TV Review ‘Gotham Knights’ Season 1, Episode 5

If anyone’s been watching Gotham Knights since the beginning, this week’s episode won’t be any surprise. It’s following pretty much the same trends that started with the pilot. This show isn’t necessarily bad, but there’s nothing to really elevate it, either. There are various hints along the way that it might touch upon new and interesting territory for the Batman mythos, but it’s taking very long to get there and it only touches upon it briefly. Instead, it’s focusing on generic action and drama to get it through every episode, something that’s not going to last if it’s going to compete with so much other great television that’s on today.

This episode saw the Gotham Knights finally get their name in the public eye as they broke into a mob warehouse and stole some of their dirty money. The original intention was to get a ledger that connected the mob to the Court of Owls. When the police began chasing them, the group reluctantly got rid of the money as a diversion, making them look like vigilantes in the process. Meanwhile, Harvey Dent (Misha Collins) struggles with some memory loss, believing he has a disability just like his father.

This version of Harvey Dent is focused on a much different side of the character. He has a latent mental illness that’s starting to manifest, which will undoubtedly play a role as he becomes Two-Face down the line. How and why this happens is an interesting part of the show, but it’s being relegated to a subplot. The Gotham Knights themselves are the focus, as they should be. But the show is downplaying their connection to the Batman mythos. There are not enough fantasy elements to keep the comic book fandom engaged. It’s not too late. There are still plenty of chances for the show to right itself, but so far, it’s not looking great.

Gotham Knights airs Tuesdays on The CW.