As a long-time fan of the Dark Knight saga, I must say that Gotham’s unique approach to the Joker’s character left an indelible mark on me. The twin brothers Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska, portrayed brilliantly by Cameron Monaghan, provided a captivating twist on the Clown Prince of Crime.
In the finale of Gotham, Batman wasn’t revealed until the very end, but the show on Fox didn’t shy away from putting its unique twist on characters from Batman’s rogue gallery. Characters like Penguin and Riddler were crucial, while others such as Mr. Freeze and Mad Hatter caused trouble throughout several seasons. The Joker, Batman’s arch-nemesis, was technically represented by the Valeska twins, Jerome and Jeremiah, portrayed by Cameron Monaghan, due to the absence of The Clown Prince of Crime. John Stephens, Gotham’s producer, discussed the challenges that came with this alternative portrayal.
In the production of Gotham, it wasn’t intentionally avoided that The Joker would appear. Instead, they were instructed by those in higher positions, as Monaghan referred to them, not to use the name Joker or his iconic green hair throughout the show’s five seasons. Characters like Jerome and Jeremiah were identified as potential precursors of the Joker. In an oral history of Gotham compiled by IGN, Stephens shared his thoughts on this:
As a devoted fan, I can tell you that crafting such a complex character as the Joker’s precursor was no easy feat. With numerous voices and elements at play, each with their unique objectives, it was like navigating a maze filled with twists and turns. Different individuals desired varying aspects for different reasons, and there were certain boundaries we couldn’t cross, such as The Joker himself.
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In the Season 1 episode titled “The Blind Fortune Teller,” Jerome Valeska was originally intended as a one-time character, but Cameron Monaghan’s captivating performance earned him a recurring role for three more seasons on Gotham. Towards the end of Season 4, another character named Jeremiah emerged and continued as a regular antagonist until the series concluded. The brothers embodied distinct aspects of The Joker; Jerome was characterized by his impulsive and chaotic nature, while Jeremiah was more methodical and strategic. This innovative approach to adapting this iconic comic book villain presented challenges, as suggested by Stephen’s comments, due to the restrictions imposed on the production.
In the story “That’s Entertainment,” it was James Gordon who ended Jerome’s life permanently. However, another character named Jeremiah stepped into his role after being exposed to a unique mix of Scarecrow’s laughing gas. Although this concoction turned Jeremiah’s skin pale, he asserted that it didn’t affect his mental state. Over time in Season 5, though, Jeremiah began exhibiting increasingly erratic behavior. A fateful encounter with chemicals at Ace Chemicals further exacerbated his instability. By the series finale, titled “The Beginning,” after a ten-year charade of being comatose, Jeremiah displayed traits strikingly similar to those of the Joker. In fact, he no longer saw himself as Jeremiah but rather felt a new and alluring transformation emerging from his former self.
It’s uncertain whether Jeremiah will embody The Joker opposite David Mazouz’s Batman, or if someone else will step into that role; fans are left to ponder their own interpretations. However, I can’t help but speculate about how Gotham could have been different if it had portrayed The Joker in a more conventional way. On the other hand, the advantage is that we got to witness Cameron Monaghan’s remarkable performances as these twin brothers who, despite their differences, both offered captivating interpretations of the maniacal villain. If you’d like to revisit those performances, consider using your Max subscription.
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2024-10-01 02:07