The Squandered Potential In ‘Gotham Knights’ Season 1, Episode 6
by Frank Martin
It’s fairly frustrating how much potential Gotham Knights has. The show plays a cat and mouse game with Batman in a way that gives viewers a glimpse of the direction it’s going before the episode shifts gears into standard CW action and drama. It’s done this throughout the entire season, but this week’s episode takes it to an extreme. It featured an infamous Batman villain and gave fans their closest look at Harvey Dent’s (Misha Collins) downfall yet. But they are only teases and fail to elevate the show into what it can truly be.
On the eve of Joe Chill’s (Doug Bradley) execution for the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents, he receives a coin from the Court of Owls. He tells Harvey that he demands to see Turner (Oscar Morgan), who sneaks into the prison to see him. Chill then reveals that he was actually framed for the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne. The Court of Owls was behind their deaths all along. Meanwhile, Talon attacks March (Damon Dayoub) on the Court’s orders, but he spares Harvey. Harvey then questions why the Court is letting him live. His suspicions are fueled by further blackouts he is having.
This episode touches upon a lot of Batman mythology. It has the Court of Owls and Joe Chill rewriting Batman’s history. Perhaps the most compelling part of the episode is watching Harvey’s slow descent into madness. But these excellent parts of the episode are undermined by more drama involving the other young Gotham Knights. They fight gangs like superhero vigilantes, which they are not. Plus, there is more teenage drama as they try to deal with the situation. These two halves of the show just aren’t compatible with one another. If the rest of the season is to succeed, it needs to lean more into the comic side of the show and less into The CW side.
Gotham Knights airs Tuesdays on The CW.
