I'm no Criswell, but when it comes to Fox's "Gotham", I can confidently predict an even grander, more fulfilling season with the second--especially when it comes to its primary villains!!!
With Fish gone (or at least seemingly so), Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor) should have ample room to spread his wings as the crafty Penguin. That can only be a plus.
I also foresee bigger and more demented things for the poor, misunderstood Edward Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), the Riddler-to-be.
As for the possible Joker-to-be, Jerome Valeska (Cameron Monaghan), a return is inevitable (if not essential), and though his occupation as the Clown Prince of Crime is still questionable, to peer further into any angle of the arch foe's genesis is a sure-fire means to raise the series to further, maniacal heights.
I'll be posting comments accordingly throughout this season. Can't wait for it to commence. In Dark Knight lore, September 21 is gonna be historic, indeed, reestablishing"Gotham" as one of television's best and most innovative, mythological epics.
Criswell I sure ain't! I mean, was it just me or did the "Gotham" season premiere play more like Tim Burton than Chris Nolan? So much for this prequelizing the "Dark Knight" trilogy! Well, guess we'll just see how this plays out. Right now, though, it looks like we're teetering between darkness and camp. I like the steady, first-season tone much better...
ReplyDeleteMust mention that it's nice to see James Frain (as Theo Galavan) on the show. He was an effective villain on the short-lived "Cape" series. I believe he could achieve more in this new role if only the tone weren't played for dark laughs. Still can't wrap my head around the decision to go the quasi-silly route.
ReplyDeleteOkay--"Knock Knock" was a pretty good follow-up to last week's installment. I like the Joker thrust of it, anyway. Still have to get use to the new tonality. That's gonna take me a while, but we'll see how it goes...
DeleteRewatched "Knock Knock" and without the darn interruptions, it did play much smoother to me. Indeed, a fine Joker genesis story, but it also offered a nice pairing of Alfred and Lucius. I also quite fancy Barbara in attractive maniac form. Looking forward to further exploration into Ed Nygma's "Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room" conflict. (That could evolve into something quite gripping if not played for laughs.)Yeah, this finally struck me as a good episode overall, even if the tone shift is still a trifle too obvious.
ReplyDelete"Last Laugh" is the best episode so far of the second season and a damn good Jerome entry, but wait--he's dead? Or is he? I know the implication is that his guffawing influence might turn others of bad ilk even badder, but still, with such perfect casting, why let this potential Clown Prince of Crime be no more than a teaser? If that's the case, I'll be gravely disappointed. Still, who knows what tricks are yet in store for us, with only three installments in? As it stands, this was one helluva magnetic episode, and I fear, maybe too hard an act to follow.
ReplyDeleteI liked "Strike Force", the fourth episode this season. I was pleased that its tonality was, for the most part, in tune with Season 1's.
ReplyDeleteI also think Michael Chiklis will be a fine addition to the show. He's a terrific actor, with a Marvel connection as Ben Grimm, and of course, was most memorable in last season's "American Horror Story: Freakshow".
Natalie Alyn Lind entered as Silver St. Cloud. I just hope her presence doesn't layer on unneeded mush. (I'm okay, though, with Ed Nygma and Ms. Kringle's burgeoning romance. At least it's quirky.)
PS: My heart goes out to the Penguin. I know he'll always be a bad guy at heart, but I can't help but respect his love for his mother.
DeleteOh, and another thing...I should have made a more distinct acknowledgement of Michael Chiklis being yet another actor with a DC/Marvel link to his credit. I rather fancy that crossover element (as I referenced within my "Flash/Arrow" reflections).
Delete"Tonight's the Night" struck me as an exceptional installment this season: an "Assault on Precinct 13" remake of sorts. The Penguin/Riddler bond is also getting more enticing. Now, this is the stuff I wanna see on "Gotham". I hope the pace and tone continue along these lines. Too bad we're coming to the mid-season finale as things start to heat up.
ReplyDeleteWhat a humdinger of a mid-season finale! Whoa! It met expectations and then some. How 'bout that chilling ending (ha,ha)!
ReplyDeleteNot keen on having to wait so long for the story to recommence, but when it does, it's destined to offer lots of twists, turns and surprises.
I'm certain fans will speculate to no end where things will go. That speculation, in its own right, ought to be great fun: something to hold us over until the next episode comes.
Okay, we're back in action after a far-too-long hiatus with "Mr. Freeze". Good episode, for the sake of introducing Nathan Darrow's character. I really like the way it was handled.
ReplyDeleteWe got an intro (or was it a reintro?) to Hugo Strange. BD Wong was quite effective, but is this a change of actors, or did we have another big "Gotham" mislead with a tease last season? Sometimes the misleads are fun, but at other times, they're just damn confusing.
PS: One complaint--I'm growing weary of the Penguin being so downtrodden. If he's truly the crime "King of Gotham", why demonstrate such? That is, why keep pulling the rug from under him? The effect is most unpleasant and is forming a kind of predictability in its own right. I can only imagine it might get worse now with Fish's return. Enough already.
DeleteOh, and another thing... Whenever I now see Morena Baccarin, I can't help but associate her with "Deadpool". In fact, during her scenes, I expect Deadpool to pop up from behind and make some snide remark to the camera. Might take a while before I can readjust my mind to see her in the more somber context of the Dark Knight prequel.
Delete"Dead Man Feels No Cold" was an excellent follow-up to last week's Freeze intro: a good Freeze/Strange episode overall. Still don't like the idea of keeping Penguin under wraps. What's the damn point? As much as I fancy "Gotham", there are times when certain plot points never cease to infuriate me.
ReplyDelete"This Ball of Mud and Meanness" was a good young Wayne story. I like it when he's portrayed as more an adult (albeit in child form) than when he's just a regular kid. It projects the man he'll become.
ReplyDeleteGood Riddler progression, too; the last scene was superb.
Rewatched "Ball of Mud" and believe it's now my favorite episode of the series. The tone is right. It doesn't feel strained, like it's trying too hard to be both funny and dark at the same time. The seriousness does, in fact, dominate even the quirky offbeat scenes.
DeleteAlso much of the episode's success goes to "Breaking Bad'"s Michael Bowen as Matches Malone. His performance has the right amount of edge and cool to be memorable. I realize Malone is a minor character in Batman mythology, but if "Gotham" is to include such individuals in the long haul, let Bowen's be a blueprint--please!
BTW: Lori Petty was pretty damn good, too. Considering her Joker/Quinn get-up, I'm hoping such is a hint of things to come: that is, Jerome's return. The son of a gun's photo did grace the nightclub, after all, and so...
Delete"Mad Grey Dawn" was a great Riddler episode, and I appreciated the focus on the Penguin (despite him still being terribly downtrodden).
ReplyDeleteI was most thrilled to see Paul Reubens as Penguin's dad: a role, of course, he cameoed in "Batman Returns". Reubens gave a fine performance here, and coming off the heels of my watching Netflix's "Pee-wee's Big Holiday", the timing couldn't have been more perfect. I hope this finally leads Reubens on the big-time comeback trail. Lord knows the guy damn well deserves it.
Also, the Gordon dilemma has me on edge. Interested to see how this develops.
"Prisoners" was another good, solid episode, though I sure wish Reubens' presence could have been extended. I feel rather ripped-off by the way things concluded. Still, the dysfunctional family gave the new Penguin plot a Dickens-esque, if not "House of Usher" quality. (I even sensed some of Serling's "The Masks" in there, but perhaps I'm stretching matters a bit.)
ReplyDeleteThe Gordon situation is rather upsetting to me, though. Still, I was glad to see Falcone return. Truly, he should have never ducked out of the series. He gives it a somber, sophistication, and better that than those strained, Burton-wannabe interludes.
"Into the Woods" was a swell one: a fine, sturdy making-of-the-Riddler episode. It was also a good Penguin episode, but again, I want Oswald back as the "King of Gotham".
ReplyDeletePleased with Gordon's developments, as well. I was anxious for a resolution there.
Also, nice touch also with the '60s camera-angle tribute. I fancy such little touches.
PS: Penguin's revenge was nothing short of Shakespearean. That final, dining-room scene is destined to stick in many folks minds for a very long time to come.
DeleteInterested in seeing how this much anticipated Azrael episode turns out, especially considering who's in the costume. This doesn't fit into the established Batman mythology, but I suppose this version of Azrael could be a lead-in to what might come later down for an adult Bruce.
ReplyDeleteGotta say, I was impressed with "Azrael". I feared it might be too forced, introducing a persona that really should have come much later down the line in Batman mythology. Nonetheless, it clicked pretty well and even returned an old adversary to us.
DeleteLots of Strange and Nygma in this episode, and on the whole, I do believe we've been given a nice start to finish the season.
The Strange experimentation is mounting, and it's giving the final phases of this season a lot of character.
ReplyDeleteI like the costume designs on Firefly and Fish, and speaking of Fish, if she's resurrected, why the hell not Jerome?
PS: Interesting take on Clayface: not quite what I'd have expected, but it did seem to work.
DeleteCan't say I was pleased with the finale. I wanted something more concrete when it came to a particular character. (Guess who?) Actually, I'm rather miffed by the cop-out approach. Too bad. This one could have gone out with a major bang.
ReplyDelete