Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska
Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska | |
---|---|
Created by | Bruno Heller |
Portrayed by | Cameron Monaghan |
In-universe information | |
Gender | Male |
Occupation | Criminal (both) |
Family | Lila Valeska (mother; deceased) Paul Cicero (father; deceased) Zachary Trumble (uncle; deceased) |
Nationality | American |
Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska are characters and
Each twin adapts different characteristics of the DC Comics
The virtual DC FanDome event in 2020 included Jeremiah Valeska in the documentary Joker: Put on a Happy Face among the various iterations of the eponymous character adapted for film and television, confirming that Jeremiah served as Gotham's version of the Joker.
Early conception
At its earliest stages, Gotham was intended to stray from the
Development
"The Joker didn't think of his shtick all by himself. There must have been someone before who The Joker saw and thought, 'Oh, that's a good shtick. I could work with that and make it better.'"
—Showrunner Bruno Heller[1]
With potential copyright restrictions in mind, the
The first proto-Joker is a character named Jerome Valeska. While Jerome was only meant to have a one-off appearance in
Jerome's laugh was briefly inserted into the Season 2 finale to tease
"I feel like Cameron's character, in all the iterations of the characters that he played Jerome, Jeremiah, and the new character that he plays, if he's not The Joker, then he's someone who does provide the origin story for the person who you're going to see later on."
—Showrunner John Stephens
According to
During the virtual DC FanDome event in 2020, a documentary titled Joker: Put on a Happy Face was made to celebrate the character's 80th anniversary. This documentary includes Jeremiah Valeska from Gotham among the various iterations of the Joker adapted for film and television.[23]
Characterization
"It's not about a man. It's about the ideology of a man and what that represents and how it affects other people."
—Cameron Monaghan, October 2015[24]
Jerome Valeska
Introduced in Season 1, Jerome Valeska is a
Jeremiah Valeska
Introduced in Season 4 under the name Xander Wilde, Jeremiah is revealed to have been a
Another feature of the Joker displayed in the Jeremiah character was that of a clown-like female accomplice akin to the Batman character
The final iteration of Jeremiah in the series finale is the coalescence of all the Joker traits previously seen in the series with additional characteristics. According to Stephens, "When you look at the Joker and you cleave off certain character traits, some of those character traits we gave to Jerome. Some to Jeremiah. But, there were still some leftover character traits that we said, we haven't used these elements yet. Specifically to me, horror or terror". He is more insane than Jerome and his former self, with Stephens referring to him as a "nightmare".[45][22][7] He struggles to recall which of his memories from before his chemical accident are real, with his obsession with Bruce becoming so embedded that he pretended to be comatose for 10 years, waiting for him to return to Gotham after spending a decade abroad.[46]
Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, "The Blind Fortune Teller" holds an approval rating of 52% based on a total of 25 critical reviews. The critics consensus refers to Jerome's debut as a "disappointing introduction of an iconic Batman villain."[47] IGN reviewer Matt Fowler admired Monaghan's performance, but stated that he would be unsatisfied if Jerome was the Joker because of the lack of a true origin story, "I've always liked the idea that the Joker was a do-right nobody who sadly lost his mind due to the horrors he witnessed and/or endured. Jerome is already out of his mind. The next step on his journey would be him shopping for hair dye."[48] Screen Crush was heavily critical of both the show itself and Jerome's introduction, referring to it as a cheap selling point without any context intended to make the audience forget that Gotham is "absolute garbage television". However, he conceded that Monahan gave an effective performance in the role.[49] Kyle Fowle of The A.V. Club opined that, although Monaghan gave a great performance, Jerome embodied the show's flaw of ignoring set-ups and established plotlines in favor of introducing new characters and big 'reveals'.[50]
In contrast, Rob Bricken of Gizmodo felt that Monaghan did a solid Joker impersonation, referring to Jerome as an amalgam of the Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger versions of the character. He speculated that the actor was cast for his Joker-like smile.[51] Screen Rant's Anthony Ocasio referred to the Jerome reveal as "the best scene the series may ever see" and stated that the show surprisingly succeeded in referencing the Joker, even though it felt out of sync with the grounded tone of previous episodes.[52] Rolling Stone's Sean Collins praised Jerome's introduction and felt that the lack of an origin story was fitting because of the Joker's mysterious past in the comics. However, he was apprehensive about Jerome Valeska being a red herring for the Joker, likening it to "genre television's post-Lost fixation on mystery over meaning."[53]
Jerome's inclusion in later seasons was generally more well-received. IGN stated that Jerome was "a bright spot of the series in Season 2".
Monaghan's performance as Jerome has been cited as a fan favorite by entertainment journalists, also receiving praise from Hamill.
Comic Book Resources opined that the reveal of Jeremiah Valeska was "both crazy and brilliant", because it made perfect sense for the show's universe and it allowed the actor to stay on the show after Jerome's arc had concluded.
See also
- List of Gotham characters
- Joker in other media
References
- ^ a b Tanswell, Adam (September 22, 2014). "Gotham: Bruno Heller on Batman's origins, the Joker and DC crossovers". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Radish, Christina (July 22, 2014). "Showrunner Bruno Heller Talks GOTHAM, Avoiding Fantasy, Casting the Series, Teasing Out The Joker in Every Episode, and More". Collider. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Viera, Anthony (July 21, 2014). "'Gotham' Creator Talks Joker & Changing Origin Stories". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Burlingame, Russ (July 21, 2014). "Gotham Series Premiere: Easter Eggs and DC Comics References". Comic Book. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Bryant, Adam (February 2, 2015). "Mega Buzz: When Will We Meet The Joker on Gotham?". TV Guide. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ a b Patten, Dominic (October 5, 2015). "'Gotham' EP On Tonight's Joker Origin Shocker & Honoring The Batman Legacy". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Patten, Dominic (April 25, 2019). "'Gotham' EPs On Tonight's "Bittersweet" Series Finale, Potential Of More Batman & Their Pride In The Show". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Ridgely, Charlie (April 17, 2017). "'Gotham': Jeremiah Isn't the Joker After All, Here's Why (Exclusive)". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ McMillan, Graeme (October 5, 2015). "'Gotham' Boss: Season 2 to Focus on the Joker". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Aguilar, Matthew (September 5, 2017). "Gotham: David Mazouz Calls Jerome 'Proto-Joker'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Ridgely, Charlie (April 1, 2018). "'Gotham': Jerome Was Only Supposed to Be a "One-Off" Villain". Comic Book. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ Ridgely, Charlie (October 6, 2017). "Exclusive: 'Gotham' EP Reveals Why Jerome Will Never Be Joker". Comic Book. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ "Gotham's Bruno Heller: "We've Absolutely Considered The Possibility Of A Female Joker"". Comic Book. September 6, 2017. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Buxton, Marc (September 18, 2016). "Gotham Season 2 Episode 14: This Ball of Mud and Meanness". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ a b Vick, Megan (August 23, 2016). "Gotham: Yep, That Was Jerome's Laugh in the Season 2 Finale". TV Guide. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Ridgely, Charlie (October 6, 2017). "Exclusive: 'Gotham' EP Reveals Every Villain Appearing in Season 4". Comic Book. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ a b Holbrook, Domian (May 15, 2018). "'Gotham' Star Cameron Monaghan on His Character's Endgame in the Season 4 Finale". TV Insider. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ a b Buxton, Marc (April 6, 2018). "Gotham Season 4 Episode 17 Review: Mandatory Brunch Meeting". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ a b c Hibberd, James (January 10, 2019). "Gotham star Cameron Monaghan teases wild finale, mysterious third character". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ .
- ^ Vick, Megan (January 19, 2019). "Jeremiah Will Return and Evolve Again on Gotham". TV Guide. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ a b Hayner, Chris (March 1, 2019). "Gotham's Next Joker Evolution Is An Actual Nightmare". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ Yeung, Jeff (September 28, 2020). "DC Comics' Joker Documentary Anthologizes the Killer Clown's 80-Year Reign". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "'Gotham' Has the Last Laugh With Joker Mystery (SPOILERS)". Variety. October 5, 2015. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ Vick, Megan (February 2, 2017). "Gotham's Cameron Monaghan Isn't Done with Jerome's Story Yet". TV Guide. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ "The Blind Fortune Teller". Gotham. Season 1. Episode 16. February 16, 2015. FOX.
- ^ a b Mitovich, Matt (October 5, 2015). "Gotham's Cameron Monaghan Talks About Deadly Twist, His Animated Idol, Losing Sleep Over 'Joker' Role". TVLine. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ "The Last Laugh". Gotham. Season 2. Episode 3. October 5, 2015. FOX.
- ^ .
- .
- ^ a b Fowler, Matt (May 10, 2018). "Gotham Producer Talks Joker Swap, No Man's Land, And Eventually Ending The Show With Batman". IGN. San Francisco, California: j2 Global. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- .
- ^ .
- ^ Patrick, Seb (April 28, 2008). "Batman: The Killing Joke Deluxe Edition review". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ Goldstein, Hilary (May 24, 2005). "Batman: The Killing Joke Review". IGN. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- .
- ^ Ridgely, Charlie (October 24, 2018). "'Gotham's Cameron Monaghan Says Jeremiah Is "Unsatisfied" With No Man's Land Outcome". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- .
- .
- ^ Cohen, Alex (July 16, 2008). "The Joker: Torn Between Goof And Evil". NPR. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ Venable, Nick (January 18, 2019). "Why Gotham Is Using Ecco As its Harley Quinn". Cinemablend. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- .
- .
- ^ Cardona, Ian (April 26, 2019). "Gotham's Final Death Opens the Door For a Major Bat-Villain". Comic Book Resources. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Valnet, Inc. Archived from the original on September 11, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- Tribune Media Services. Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ "The Beginning...". Gotham. Season 5. Episode 12. April 25, 2018. FOX.
- ^ "The Blind Fortune Teller - Gotham Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Fowler, Matt (February 16, 2015). "Gotham: "The Blind Fortune Teller" Review". IGN. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Kevin (February 16, 2015). "Gotham Review: "The Blind Fortune Teller"". Screen Crush. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ Fowle, Kyle (February 16, 2015). "Gotham: "The Blind Fortune Teller"". Screen Crush. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ Bricken, Rob (February 18, 2015). "Gotham Got So Stupid It Actually Became Kind Of Awesome". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ Ocasio, Anthony (February 18, 2015). "'Gotham' Pulls The Joker Card & Surprisingly Succeeds". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 10, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- The Rolling Stone. Archivedfrom the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ Fowler, Matt (April 25, 2019). "How Gotham Finally Got Its Joker in Time for the Series Finale". IGN. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Fowle, Kyle (September 21, 2015). "By focusing on the villains, Gotham finds new life in its season two premiere". Screen Crush. Archived from the original on November 18, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- The Observer. Archivedfrom the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ Vaniz, Robert (September 29, 2015). "Gotham: Knock Knock Review & Spoilers Discussion". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 5, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ Abrams, Simon (September 29, 2015). "Gotham Recap: Placeholder Drama". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ Holbrook, Damion (October 6, 2015). "Gotham Reveal: Jerome Wasn't Joking Around". TV Insider. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (October 6, 2015). "Gotham's Cameron Monaghan Talks About Deadly Twist, His Animated Idol, Losing Sleep Over 'Joker' Role". TVLine. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ Ridgely, Charlie (December 28, 2018). "'Gotham': Cameron Monaghan Didn't Know if Fans Would Connect With Jerome". Comic Book. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Chichizola, Corey (January 15, 2017). "First Look At Resurrected Jerome In Gotham". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Abrams, Simon (October 5, 2015). "Gotham Recap: Melrose Bat-Place". Vulture. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Bricken, Rob (October 6, 2015). "I Watched Last Night's Gotham and Now I Think I'm Insane". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ "The Last Laugh - Gotham Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Sastry, Keertana (October 6, 2015). "Gotham recap: The Last Laugh". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Fowle, Kyle (October 5, 2015). "Gotham delivers a shaky episode while losing its most compelling character". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Burt, Kayti (October 5, 2015). "Gotham: The Last Laugh Review". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- The Observer. Archivedfrom the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Walters, Eric (October 6, 2015). "Gotham Review: "The Last Laugh"". Paste. Archived from the original on November 30, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Cardona, Ian (April 10, 2018). "The Insane Jerome/Joker Twist Is Gotham's Best Yet". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ Ruddy, Matthew (May 22, 2019). "Gotham: 9 Major Villains, Ranked". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ Buxton, Marc (May 11, 2018). "Gotham Season 4 Episode 21 Review: One Bad Day". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- Paste Magazine. Archivedfrom the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ Fowler, Matt (April 13, 2018). "Gotham Pulls the Old Joker Switcheroo...and it's a Bummer". IGN. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.