Looking forward to this, but i'm being cautious.

Gotham city without Batman....

In and of itself: not a bad idea at all!
Everyone knows Gotham City's rogues gallery of heroes, villains, and in-between. The series harkens back to the cop dramas of Gotham Central -- which would've made a very fine TV series, if only because it ventured into this procedural crime genre without shedding the very things that make Gotham City unique.

This series isn't just giving us a Gotham City without Batman -- it's a Gotham City before Batman. Strange. To take The Bat off the board is an interesting and proven concept -- but to strip it of all references and related mythology is a big and questionable step! It seems given they're going to hug an element of the outlandish criminal activity Gotham City is known for, but even with a few pretzeled references (active villains), it's infringing on territory well covered by better cop dramas.

Comics on TV as bland, only tangentially related material is par for the course at the moment. Here's hoping they can find an interesting way forward. On a basic conceptual level - I think they've made it a lot harder than they needed to. Unfortunately, there's been very little effort to do anything more akin to the comics. The proven record is in the bland.

Batman without Batman is Batman.

It's the villains who make the franchise. They are the characters everyone knows and loves. Honestly, if Batman wasn't the central character, I don't think too many people would care for him.

With that said, the only reason I may check out this show is because Jade Pinkett-Smith is stated to be in it, as a leading villain. I would also say because of Selina Kyle, but she's far too young in this show to be of her full awesomeness.

I'm looking forward to the show, don't get me wrong.

It would be cool to see Joker operate as Red Hood, but I'd like it if they don't show his face or really tell you much about him, since Joker doesn't really have a concrete back story.

- First Look at Jim Gordon & Penguin in 'Gotham'

"The Daily Mail proves that Jim Gordon and Penguin from the new Gotham police show look a lot of like Ben McKenzie and Robin Taylor. Coincidentally those are the very same actors cast to play those parts."

- Inside Gotham: Your First Look at Donal Logue as Detective Harvey Bullock

I gotta say, I'm just sort of OK with Gordon and the Penguin; I like the route they took with the Penguin. However, I really like the casting of Bulloch. Many of the times I've seen Donal Logue in a television program he's played a sort of a loud mouth, and Logue is a big guy but he's not "fat". I'm assuming there's going to be some physicality to role, and if you have a morbidly obese detective catching a crook on foot or lifting himself out of danger you crush the realism. Conversely, fans know Bulloch to be a big man, and REAL cops and detectives aren't always the picture of perfect health.

All in all, I think I'm glad they went with a more realistic looking detective rather than Lucky Piquel.

- Official "Gotham" Reveals Continue with Camren Bicondova as Selina Kyle



- Pertwee Suits Up As "Gotham's" Alfred in First Official Photo

So Alfred knows Venusian aikido?

- Taylor's Official "Gotham" Penguin Photo Released

Detective James Gordon via @ben_mckenzie

It works.

- Donal Logue on Why Gotham is Cool Without Batman

Like it needs to be explained. Your real problem is that it's even cooler without Batman while Batman's around and the characters are who they are.

- ‘Gotham’: Watch The Trailer For FOX’s Young Batman Series Now

What're the odds the series is building to a Smallville/cape style transition to the moustache? Chumps.

- Fox Orders Batman Prequel ‘Gotham’ to Series

Was it ever in doubt? This crap's all the rage.

I saw the extended trailer, and I'm not really sure what to think of this series. It still weirds me out a bit. I may check it out when it comes out in the fall, but right now, I'm not sure. I did watch most of Smallville, and I did like the show overall despite some particularly big flaws. But hey, if Gotham turns out to be interesting enough, I'll follow it.

- 'Gotham' showrunner breaks silence, answers burning questions on Batman prequel -- EXCLUSIVE

Pretty solid Q&A. Not sure it will change perceptions of the show.

- ‘Gotham’ Watch: The Riddler Rises, As Does The Joker



Not sure they ever really had me, but this pretzel logic isn't helping.

- The Cast Of ‘Gotham’ Reacts To The Show’s Lack Of Mustaches

BULLSHIT, McKenzie! Man the F up!



- "Gotham" Featurette Teases World Building, New Characters & Joker
Fox has released the first featurette for "Gotham," which gives a first glimpse at footage and mission statement for the Batman prequel. With comments from showrunner Bruno Heller executive producer Danny Cannon and cast members Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue and Jada Pinkett Smith. There's quite a bit here, with a lot of new clips and a better look at the overall feel of the series.

"Gotham is a story about the great DC super villains and we'll see how they came to be," said Heller. "Catwoman, the Riddler, Poison Ivy, the Penguin -- what made the Joker the Joker; how did Scarecrow become the Scarecrow?" Heller says during the featurette. "Our hero is James Gordon, played by Ben McKenzie. When we join the show, he's been two weeks on the job as a detective."

More in the link.

- READING LIST: Get Ready for "Gotham"

Reader Beware: This is essentially a guide to all the cool things Gotham isn't/won't/shouldn't be based on its premise -- but absolutely should've been if they wanted to put the best product on TV.

- 11 Non-Spoilers From FOX’s ‘Gotham’ Pilot

This Fall, FOX launches “Gotham,” a brand new take on the origin of Batman that focuses on Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie), the man who will eventually become the mustachioed pillar of justice known as Commissioner Gordon, instead of the Dark Knight.

And though the series, which already has a full season order, doesn’t premiere for a few months, we were lucky enough to check out a screening of the show with members of the cast and crew late last night (June 12).

With that in mind, here’s every (spoiler-free) thing you need to know about whether you should visit “Gotham” City:

Still not sure this is gonna be Gotham for me, but some encouraging signs.

- Carol Kane Joins "Gotham's" Growing Cast

The Oscar winner makes her debut on the series' second episode, the first of a recurring role as Gertrude Kapelput, the mother of Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor), better known to most people as the villainous Penguin.

TV Line describes the character as "a proud and faded beauty with delusions of grandeur." In the comics, the Penguin's mother has always been portrayed as an influential factor on the villain's life, a role Kane's Gertrude will likely fulfill for the television series.

I loved every moment of this show! Refreshing to see a younger incarnation of Alfred.

Im enjoying the show, but the tone is all over the place...I wish it would just decide what it wants to be.