Written By Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
Greg Berlanti’s Gotham Knights is destroyed by critics as the initial reviews pour in for the CW drama. Granted, this isn’t a surprise. After all, the trailer looked like how insiders described the shelved Batgirl film. In other words, it looks like a cheap CW TV series.
On the other hand, it is a cheap CW TV series.
While Greg Berlanti’s DC shows have their share of detractors, I’m not one of them. The first two seasons of Arrow and The Flash are among the best comic-book shows ever. Neither of them mocked their comics roots unlike DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. In fact, Berlanti treated Adrian Chase (Josh Segarra) with respect on Arrow.
On the contrary, Gunn transformed Chase’s the Vigilante into a joke.
Greg Berlanti’s Gotham Knights Gets Killed By Critics In Harsh First Reviews
Image: The CW
Thus, the vitriol some have towards Greg Berlanti’s Arrowverse is completely unwarranted. Greg Berlanti introduced so many deep-cut ’70s and ’80s DC Comics characters to live action. These included Vibe (Carlos Valdes), Steel (Nick Zano), and Wild Dog (Rick Gonzalez). Furthermore, they were handled with respect.
Certainly, younger fans are probably not familiar with these forgotten heroes. There’s no “wow” factor with them like with DC followers in their 50s. Gunn receives substantial credit for digging in the crates for B-side comic-book misfits. But as far as DC is concerned, Greg Berlanti did it more often and better.
As the Arrowverse starts to shut down, it’s easy to look back at Greg Berlanti’s work with fondness. For a while, he was DC’s version of Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige. With his crew, Berlanti produced a connected universe on TV.
He even pulled off Crisis on Infinite Earths, his own version of Avengers: Endgame.
Alas, the Arrowverse started to lose gas in recent years. For example, the otherwise engaging Supergirl experienced a virtually unwatchable last season. They put preachy messages above storytelling. Nonetheless, strong programs like Stargirl, Doom Patrol, and Superman & Lois proved that Berlanti hadn’t lost his touch.
Then there’s Gotham Knights.
Gotham Knights opens with Batman’s death. Bruce Wayne’s adopted son Turner Hayes (Oscar Morgan), who forms a team with the children of Batman’s foes.
Gotham Knights doesn’t take place in the Arrowverse. From the footage I’ve seen, it doesn’t deserve to. Gotham Knights resembles a cancelled syndicated action TV series from the ’90s. Now that reviewers have weighed in, those concerns become valid. A small sample of critics’ opinions reveal Gotham Knights will be dead on arrival. From CBR:
“To really enjoy ‘Gotham Knights,’ one must be completely open to a reinvention of the mythos, framed under the auspices of a typical CW teen drama, albeit with superheroes and unrelenting assassins. Those with a more cursory familiarity with the Dark Knight might enjoy this show more, taking it as a street-level superhero drama, but there are so many references to the mythos that it doesn’t feel geared towards comic fans as a target audience. Like Batman himself in this series, ‘Gotham Knights’ is unfortunately dead on arrival unless it drastically improves as the season progresses.”
Greg Berlanti’s Gotham Knights Gets Killed By Critics In Harsh First Reviews
Image: Warner Bros. Discovery
The premise actually shows promise. On the other hand, of all Greg Berlanti’s productions, this leans more towards CW formula than a DC comic book. Chances of survival seem quite slim. Indeed, the trailer received extensive fan ridicule. As a result, Gotham Knights has acquired no buzz. At least nothing positive.
Many are surprised it will air. The most interesting aspect of the series is that features the live-action debut of the female Robin, Carrie Kelley (Navia Robinson). Kelley is from writer/artist Frank Miller’s iconic comic book, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. She might be the only part of Gotham Knights audiences will remember.