A new Batman release features one of the saddest versions of Jim Gordon that the DC Universe has ever seen, a choice that helps to make the Dark Knight story even more satisfying. With many live-action iterations of Jim Gordon, the character has become an essential part of the Batman mythos. With a deep-seated passion and love for his city, and desire to fight against the evils of the world, Jim Gordon has been important to Batman’s own character and development, making his appearance here so much more distressing.
Crime in Gotham is a terrifying thing, and the second season of Batman Unburied does not shy away from exploring the sadness of Harvey Dent’s story among others. With such evils in the world that Batman inhabits, it becomes difficult to mount the necessary resistance to fight back. With this in mind, the audio drama constructs a complex characterization for iconic GCPD veteran Jim Gordon. Through the run of this drama, Gordon is examined in a number of interesting and refreshing ways that make a lot of sense for the story.
Batman Unburied: Fallen City’s Jim Gordon Provides A Seriously Tragic Look At The DC Character
Corruption In Gotham City Has Deeply Affected Gordon
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When the excellent Fallen City begins, Jim Gordon has essentially given up on his city. In a series of dismal and sad scenes, it is revealed that Gordon has lost faith in himself and Gotham. Adding to this, the character has become estranged from his daughter, Barbara, resulting in one of the most truly distressing versions of the DC Comics hero yet. Hearing Gordon lament his past, and seeing how he feels to be in a place where he has given up, is a distressing departure from how the character has historically been understood.
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All of this speaks to the state of Gotham in Fallen City. Gordon is not a weak man, as has been shown in multiple Batman movie scenes, over and over, but there are breaking points for virtually anyone. Gordon’s sadness and distress therefore become a reflection of his circumstances and the state of Gotham. With The Court of Owls being revealed to be behind much of the terror and destruction in the city, the police force faces an almost impossible task. Gordon is genuinely restricted in his ability in sad and terrifying ways that clearly weigh on him.
Batman Unburied: Fallen City’s Sad Jim Gordon Introduction Makes His Ending All The Better
The End Of Fallen City Gives Gordon An Excellent Progression
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Fortunately, following the path of several Batman details and stories, Fallen City does provide Gordon with a satisfying ending. His arc over the course of the season is complex, but ultimately sees him regaining the things that are most important to him. With Batman’s efforts to restore the balance of power and justice in the city, Gordon is slowly able to regain his faith in his city, and to fight back against evil. This progression brings him back to his daughter and, in the end, his life as he has always understood it.
Seeing this faith be challenged then be regained through the course of the season makes for a compelling audio drama. Crime is one of the most constant and terrifying presences in Gotham, and it is so satisfying to see faith that it can be stopped come back to Gordon over the run of the series. Following his distressing sadness, seeing a Gordon that better resembles the beliefs of goodness in the city reemerge by its end helps to make the audio drama that much more satisfying.
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There will always be crime, and there will always be forces like Batman and Jim Gordon who will stand against it. The important thing is that faith is not lost. Sometimes it can falter, as occurred with Gordon in this series, but there will always be a way to bring it back. Over the course of Batman Unburied: Fallen City, this is examined in complex and engaging ways. In the end, the series wound up bringing a satisfying conclusion to its vision of Gotham.
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DC Just Gave Us The Saddest Version Of Jim Gordon I’ve Ever Seen & It Was Actually Perfect
