The One Thing Gotham Got Right: Bruce Wayne

By Steve Lam | Oct 6, 2016

Gotham may have taken liberties with many characters, but it has captured the essence of Bruce Wayne.

Gotham is definitely not canon. I’ve come to accept that. We have an alcoholic bounty hunting Jim Gordon. Villains who will be senior citizens by the time Batman is jumping off rooftops. And a crazy Barbara Kean, who will definitely not be marrying Jim and giving birth to a daughter who will one day become Batgirl. On top of that, all of this is wrapped up in a nice little bow of bad plotting and equally bad dialogue.

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However, I do applaud one thing that the show has not wavered on: Bruce Wayne’s essence and characterization. From the start of the series, the show has been consistent with the source material in terms of Bruce’s behavior and his drive.

Yes, the young billionaire, portrayed by David Mazouz, seems to be getting into much more trouble at this age than any other interpretation of the character. However, the way these situations are handled, along with his reactions, all have the signature Bruce Wayne / Batman touch.

Since the start of this season, the writers have solidified Bruce’s nature even more. In the season premiere—“Mad City: Better to Reign in Hell…“—we saw young Bruce use his cunning to attain a meeting with the Court of Owls leadership. The use of stealthy tactics (purposely threatening the board so that they’ll come after him) is a skill commonly employed by Bruce in the comics.

In the latest episode—“Mad City: Look Into My Eyes“—we also got a taste of our hero’s compassion, something which has been displayed time and again in various media. When he meets his doppelganger, his first reaction is to care for the stranger. Even after Alfred raises concerns for his young master’s safety, Bruce pushes forward with his charity.

Now, his act of kindness was definitely not a form of naivete or stupidity. How do we know that? Bruce continued his investigation into this strange phenomenon, but held judgement until enough evidence was accrued.

Compare this Bruce to the one seen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and you can appreciate Gotham‘s interpretation. The portrayal in the DC Extended Universe gave us a Bruce who was both paranoid and jumped to conclusions. He was also not against killing—something that Batman is very adamantly against.

Next: Catch up with a recap of 'Mad City: Look Into My Eyes'

Gotham may have glaring plot holes and a storyline that has strayed into Elseworlds territory, but it has remained true to the one person this world was made for—Bruce Wayne / Batman. From the development of his investigative and analytic abilities, to his strong moral compass, Gotham‘s Bruce is a character who grounds the show and gives it that “Dark Knight” touch.