Gotham Knights Latest Ratings Are A Historic Disaster For DC
The CW's Gotham Knights show is a massive ratings flop.
It’s probably safe to say DC’s newest series on The CW, Gotham Knights, won’t be returning for a second season. The show’s pilot episode, which premiered March 14, only garnered around 609,000 viewers. Now, TV Series Finale is reporting that the second episode of the superhero series, titled “Scene of the Crime,” saw a massive drop of 200,000 people, with only 428,000 viewers tuning in.
Created by Natalie Abrams, Chad Fiveash, and James Patrick Stoteraux, Gotham Knights stars Navia Ziraili Robinson, Fallon Smythe, Tyler DiChiara, Anna Lore, Rahart Adams, Misha Collins, Oscar Morgan, Olivia Rose Keegan, Shanita Wilburn, Lovell Gates, and Deja Dee. Although it has similarities to the 2022 video game with the same name, the storyline of Gotham Knights is exclusive to the show. Additionally, like Superman & Lois, the series is not connected to the Arrowverse, which is set to come to a close with the current season of The Flash.
Gotham Knights was one of the most highly anticipated superhero shows of 2023 for DC fans. The series promised to delve deeper into the world of the Batman mythos by following the life of his adopted son, who forges an alliance with the children of his father’s enemies to protect the city of Gotham. Unfortunately, despite initial excitement, the show hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations.
In terms of reviews, Gotham Knights is the lowest-rated DC series on Rotten Tomatoes, with a score of 18 percent from critics and a slightly better but still disappointing 53 percent audience score. Simply put, that’s a huge letdown for a comic book property. While some fans have praised the show’s exploration of the darker side of the Batman universe, many have criticized its slow pacing and lack of compelling characters.
Another factor that is working against Gotham Knights is the intense competition it faces from other superhero shows. With the popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and shows like The Boys and Invincible, the market for superhero content is more saturated than ever before. This means that shows need to be exceptional to stand out from the crowd and maintain a dedicated fan base, and sadly, Gotham Knight does not appear to have the necessary elements to distinguish itself from the pack.
With that said, things aren’t looking too promising for The CW’s latest DC series. While there’s always a chance for Gotham Knights to turn things around, all 13 episodes of the show’s first season have already been filmed. In other words, there’s not much that can be done in the way of changes in writing, character development, and plot direction to better appeal to audiences.
Despite its potential, Gotham Knights seems destined for cancellation due to its lukewarm reception and underwhelming viewership. It’s always disappointing when a highly anticipated show fails to live up to expectations, but the entertainment industry is a cutthroat and unpredictable business. The ultimate fate of Gotham Knights rests with audiences, and only time will tell if the show can turn its fortunes around.
