Is 'Gotham' Connected To The DC Cinematic Universe?

I'm a huge fan of DC's animated films and I still get a kick out of the Victorian twist on the Bat-legend, so when I want to watch 'Batman: Gotham by Gaslight' I usually check the official digital storefronts first. Most of the time you can legally rent or buy the movie on places like Amazon Prime Video (purchase/rent), Apple TV / iTunes, Google Play Movies / YouTube Movies, Vudu, and Microsoft Store. I often buy the iTunes copy so it shows up across my Apple devices, but others prefer Amazon for the convenience of Alexa and Fire TV. Those platforms let you rent for 24–48 hours or purchase to keep forever. If you prefer subscription services, sometimes 'Batman: Gotham by Gaslight' appears on Max (the service that hosts a lot of Warner Bros. Animation catalog titles), but availability shifts by region and licensing windows. My go-to habit is to check a streaming-availability aggregator like JustWatch or Reelgood for my country, then pick the official store or service listed. Physical collectors can also find Blu-ray/DVD editions if you want bonus features and art. Happy watching—that Victorian Gotham aesthetic never gets old for me.

The night I sat down to watch 'Batman: Gotham by Gaslight' with a couple of buddies from the comic shop, the room felt electric — like everyone was waiting to see whether a Victorian Gotham could actually work on-screen. Right away a lot of people praised the atmosphere: foggy streets, gaslight glow, and a grim mood that leaned into the original graphic novel’s vibe. Fans on Twitter and forums were sharing clips, noting the film's brave choice to keep the Jack the Ripper thread central and to let the horror elements breathe. Not everything was unanimous love. A chunk of longtime readers pointed out how the film condensed or altered scenes from Mike Mignola and Brian Augustyn’s story, and there were heated debates about whether certain characters got short shrift. Some viewers compared the animation style to other DC animated releases and argued it lacked the exact look of the comic’s art, while others appreciated the adaptation as its own interpretation. For me it felt like a cool bridge: it got newcomers curious about the source material while giving longtime fans a fresh, if imperfect, retelling. I still find myself quoting the quieter moments when Gotham’s fog eats the sound — it stuck with me.

The dynamic between Batman and Detective Gordon is one of the most compelling elements of the Gotham universe. Their partnership is built on mutual respect, with Gordon relying on Batman's unique skills and resources to tackle the complex web of crime in the city. Gordon, as the police commissioner, faces overwhelming odds daily, battling corruption within his own ranks while also fending off Gotham’s most notorious villains. Batman swoops in, often at the cusp of despair, bringing not just his impressive skills in combat but also his advanced technology and detective abilities. The tech Batman employs, from the Batmobile to forensic gadgets, makes a world of difference when navigating the city’s dark underbelly. Moreover, Batman’s unorthodox methods might raise eyebrows, but they yield results that traditional police work sometimes can’t. For example, when they're against time to thwart the Joker’s latest scheme, Batman can swiftly infiltrate locations, gather critical intel, and analyze evidence faster than the police can mobilize a full investigation team. Their relationship also evolves with each major crime, showcasing how Batman can adapt to the challenges he faces, whether it's dealing with a crime wave instigated by the Penguin or bringing the Riddler to justice. Any time Gordon finds himself under pressure, it's Batman who often arrives to save the day, solidifying his role as both a vigilante and a crucial ally. Together, they embody the eternal struggle of light versus darkness, with Gordon representing law enforcement's hope in a city riddled with crime. Their collaboration is undoubtedly a major driving force behind Gotham's fight against criminality, making their bond a key focal point of almost any Batman storyline. Whether in comic books, animated series, or live-action films, this alliance excites viewers and emphasizes the significance of teamwork in the fight against evil.

The main villain in 'Gotham' season 1 is Fish Mooney, played by Jada Pinkett Smith. She's a charismatic but ruthless crime boss who controls the Gotham underworld with an iron fist. Fish runs her own nightclub as a front for her operations, and she's not afraid to eliminate anyone who crosses her. What makes her stand out is her manipulation skills—she plays mind games with everyone, including her own henchmen. Her rivalry with Carmine Falcone adds tension, and she even experiments on people to create superhuman enforcers. Fish embodies the chaotic energy of Gotham's criminal landscape before the rise of its more famous villains.

I've been obsessed with 'Batman: Gotham by Gaslight' ever since I picked it up, and the twist with the serial killer still gives me chills. The story takes this iconic Victorian-era setting and throws Batman into a gritty hunt for Jack the Ripper, who's terrorizing Gotham. The atmosphere is thick with fog and dread, and the way Bruce Wayne navigates high society while hunting the killer is pure brilliance. The real shocker comes when it's revealed that the Ripper is none other than Hugo Strange, a character usually known as a mad scientist in other Batman stories. Here, he's reimagined as this aristocratic psycho, using his knowledge of anatomy to perfect his murders. The way he toys with Bruce, knowing his secret identity, adds this layer of psychological horror that elevates the whole comic. The art style complements the reveal perfectly, with shadows hiding Strange's true nature until the climax. What makes it even more gripping is how Batman's usual tech is stripped back to Victorian tools, making the hunt feel more personal and brutal. The final confrontation in the Batcave is one of the most intense moments in any Batman comic I've read. Strange's motive isn't just chaos; it's this warped desire to 'cleanse' Gotham, mirroring real Ripper theories. The way the story blends history with Batman lore is masterful, and Strange's portrayal as the Ripper remains one of the most unexpected villain twists in comics.

Bright neon rain and a single gunshot — 'Gotham' turns that moment into a mystery that refuses to let go, and for me the strangest part is how the show keeps nudging you between a simple tragic mugging and a deliberate, crooked conspiracy. The man who actually fired the fatal shots is presented in the series as Joe Chill, keeping a thread of comic-book tradition alive. Early on, young Bruce Wayne's parents are killed in the alley, and Jim Gordon starts pulling at that loose thread. The series leans into the emotional fallout — Bruce's grief, the city's rot, and the way everyone around the Waynes reacts — while also dropping hints that there's more under the surface than a random robbery gone wrong. As the seasons unfold, 'Gotham' layers on the corruption: mob families, crooked politicians, and secret deals tied to Wayne Enterprises all make the murder feel less like a lone act of violence and more like a symptom of the city's sickness. Joe Chill is shown as the trigger man, but the show strongly implies he wasn't acting in a vacuum; he was part of a wider ecosystem that profited from or covered up what happened. Jim's investigation and Bruce's own detective instincts peel back layers — you see how the elite of the city try to shape the narrative, hide evidence, and protect reputations. That ambiguity is one of the show's strengths: you can cling to a neat, single-name culprit, but the storytelling invites you to see the murder as an event with many hands on the rope. I love how 'Gotham' treats the Wayne deaths as both a personal wound and a political wound. It doesn't give a clean, heroic closure where the bad guy is simply punished and everything makes sense; instead it lets the pain and the mystery linger, shaping Bruce into someone who learns early that truth is messy. For me, that messiness is what makes the series compelling — it refuses to turn trauma into a tidy plot device, and Joe Chill's role sits at the center of that tension. It still gets under my skin every time I rewatch those early episodes.

Gotham City AU fanfictions often strip away the chaos of canon to explore Harley and Joker's relationship in fresh, unsettling ways. Some writers dive into a dystopian Gotham where Harley's a rogue psychiatrist, and Joker's her patient—twisting their power dynamic into something eerily intimate. Others reimagine them as rival crime lords, their love-hate tension laced with betrayal and whispered alliances. The best AUs linger on Harley's agency, showing her as more than a victim but a force that matches his madness. I’ve seen AUs where they’re mundane neighbors, their obsession simmering under suburban facades, or noir-era lovers trading razor-sharp banter in smoky bars. What fascinates me is how these stories reframe their toxicity—sometimes as inevitable tragedy, other times as a darkly addictive dance. The romantic tension thrives in the ambiguity, the push-pull of destruction and devotion. A recent favorite had Harley as a fallen angel and Joker as a demon, their bond a celestial catastrophe—poetic and brutal.

Gothic horror meets Batman in 'The Doom That Came to Gotham,' and let me tell you, the villains here aren't your usual rogue's gallery. This Elseworlds tale reimagines classic foes with a Lovecraftian twist. Ra's al Ghul becomes a cult leader summoning ancient horrors, while Mr. Freeze is a tragic scientist fused with ice by eldritch forces. Two-Face? More like a literal demonic duality. What fascinates me is how these reinterpretations deepen the mythos. The Joker's absence is noticeable, but in his place, we get Etrigan the Demon as a chaotic wildcard. Even lesser-known villains like the Monk get spotlighted as ghouls. The real standout is the eldritch entity 'The Great Old One,' an existential threat that makes Gotham's usual crime lords seem quaint. It's a fresh take that makes me wish DC did more horror-infused Batman stories.