot of cases), but he was in no way right for the part, and anyone who thinks otherwise should be smacked upside the head. Put simply, the film failed because it strayed too far from the source on a fundamental level (i.e., you don't cast a good-looking, half-Asian man as a scruffy British vagabond in a crumpled trench coat). The show, for the most part, has stayed pretty damn close to the spooky, darkly humorous source material, and that's why it is a blast to watch. Also, Angélica Celaya is a revelation as Constantine's enigmatic sidekick, Zed, and there's a great chemistry between her and Ryan. Here's hoping we see more of her in the future.
As of right now, "Constantine's" future is up in the air. NBC hasn't given it a full-season order, so it will end after episode 13...unless it is renewed for a second season. I, for one, certainly think that we need to see more of this show, anticipate that NBC executives see the same things that I do, and will give it a second chance.
Lastly, let's talk about CW's "The Flash." I had chance to watch the pilot for "The Flash" a couple months before it aired, and I knew then that it was going to be a winner. Over the past few months, the show has certainly built upon all the things that I mentioned in my original article on the pilot, but it also has been the best of the three shows at debuting villains from the Flash's rouge's gallery, and at subtly dropping "Easter Eggs" (and references to the original 1989 CBS "Flash" show) into the program (Gorilla Grodd, FTW). It does stray from the source material a good bit, but not in an unintelligent way; there definitely seems to be a raison d'être with "The Flash" that "Gotham" certainly seems to lack as of now.
All of the acting here has been first rate as well. Grant Gustin carries the show as The Flash/Barry Allen. He's a good deal different than the Barry Allen in the comics, but it works here because he's more of a "modern guy." Tom Cavanaugh, Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Panabaker and Candice Patton all provide excellent performances in supporting roles.
One disappointment I do have with the show just occurred in the mid-season finale episode. (SPOLIER ALERT) The ending of that episode strongly implied that Cavanaugh's character, Dr. Harrison Wells, is the series' "bad big" Reverse Flash. I sincerely hope that isn't the case because it is just way too obvious. There's got be a twist, or that ending was a "red herring" of some sort because it just doesn't make sense otherwise. I guess we'll all just have to wait and see when "The Flash" returns in January.
The CW hasn't announced if "The Flash" has been renewed for a second season as of yet, but TV By the Numbers seems to think the show is a lock to be renewed. I wholeheartedly agree...the CW would be nuts not to renew this superb show.
