The trailer for FOX’s Gotham reminds me of the fan-made ones on YouTube for some imaginary superhero series.

Let’s compare and contrast.

Wouldn’t you rather watch Nightwing? Sure, you’d miss out on whatever Jada Pinkett Smith is trying to do, but that’s a price I’m willing to pay.

I suppose the theory behind Gotham is that the Superman “prequel” Smallville lasted 10 years. But Smallville was basically an updated version of the Superboy comic. It was an established concept. There really is no precursor for Gotham or reason why I would care about a pre-teen Bruce Wayne. No matter how good Ben McKenzie might be as Gordon, it still has the feel of Star Wars: Episode One.

The only “pre-Batman” series I could possibly see working would be an extension of Batman 404: Year One, Part One ). Gordon and a young Bruce Wayne arriving in Gotham and navigating the corrupt police department and seedy underworld.

Granted, your best case scenario there is a replay of Smallville seasons 5 through 10 when there’s no logical reason why he’s not public as Superman yet other than that it would mean the end of the series.

And it still would be about as good as Riverdale.