DC’s Most Underrated Series Had Serious Potential (And It Was Cancelled Way Too Soon)

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When it comes to bringing DC comics to life on screen, television has been a strong suit for the company. Both more adult-oriented shows, such as Peacemaker and The Penguin on HBO Max, have proven popular, and shows geared towards families have also found success. The CW’s Arrowverse was a major hit, allowing heroes like Green Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl to star in engaging stories over many seasons. However, the Arrowverse wasn’t the only DC project on The CW. The network also took risks with standalone superhero shows, and one of them deserves much more recognition – it was unfortunately cancelled prematurely.

Premiering mid-season in 2023, Gotham Knights offered a fresh take on the Batman universe, unlike anything viewers had previously experienced. Rather than focusing on a typical Batman story or even his famous allies from the comics, Gotham Knights introduced an entirely new character: Turner Hayes, Bruce Wayne’s adopted son. Turner finds himself in a surprising partnership with a group of runaways and criminals after they are wrongly accused of Bruce’s murder. Throughout the season, the mystery surrounding the framing deepened, alongside hidden truths about Turner’s past. The first season concluded with a shocking cliffhanger, revealing Henri Ducard (also known as Ras al Ghul) and the transformation of Harvey Dent into Two-Face. Unfortunately, this was all the show ever offered, as it was cancelled after only one season.

Gotham Knights Wasn’t Perfect, But It Got a Lot of Things Right

It’s fair to say that Gotham Knights wasn’t a flawless show. The series began a bit slowly, needing a few episodes to really get going. Viewers also had to adjust their expectations, as Gotham Knights didn’t strictly adhere to the established comic book storylines. As we’ve discussed, Turner was a character created specifically for the show. The current Robin wasn’t one of the more familiar faces – Tim Drake, Dick Grayson, or Jason Todd – but rather Carrie Kelley (The Dark Knight Returns). The series also introduced some less well-known comic characters, like Harper and Cullen Row, into the team. This was a significant change for some, considering the show was set in Batman’s world.

Even with all of that, Gotham Knights still managed to do things that other DC adaptations hadn’t. Rather than simply retelling well-known stories using comics and established characters, Gotham Knights took a different approach, presenting events from a more grounded and realistic perspective. The show focused less on Batman himself, and more on what it would be like to live in Gotham City – and, on a broader scale, to live within the world of Bruce Wayne. As the series went on, Bruce and the Wayne family’s past actually became the central focus. It was revealed that the Court of Owls, with their long and shadowy history in Gotham and their equally evil schemes, were the true threat to the city and the reason for Bruce Wayne’s murder – and why the Knights were falsely accused.

What really struck me about this film is that it’s less about simply telling another Batman story, and more about diving deep into Gotham itself and the people who inhabit it. Add to that a really intriguing, slowly unfolding mystery – one that hints at a potentially dark connection between Batman and the death of Turner’s parents – and you end up with something genuinely fresh, different, and brimming with potential. It’s a promising start, to say the least.

Gotham Knights Was Cancelled Before It Truly Got to Shine

Even though Gotham Knights showed promise and could have been a fresh take on DC’s live-action shows, it was cancelled after just 13 of its planned 15 episodes aired. The cancellation was largely due to significant shifts happening at both The CW and within the DC Universe. Gotham Knights debuted during a period of transition for The CW, which was undergoing a change in ownership and facing substantial budget cuts. These cuts led to the cancellation of many shows and reduced budgets and cast sizes for those that remained. Superman & Lois, another DC series, was renewed for a final season but also experienced budget reductions and a smaller cast. Simultaneously, DC announced the formation of DC Studios, led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, and a plan for a new, unified DC Universe. In the end, Gotham Knights simply didn’t align with the revised visions of either The CW or DC.

I have to admit, the show had a rough start, and it never *really* shook off that initial negative reaction. It took a few episodes for Gotham Knights to find its rhythm – the pacing, the acting, even the dialogue felt a little off at first. Things *did* get much better once it hit its stride, but a lot of viewers had already tuned out. There was also a lot of skepticism because the show focused on completely new, original characters, which always makes people hesitant. But looking back – and I recently rewatched it – I think Gotham Knights was a genuinely good addition to how DC has been expanding the Batman universe, and it really deserved a chance to develop further. It was a solid show that didn’t get the room it needed.

Gotham Knights is available to stream on HBO Max.

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2025-09-29 20:11