'Gotham' Is the Best New Thing on TV

I am stunned week in and week out when I watch the next all-new episode of Gotham, FOX's huge breakout new hit of the 2014 fall TV season. And let me tell you why.

Not only does it maintain a tone in keeping with what I would expect from any story set in fictional Gotham City--thereby maintaining a tone unlike anything else on television--but it also delivers me a very satisfying prequel. And that's not easy.

I've never been a fan of the prequel. I can't think of one where I actually really cared about where we've been. (Bates Motel could if it would just get on with it and stop all this trite crime drama nonsense.)

I've always just wanted to continue going where we're going.

And I love where Gotham is going.

We already have several future villains like criminal and psychotic lowlife Oswald Cobblepot who will become The Penguin; forensic scientist Edward Nygma who will eventually become The Riddler; a teen-aged Selina Kyle, our future Catwoman; and a little girl named Ivy who hid behind her beloved plants while her dad was being grilled by the police. We'll know her much later as Poison Ivy.

And, of course, there's a young Bruce Wayne and a younger Jim Gordon than we've ever seen. He's a detective now and will one day become the commissioner.

These are all great Easter Eggs. And I look forward to finding more. I'm constantly Googling the names of these characters to see if they're from the comics or if they're originals.

Who's going to turn up next?

When will we meet a character that the screenwriters will make clear is the man who will become the Joker?

I can't wait. And I CAN wait.

Gotham has a gritty, hard-boiled, classic detective thing going that all other crime shows on television and, really, most all of recent vintage lack or have lacked.

The writing is crisp. The acting is exactly right. And the mysteries don't just come from the story.

Gotham is the only new series I've picked up this season. And it's quickly become one of my favorites.

If you're a fan, click here for a sneak peek at Monday night's all-new episode.