TV: Three Fantasies

[cactuswatcher]

Gotham is a well done background story for the Batman Universe. About the only artistic thing about it I can criticize isn't very bad considering how old I'm getting. I first saw Bruce Wayne and his parents in the fatal alley in a comic book in the 1950s. So for me Gotham would have to be set in the 1930s. Of course that would make Batman set in modern times pushing 90. Gotham has an oldish feel to it. But only if you are very young would it likely seem old enough. I don't like the idea that Catwoman in Gotham is older than Bruce Wayne. But again it's more of a personal image of things rather than a valid criticism.

Batman was my favorite super hero when I was a kid. But since I never personally bought a Batman comic or actually read that many of them, my view of Batman is more than a little odd. One of the myths of the 1950s is how carefree they were. In fact, crime bosses ruling cities through corrupt politicians, corrupt police and corrupt unions was all too real all across the country. The ugly shadow of the Batman universe was all too real. Things changed in the 1960s and 1970s as much from the crime families devouring each other as from crusading outsiders. Things are far from perfect now, but that all pervasive lurking fear is pretty much gone. Gotham is good for what it is. But Gotham and Batman are stories I'd really like to forget. Don't expect me to keep watching Gotham.

Sleepy Hollow Began its new season with one of those of those disorienting "alternate universe" openings that makes you seriously question your memory before everything is put back the way it was. Otherwise the show seems to be pretty much where and as it was when it was rudely interrupted last year. Not great shakes, but I still like it.

I'm undecided about Forever. It's got a lot of familiar things in it. Maybe too many. Ioan Gruffudd (SMG's long suffering husband in Ringer) is the star as Dr Henry Morgan the Immortal (yeah, there is kind of a Highlander feel about the whole thing). Judd Hirsch fills the same sort of role in the same way he did in Num3ers. Alana de la Garza (a veteran of Law & Order) is a suitably beautiful love interest and the mandatory detective who can't figure out what's going on with Morgan. Joel David Moore, who played one of Brennan's assistants on Bones, not too shockingly plays a medical examiner. The cycle of death and rebirth as an adult, naked in the water is pretty much lifted lock stock and barrel from the Riverworld series of books by Philip Jose Farmer. And in that series the heroes are trying to figure out why they aren't permanently dead just like Dr. Morgan. I liked the first episode. But with all this familiarity, I'm not sure the show is going to last.
Grades
Gotham B
Sleepy Hollow B+
Forever B-

Comments

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

This edition of Gotham appears to have people with cellphones, driving late 70s model sedans... so that kind of says something about the feel this show is going for.