Gotham Knights (Live Action TV Show)

Gotham Knights is an live action series seen on Cartoon Network. It is another attempt making an live action show by Cartoon Network since Incredible Crew. The show stars Bryan Cranston, Ben Affleck, Jeremy Shada and Benedict Cumberbatch. The show will be much darker than the other live action shows since it is based on Batman. The show is directed by Victor Gonzalez & Hal Sparks and written by Paul Dini.

Main Cast

 * Ben Affleck - Batman/Bruce Wayne
 * Bryan Cranston - James Gordon
 * Bradley Steven Perry - Dick Grayson Season 1 as Robin. Season 3 as Nightwing
 * Jeremy Irons - Alfred Pennyworth
 * Benedict Cumberbatch - Bane
 * Ben Kingsley - Hugo Strange
 * James Franco - The Joker
 * Billy Unger - Jason Todd Season 2 as Robin. Season 4 as Red Hood.
 * Jeremy Shada - Tim Drake Season 3 as Robin. Season 5 as Red Robin
 * Zachary Gordon - Damian Wayne Season 5 as Robin.

Reccurring Cast

 * Robert Downey Jr - Ra's al Ghul
 * Paul Giamatti - The Penguin
 * Toby Turner - The Riddler
 * Leonardo DiCaprio - Black Mask
 * Guy Pearce - Tommy Elliot
 * Milo Ventimigila - Terry McGinnis
 * Crispin Glover - Zsasz
 * Emma Stone - Poison Ivy
 * Chris Pratt - Harvey Bullock
 * Bruce Willis - Mr Freeze
 * Matt Smith - Harvey Dent/Two Face
 * Elijah Wood - Dr Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow
 * Natalie Portman - Talia al Ghul
 * Olivia Wilde - Catwoman
 * Josh Brolin - Deadshot
 * Isla Fisher - Harley Quinn & Harleen Quinzel

Guest Cast

 * Manu Bennett - Deathstroke/Slade Wilson
 * Dwayne Johnson - Ubu
 * Kelly Hu - Shiva
 * Christian Bale - Arkham Knight
 * John Barrowman - Dark Archer
 * Stephen Amell - Arrow/Oliver Queen

Episodes
Description- It is an new year and Bruce Wayne goes to the circus to see the Flying Grayson's performance. But something unexpected happens when an thug for hire, Deadshot, kills Dick Grayson's family. But Dick also finds out that Bruce is Batman. Can Bruce let the boy become Robin, or will Dick Grayson reveal Bruce's secret?​
 * New Year 13th March 2016


 * Arkham 20th March 2016

Description- The Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum and is after Batman and Robin. But when Batman is severly injured, Robin has to go solo. Can he defeat these villains without Batman or will the villains take over Gotham?


 * Strange 27th March 2016

Description- In an alternative future, Terry McGinnis travels through time and meets his father. But when Hugo Strange steals secrets from Bruce, will they stop Strange before he reveals the secret to Batman's ally Commissioner Gordon?
 * Lazarus 3rd April 2016

Description- Batman and Robin has an run in with the League of Assassins. But when Bruce Wayne is kidnapped by Ra's al Ghul, Bruce is forced to kill Ra's. Will Bruce be able to get out of Ra's al Ghul's mind controll or will he succumb to it and kill the Head of the Demon? Description - Harvey Dent arrives in Gotham and wants everyone to vote for him in Election Day. But The Riddler targets him and it's up to Batman and Robin to save him. Bruce Wayne figures out that his parents were killed by Joe Chill but Alfred tells him not to get his revenge on him. Meanwhile, Pamela Isley turns into Poison Ivy and manipulates Robin to find the Batman, Will Batman save Robin in time or will he get his revenge on the killer? Description- Catwoman steals half of Bruce Wayne's money and Batman has to find her. But Deathstroke makes an appearance in Gotham and is after the Bat. Will Batman make an unlikely bond with Catwoman or will she betray him and get away with Bruce's money? Description- Bane arrives in Gotham and finds the Batcave and breaks Batman's back. With Batman out of commission and inspected by Tommy Elliot, will Robin defeat this monstrous titan? Note: This is the season finale.
 * Election 10th April 2016
 * Legacy 17th April 2016
 * Riches 27th April 2016
 * Broken 1st May 2016

Season 2
Description - Dick Grayson quits being Robin so Batman finds Jason Todd. Meanwhile, Zsasz roams through the streets of Gotham, hunting down Batman. Will Batman and the new Robin be able to find Zsasz or will they find another villain standing in their way? Description - Black Mask places an bounty on Batman's head by hiring Deadshot and Penguin. Meanwhile, Tommy Elliot is having trouble keeping secrets and accidently reveals to Bruce that he was the one who made his parents crash their car. Will Bruce forgive Tommy and find Black Mask in time? Note: This is an one hour event Description- Harvey Dent struggles being the District Attorney and during an court session with the Joker, he burns half of Harvey's face, turning him into the villainous Two-Face. Will Batman save his friend from reaching the edge or will the Joker win? Description- Victor Fries tries to find an cure for his wife but Two-Face attacks his lab and turns him into Mr Freeze. Meanwhile, Tommy Elliot gets into an car accident and loses his memory. While Jason takes care of Tommy, Bruce goes to find Victor Fries, who is on an rampage. Will Mr Freeze succeed in killing Harvey or will Batman calm down Victor. Description- Batman has to face his own fears after an encounter with the Scarecrow while Alfred works on an antidote. Meanwhile, Tommy regains his memory and gets an illusion where he sees Jason Todd turning evil. Will Tommy warn Bruce in time and work on an cure for him? Description- After an fight with Hugo Strange, Bruce says it's time to find Jason's mother. But The Joker stands in their way and kidnaps Jason. Will Bruce save Robin in time or will there be an Death in the Family? Note this is an one hour season finale.
 * Scars 1st January 2017
 * Masks 14th January 2017
 * Faces 26th January 2017
 * Diamonds 31st January 2017
 * Fear 7th February 2017
 * Death 13th February 2017

Season 3
Description- Oliver Queen arrives in Gotham and meets Bruce Wayne but they didn't expect The Dark Archer following Oliver. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne meets Tim Drake and takes him in to be the new Robin. Now together, will Batman and Robin make an alliance with The Arrow? Description- Shiva targets Robin and tries to kill him. Meanwhile, Batman has to fight Ubu, who is stealing an compund called TN-1. Will Batman be able to stop Ubu and Shiva? Description- Batman travels to an alternate world where he gets the same superpowers like Superman. Meanwhile back in his world, Bane plans to kill Tommy Elliot. Will Batman be able to get back to his world and stop Bane just in time? Description- Joker gets out of prison again with the help of former Arkham employee Harleen Quinzel. Meanwhile, Batman studys how Ubu found the TN-1 and asks Bane for help, leaving Tim Drake to go solo. Will Tim be able to fight the Joker without Batman? Description- Fed up, Hugo Strange forms an team of supervillains which includes Joker, Bane, The Riddler, Two-Face and Harley Quinn. Will Batman be able to stop them all with the help from Robin and the new hero Nightwing? Note: This is an two part episode which airs on the same day. Description- Batman aquires a armored Batsuit to improve his speed, strength and stamina. Meanwhile, Nightwing discovers a secret Tommy Elliot has been hiding in his lab. Description- Deathstroke has arrived once again and he is not happy with Batman so he forms an alliance with The Riddler. Meanwhile, Tommy Elliot gets an vision of Jason Todd as Red Hood. Description- Tommy Elliot becomes Hush after the vision of Red Hood and gets his face altered to look like Bruce Wayne. Will Batman and Robin be able to stop their old friend with the help from The Arrow? Note: This is the season finale.
 * Archer 2nd November 2017
 * Assassin 11th November 2017
 * Super 17th November 2017
 * Jester 23rd November 2017
 * Team 30th November 2017
 * Armored 12th December 2017
 * Darkness 20th December 2017
 * Hush 3rd January 2018

Season 4 Part 1
Description- Bruce Wayne gets poisoned by the Scarecrow, making Bruce see visions of Jason Todd. Meanwhile, Black Mask places an bounty on the mysterious Red Hood. Description- Catwoman sneaks into Black Mask's bank and steals some money but when Batman catches Catwoman, Deadshot traps them. Meanwhile, Talia al Ghul finds out that both her and Bruce has an son. Description- Bane makes an alliance with Ra's al Ghul to hunt down the Batman. Meanwhile, Bruce and Talia organises a night in Metropolis. Hugo Strange announces that he is building a prison called Arkham City where he will be in charge. Meanwhile, Red Hood targets Hugo Strange, believing that he is lying about the prison. Red Hood travels through time to kill Terry McGinnis. Meanwhile, Talia reveals to Bruce that they have an son and wants Bruce to keep him if her father finds out about him aswell. Note: This is not the season finale.
 * Visions 8th May 2018
 * Money 15th May 2018
 * Shadows 22nd May 2018
 * City 29th May 2018
 * Time 6th June 2018

Season 4 part 2
Description- Red Hood tracks down Bruce Wayne and tries to kill him after what he has done to him years ago. Meanwhile, Bruce's son is born. Description- Bruce finds out that Jason Todd is still alive. Batman and Jason then goes head to head and Bruce is forced to kill the Joker. Meanwhile, Tim Drake tells Alfred that he is leaving Gotham and is going to quit the role of Robin. Description- Talia tells Bruce that his son was born and tells him to look after him. Meanwhile, Bane is captured by the military and is experimented on by Dr Penelope Young, who is making an new batch of Venom called Titan. Description- The Joker steals the Titan formula and uses it on himself forcing Batman to use his explosive gel on him. Meanwhile, Talia decides to stay at Wayne Manor. Description- Batman decides to go over to Starling City amd watch over it with Arrow, but things take an unexpected turn when Batman gets severly injured. Meanwhile, Tim Drake calls Dick Grayson to see if he can fight Black Mask.
 * Red 4th July 2018
 * Steel 11th July 2018
 * Damian 18th July 2018
 * Monster 25th July 2018
 * Justice 1st August 2018

Season 5
Description- Damian Wayne becomes an teenager and Bruce shows him the Batcave and let's him be the new Robin. Meanwhile, The Riddler plans to steal Gotham Museum's mystical orb. Description- Batman visits Jeremiah Arkham's grave but he encounters Red Hood once again. Meanwhile, Tommy Elliot tries to kill the newest hero of Gotham, the Red Robin. Terry McGinnis once again travels back in time to help Bruce face an villain called the Arkham Knight. Meanwhile, Robin makes an intergalactic wormhole that sends him into an alternative universe where Batman has to fight Superman. After being experimented on, Bane breaks out of the prison facility and kills Dr Young. Meanwhile, Hugo Strange seemingly gets killed by Deathstroke. Batman, Robin, Red Robin and Nightwing has to fight an team of supervillains they've encountered in their past, also finding out that the Arkham Knight has finally revealed himself. Meanwhile, Jim Gordon's daughter, Barbara has taken the mantle of Batgirl and finds the Batcave. Note:This is the season finale
 * Ruins 30th December 2018
 * Jeremiah 5th January 2019
 * Dangerous 13th January 2019
 * Venom 28th January 2019
 * End 1st February 2019

Seasons

 * Season 1 - 13th March 2016 - 1st May 2016
 * Season 2 -'''1st January 2017 - 13th February 2017
 * Season 3 -2nd November 2017 - 3rd January 2018
 * Season 4 Part 1 -'''8th May 2018 - 6th June 2018
 * Season 4 Part 2 - 4th July 2018 - 1st August 2018
 * Season 5 -30th December 2018 - 1st February 2019

Reception
IGN ranked the show 9.5/10 and Metacritic rated it 10/10. The first episode got about 9 billion viewers when the show was released on Cartoon Network. The series also got positive reviews when other episodes aired. Scott Thill said that the show was grittier and much more darker than Beware the Batman and Batman: The Animated Series and praised Bryan Cranston's performance as James Gordon. Scott also said that the show delivers some intense action scenes and some memorable lines. Michael Wilmington gave the show an A+ saying that it was good to see Cartoon Network and DC Comics teaming up to make a good television show for both adults and teens. YouTube channels also praised the show and even Bryan Cranston was happy when he watched the first episode. The show still pleases both audiences and critics alike.

Unrated Edition
While Cartoon Network was doing a censored version of Gotham Knights, Warner Bros hired the CW to make an Unrated version of Gotham Knights.

Ben Affleck said in a interview saying that it was tiring doing the same episodes with that unrated cut for CW.