Every Batman TV show ever, ranked from worst to best

6. Gotham

Some of Batman's best tales in the comics are the Elseworlds stories, and that extends to the screens as well. You won't find a more unique reimagining of his story than Gotham and that's one of the many reasons why the show had such a large and passionate fanbase throughout its five-season run.

Gotham told the origin story of Batman as it happened. There were no flashbacks, no time-jumps; just a young Bruce Wayne left to deal with the fallout of a life forever turned upside down by the loss of his parents, and Detective Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock on the case to apprehend the murderer. The show took on many forms throughout its run, starting off as a gritty and mostly-grounded procedural drama before evolving into a bonkers, off-the-wall comic book drama that took many, many liberties with the source material it was adapting.

While Gotham's change-in-direction alienated some comic book purists, the shift was better for it in the long run, as it allowed the show to find its own path and have more fun along the way. It was outlandish, sure, but it was also incredibly compelling, especially as we got to see a more nuanced look at the origins of Batman, Alfred, Gordon, Bullock, The Penguin, The Joker and so many other Bat-favorites.

The series was always a bit of an outcast in the superhero TV landscape but it's a look that Gotham wore well, allowing it to become a cult classic pretty soon after its conclusion. Honestly, if you haven't seen it, you should. It's an experience.