While it’s not a show without flaws, Gotham Knights has taken an original approach. They’ve drawn in different elements from a lot of different versions of the Bat-mythos, and made the interesting choice of opening the series with Batman’s death. They weave in a few other interesting bits with this episode, “A Chill in Gotham.”

The show opens with Harvey Dent getting a unexpected request from Blackgate Prison. Joe Chill wants to speak to Dent before he’s executed. Chill is on Death Row for one of the most famous double homicides in comic book history: the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne, which, of course, set in motion the creation of the Batman. Like most comic book characters that have been around awhile, Batman’s story has been rewritten and retconned several times, but in most of them, Joe Chill is the man who killed the Waynes, so they’re following that bit of history at least. Dent isn’t really interested in talking to the man, but goes anyway, and gets several surprises in the conversation. It ends with Chill making a new, and also surprising, request.

Another interesting spin is this world’s version of Arthur Brown. Here, in addition to being Stephanie’s father, he hosts a popular show called The Quiz Bowl. In the comics, Brown is a C-list villain known as Cluemaster. Also, just to keep things interesting, Arthur Brown is played by Ethan Embry, who was also Johnny Thunder on Stargirl. Steph brings the coded ledger the group found to her father, because, despite his being an ass, he’s also unquestionably brilliant, especially when it comes to puzzles.  Stephanie’s argument/plea for help with her father gets interrupted when Dent calls her.

At her mom’s hospital, Carrie starts suffering some of the repercussions of living a double life. I wonder if she’d be happier with the semi-benign neglect on the parental front her original version had in the Dark Knight comics by Frank Miller. Stephanie finds the others in their hiding place at the school, and relays the odd request from Chill by way of Dent. There are assorted different reactions to the news, and finally Turner decides he’s going to go ahead with it, to Deulla’s obvious delight.

Batman was known for his meetings with Commissioner Gordon on the GCPD rooftop, but Tuner and Dent are stuck with a far less iconic subway tunnel. After some verbal sparring between Dent and Duella, and Turner bringing Dent up to speed about Cressida’s betrayal, the two men set out for the meeting. Duella, fittingly enough given her background, has no interest in breaking in to prison. Returning to the belfry, Duella talks with the others about the imminent execution of Joe Chill, and the progress, or lack of same, with decoding the ledger. Harper and Cullen engage in some sibling banter, and no one has any bright ideas about what to do next, while Lincoln March is on the news, railing against Harvey Dent.

At the hospital, Carrie runs into Brody. Brody is doing his community service for his earlier shenanigans, and he and Carrie compare notes on their current situation. Duella spins on a chair, clearly out of ideas, while Stephanie and Harper bang their heads on the figurative wall of the ledger’s code. Clearly, this is not going well for the two brilliant young women. Their complaining about their respective dads leads to another breakthrough, although that, itself, doesn’t give them any immediate way to proceed.

Dent, being clever and resourceful, manages to find a way to honor Chill’s request, which is a meeting between him and Turner. The man who created the Batman wanting to speak with the one who is both Batman’s son and the one accused of killing him is up there on the odd twist scale. Chill has an interesting tale to tell, which Turner isn’t really believing. It does give another new level of complexity to the origin of Batman, if true. Carrie, trying to be good and get her homework done, is interrupted by Brody, who brings her a new problem. It does show that Brody isn’t the completely selfish spoiled brat he was made out to be early in the season.

Understandably, Dent is incredulous about Chill’s story, although as he goes, it starts to make more and more sense. Chill starts drawing parallels between what happened to him and what’s going on with Turner. His story grows more plausible as it continues, and Turner is clearly starting to believe. As Turner and Chill begin to strike an accord, Harper and Stephanie continue their attempts to solve the ledger’s riddle. Cullen makes a bad joke that ends up being useful.

The coin from the Court of Owls plays a big part in the next part of Chill and Turner’s conversation. Chill offers some interesting insights into the situation that both Turner and Dent are in, and about how the Court operates in general. In one bit that glaringly doesn’t make sense, Chill refers to being in this cage for “50 years.” While Chill himself looks old enough for that, the timeline for Batman doesn’t work at all. Bruce would have to been in his 60’s before the Court killed him, and he looked a lot more like 30. That to one side, Chill has a very bleak warning for Turner, and then offers cryptic clues when things change and Chill is led away. Brody brings Carrie to the new problem, and Carrie once again can’t help but act. She really is a hero, and not too worried about consequences for herself.

Leaving the prison, Turner and Dent debate what Chill was trying to tell them, and the significance of the Court’s coin. Dent, putting some pieces together, realizes he needs to go warn someone. Brody and Carrie work on their problem, pushing ahead to do what’s right despite some likely ugly consequences, and the writers also work in a dig at America’s barely functioning health care industry. For what it’s worth, I agree with them.

Returning to the belfry, Turner shares Chill’s tale. Not surprisingly, Duella isn’t buying it, and is very vocal about her disbelief. Steph and Harper share their newest breakthrough, and keep bickering as they do it. Cullen plays peacemaker as they squabble over details, which sort of diminishes Turner’s speech about them being a team. They go to follow up on the lead, with the usual reluctance from Duella. If Turner is the one that drags them in the more heroic direction in their debates, Duella represents the opposite point of view. Harper points out that, since Duella isn’t coming along for this particular expedition, they are pretty much out of their skilled fighters, with Carrie being grounded. Turner’s pointing out they have surprise on their side isn’t as much of a morale boost as he probably hoped it was.

Several scenes are woven together as the episode nears its end. Dent, to his credit, pays a visit to rival Lincoln March to try and give him a warning. March isn’t really interested in listening, and has his own bizarre take on things. Chill is being walked down Death Row by a priest and guards, and knows his time is about over. All of this ends up with a big fight, some wild accusations, and an utterly not surprising death. The team does leave something behind to bolster their growing rep at the “Gotham Knights.”

Duella is saddened by some of the events, and Turner and Stephanie have a chat. Stephanie had an issue during the big fight, but isn’t admitting it to anyone, which seems like not the best team work to me. Stephanie then bolts for the hospital when she gets some bad news on the phone, and there’s another big development in the chaotic situation that is Gotham City. The episode ends with Harvey having some problems and at least strongly hinting at his villainous identity in the comics.

What I Liked: The writing is amusing with some nice banter. It was good to get some decent screen time for Arthur Brown, and to see more of his utterly dysfunctional relationship with Stephanie. Duella continues to be an entertaining presence, although she could help out more. The drama around Dent and what he’s going through is well done.

What I Didn’t: Duella needs to get with the program or take off on her own. She’s not helping and potentially dragging the team down. I mentioned above the issue with the timeline from Chill’s statement.

As I have said several times before, this series is so much better than the trailer made it look. I am sorry it only got one season as part of the collapse of the CW/DC partnership. I’ll give this episode a 3 out of 5.