Despite the series having received critical acclaim and high ratings, it is no secret that many comic book fans were unhappy with the first season of
Gotham. Complaints have ranged from people bashing the changes made despite the source material to the show's tone, which some have said to be inconsistent. Despite these complaints, it seems showrunner Bruno Heller isn't ready to give up on the haters quite yet.
In a
recent interview with
Digital Spy, Heller stated that his mission statement for the show's second season is a mere three words:
"Get it Right." Heller elaborates:
"A first season - as good as it may be - is always your first run around the track. Second season; you know what you're good at, you know what not to do again, the actors are bang on it. If the first season was laying the table, now we get to eat a big fat dinner!"
Digital Spy also spoke with executive producer John Stephens, who added that Season 2 will be
"fully serialised" as
"one story we're telling over 22 episodes."
"The number one thing we learnt was not to tell standalone stories anymore - to serialise the stories as much as possible," Stephens said.
"Also, to tell more character-driven stories - and to humanise the villains as much as possible. Whatever villain comes in, let's make them a human being first."
In a
separate interview with
Blastr, executive producer and director Danny Cannon explained what we can expect to see from these character driven stories, more specifically those pertaining to the villains of Gotham City. According to Cannon,
"We find the Mr. Freeze story very emotional, so that's one we are going to look at. Hugo Strange is a very interesting character who has never had an origin story, as is the Calendar Man. Azrael is a character we are starting very, very, very way back. Tigress also. Barbara Kean is also put in there the first episode. It's in the wing of Arkham where the worst of the worst are kept. And an event happens that allows [Jerome Valeska] to be involved in the next few episodes."
Speaking of Barbara Kean, actress Erin Richards had the chance to spill some details on where her character is in the upcoming season:
"She goes into Arkham and she meets all these characters, one of which is Jerome. These characters are going to shape her a little bit. They all shape the way Barbara develops in this series. But, she's also kind of at the reins. She's so free and in touch with her real stuff now. And her skill is she knows everyone's weakness. She will just play along with each individual person until she gets what she wants. She's going to be really powerful, which is exciting."
At the end of Season 1, we saw Edward Nygma (portrayed by Corey Michael Smith) suffer a mental breakdown after murdering a fellow employee at the Gotham City Police Department. When speaking with
Blastr, Smith gave some interesting details on his character. Does Edward Nygma have split personality disorder? In Smith's words, it certainly sounds like it:
"The beginning of Season 2 will be [Nygma] having to confront this voice, very literally this other person who is saying, 'Dude, take control. Do something. Make a choice.' He has to adjust to that and make changes. So I'm kind of getting to play two enigmas, which is really exciting. Eventually these two will collide. He has to find a new identity."
And finally, the site spoke with the main man himself, Ben McKenzie (who portrays James Gordon).
"Immediately in the first episode back, you'll see a deal [Jim has] with Mr. Cobblepot that has extremely negative consequences," McKenzie said.
"Jim has learned he has to do what he has to do to get things done. It's a real change for him to throw morality to the side -- still doing the greater good in his mind -- but it's a little sad to watch that go away. But that is the journey we are going on. What he's learning is how to get power in Gotham and how you hold onto that power."
The stakes are higher than ever as GOTHAM explores the origin stories of some of the most ambitious and depraved Super Villains, including The Riddler, The Joker and Mr. Freeze, and Bruce Wayne uncovers more secrets from his father’s past, in the Season Two debut on Monday, Sept. 21 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).
The season stars Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Robin Lord Taylor, Sean Pertwee, Erin Richards, Corey Michael Smith, Camren Bicondova, Nicholas D'Agosto, Morena Baccarin, Chris Chalk, James Frain, Jessica Lucas, Michael Chiklis, and Drew Powell.