Gotham Knights – Pilot: It’s like a Misthrown Batarang

Gotham Knights Episode 1 is a so-so elseworld tale that benefits from the roster of characters in the DC Universe. While the plot was enjoyable enough, the overall production value may take some viewers out of the experience.

This episode primarily revolves around Turner Hayes (Oscar Morgan), Duela (Olivia Rose Keegan), Harper and Cullen Row (Fallon Smythe and Tyler DiChiara), Stephanie Brown (Anna Lore), Carrie Kelley (Navia Robinson), and Harvey Dent (Misha Collins).

Gotham Knights — “Pilot” — Image Number: GKT101c_0037r — Pictured (L-R): Olivia Rose Keegan as Duela, Oscar Morgan as Turner Hayes, Fallon Smythe as Harper Row and Tyler DiChiara as Cullen Row — Photo: Jasper Savage/The CW — © 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

It’s quite a list of characters to introduce, however, they neatly fall into their respective groups. Turner is the adopted son of Bruce Wayne and attends an elite school with his friend Stephanie. Duela, Harper, and Cullen, are part of a rag-tag heist team that get arrested after breaking into Wayne Tower to steal Joe Chill’s gun, only to get framed and arrested for the death of Bruce Wayne. Carrie and Harvey weave in and out of the story, but are integral to the Pilot episode.

The Pilot’s pacing is decent as it has the task of introducing a host of characters and developing the plot that ultimately links all of them together. The concept of the next generation of DC characters having to come into their own while dealing with the impacts of their parents is interesting and I wish the execution could have been done better.

Not every media is meant for all audiences so it is important to recognize that Gotham Knights is likely targeting the young adult group, however, assumptions shouldn’t be made that quality should suffer because of demographics.

What is unfortunate is the overarching plot was actually kind of interesting. When Joker’s daughter is framed for killing Bruce Wayne and now has to work with Batman’s adopted son to solve the mystery, there is a good story to be made from that idea. However, the inclusion of various tween sounding music, low quality CGI, and stiff acting of cringe dialogue removes any positives the pilot had in its favor.

Another challenge stems from the unnecessary creation of a new character, Turner Hayes. Wanting to use existing characters to highlight a new generation of heroes in the DC universe, however, if a new character needs to be created, there needs to be a selling point.

Minor spoilers ahead

Turner is completely unaware of Bruce Wayne being Batman and the fact that he isn’t trusted with this information does two things: It doesn’t show trust, and it doesn’t make sense that suddenly Turner is aware of how to access the Batcave. (Which he does.)

Furthermore, this show tries to include a twist that feels less than exciting and that is the inclusion of the Court of Owls. Stemming from Scott Snyder’s Batman run, this secret society has become a common tool to use in stories that feel like a convenience rather than an exciting story.