With the release of the new trailer for Gotham last weekend, an ambitious Batman prequel television series, now is a great time to discuss what exactly it is we are in for.

Still a couple of months away from airing, FOX is really building the tension for one if its more anticipated series. Gotham is set in the DC universe and is marketed as a prequel to the Batman story centered around Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie). This dark new series is first and foremost a drama. By that I mean don’t expect the lighthearted Smallville “drama” with a masked crusader sweeping in at the last moment to save the day. Gotham is about the roots of the criminal underworld and the twisted egos that are created in Gotham City. Gotham will follow Jim Gordon’s mortal struggle for justice against the odds in an increasingly corrupt society.

FOX’s new Gotham cast

The newest trailer hints at the villains for the first season giving a glimpse of Oswald Cobblepot a.k.a Penguin, Selina Kyle a.k.a Catwoman and a rumoured Ivy Pepper a.k.a Poison Ivy. These small glimpses in the trailer raise more questions than they answer, for instance; without a superhero, can there be villains? It is more likely that young villains serve as merely a head nod to Batman’s future foe with the real ‘villains’ being the Gotham City underworld. Although its origins live in the DC universe and the expectations of fans are at an all time high, Gotham is shaping up to be your stock standard cop show with a twist. Regardless, we can expect an emotional struggle for Gordon trying to find the light in a city full of darkness with small victories being few and far between.

Alfred Pennyworth

Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing a young Alfred Pennyworth (who is rumoured to be more like the Michael Caine version of Alfred in Nolan’s Batman trilogy rather than Michael Gough’s Alfred in the 90’s) and hopefully seeing the relationship between him and Bruce Wayne develop. There will be no Batman mentions or cameos but expect a fair amount of screen time for the young Bruce Wayne. With all this is mind I have high hopes for Gotham and is definitely one to put on the watch list.

Gotham is set to air on September 22^nd in the US. The Nine Network does have the broadcast rights to Gotham but no news on when they are planning to air it in Australia just yet. I’ll be eagerly waiting with you.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the trailer for Gotham: