Daredevil. Jessica Jones. The Flash. Arrow... We could talk about the endless number of great superhero shows currently on our TV screens until the cows come home.

We love them. Audiences love them. Gotham's showrunner, on the other hand? Not so much. Instead, he's of the opinion that the superhero format is purely a cinematic deal. Really?!

"I don't think superheroes work very well on TV," Bruno Heller told the Edinburgh Television Festival on Thursday (via The Hollywood Reporter), adding that it was "probably because of the costume thing".

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Netflix

"TV is about real people and faces and not so much about magic and the supernatural things," he argued, saying that this is the reason he chose James Gordon as the focus of Gotham.

Of course, one could argue that we have been able to see much more complex explorations of superheroes on television.

Jessica Jones, for example, has been acclaimed for its sharp exploration of trauma… and she doesn't even wear a costume.

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Krysten Ritter in Marvel's Jessica Jonespinterest
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Still, Gotham is all about the "real people", and Heller stands by that.

"What's fun to write is the morale and sort of psychological collapse of Gordon," he said.

"The comic book constituency has become so large and visible with the whole Comic-Con thing that it is very easy to assume that the audience is purely comic book enthusiasts.

"But I operate the show on the basis that it is a mistake to just go there."

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Nicole Rivelli

With season three coming-up and many more villains set to be introduced along with it, Heller is building up more of a need for a superhero to swoop in anyway.

"Every season is moving toward the world in which Batman has to emerge to save the day," he added.

"So every season is doubling down on the chaos and anarchy that is overtaking Gotham. So, things keep getting worse."

The streets of Gotham will be haunted by DC's villains for another season starting on September 19 on Fox.

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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.