– Spoiler Review –
As far as a fall finale goes, “Lovecraft” was at least more entertaining than most previous episodes of Gotham, but it really lacked a big moment to convince viewers to return or a hint at how things could change for the better upon it’s return from a winter break.
Ending Gotham TV Show Reviews (9/26/15)
I probably should’ve done this more formally back when I called it quits with the show after its umpteenth break during the first season, but I won’t be reviewing this series anymore. I had been holding out hope the show would get better for the second season and the creative team behind it were saying all the right things, but the S2 premiere was just more of the same. Sure, there’s some promise for better things ahead in it so I’ll be tuning in, but this is more in regards to my own personal time constraints and my sanity. Sorry and thanks for checking out Mynock Manor for details on Gotham and I seriously hope the show hits its stride soon. We still have plenty of content on the site so browse around before heading somewhere else!
Just like last week, the interactions between Bruce and Selina really bring out the best from these actors. These younger characters also feel a little more natural when not against all the older characters, but one can’t help but wonder how much more interesting and fitting everyone would be if just a little older, like say in their teens. However, Carmen does a pretty good job being a cocky, streetsmart, and flirtatious gal for that age and seeing a young Bruce fumble with his feelings for her is pretty entertaining. Plus, Bruce receiving training from her during their formative years is a nice twist on their relationship which most fans are familiar with.
It should go without saying the introduction of Dick Lovecraft so late in the season last week meant he’d be unimportant so unsurprisingly he meets his end here, despite the episode being named after him. His information and his dead body were more important than anything he did in life, as it seems he might’ve cracked who ordered the Waynes dead (it sounds like an inside job), whereas the assassin pegging his death on Gordon lets the show alter its status quo (finally!).
Also, it seems like I read the scene between Dent and Lovecraft in “Harvey Dent” right. Dent just freaked out Lovecraft because he lost his temper and later lied to Gordon about the whole thing, which he basically reveals to Gordon when we learn he didn’t listen to Jim and put names on a report he wasn’t suppose to so hence the assassins after Selina here. The confrontation between Gordon and Dent was pretty well played, as McKenzie got his growl on, but as I mentioned in last week’s review, it’s obvious this incarnation of Dent doesn’t have much of a chance to be a shining white knight. In fact, even the corrupt mayor points him out as someone who knows how to walk the line way more than Gordon does.
Teaming up Alfred and Bullock was way more entertaining than Gordon and Bullock have been all season. Alfred getting a perp to talk with money and his sweet talking to Fish were some great moments from the character and this show definitely benefits from more Alfred. I mean, how great was it to see Alfred kicking ass and shooting punks like he was James Bond or something? I’d pay to watch a whole hour delving into his backstory of kick-assery training.
JOKER WATCH
I’m not convinced Cat’s fence was a possible Joker, but some people think he could be. However, as we move to the Asylum after the winter break, could we see more references, including an introduction to Harley Quinn?
Here are a few other things:
- A really puzzling moment this week was Fish’s explanation on why she and Butch shouldn’t be worried about reprisals from Falcone for the vault robbery last week, as she said since he “can’t be sure” and won’t take out his frustration on anyone. However, Fish’s previous scene is her at a dinner with Falcone and other lieutenants and he literally kills one dude because he doesn’t have enough information/can’t be sure who did it.
- While it was nice to see Ivy again, and her scene was funny, too much has happened to her since we last saw her to ever understand or care about what happened since we never saw it. Not like this show needed more scenes of random eventual bad guys/gals, but if we’re supposed to care about Ivy’s predicament, it’s not working.
- Really enjoyed the assassins, especially the lead gal and her strangling ways, plus their commitment to their contract over just killing anyone. She’s based on the Copperhead led assassins in Arkham Origins.
- Mad props for the “kiss my ass” line.
- A Nygma appearance that didn’t irritate me!
- Watching Penguin worm his way out of Falcone’s glare was a blast, and I’m happy his driver (he has a driver now?) asked the question about why he didn’t give up Liza yet.
- Thankfully, the Gordon and Bullock friendship didn’t take a step backwards, instead strengthening as Gordon is transferred and Bullock is caught up on Gordon’s ongoing investigation into the Wayne murders.
- Not a single word on Barbara. Maybe they’ll just write her out for awhile?
I’m really hoping this change up, with Gordon a guard at Arkham Asylum, helps the show out. Besides “Spirit of the Goat” and “The Mask,” most procedural heavy episodes have been misses, largely due to lack of focus thanks to the plethora of characters introduced. But as with “Penguin’s Umbrella” and “Lovecraft,” the series has usually shown its best when not having a case-of-the-week, and playing characters against each other or with each other in entertaining ways, instead of shoehorning them into a mostly by the books procedural tale. Could we be done with the case-of-the-week stuff while at the Asylum? Will you come back to watch Gotham after the break? I will, but it’s a reluctant return at this point.
+ Gordon being reassigned
+ Selina and Bruce
+ Alfred the badass
– Lovecraft
– Dent already being two faced
– Logic gaps
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
GOTHAM REVIEWS:
S1, Ep. 12: “What the Little Bird Told Him”
S1, Ep. 11: “Rogues’ Gallery”
S1, Ep. 9: “Harvey Dent”
S1, Ep. 8: “The Mask”
S1, Ep. 7: “Penguin’s Umbrella”
S1, Ep. 6: “Spirit of the Goat”
S1, Ep. 5: “Viper”
S1, Ep. 4: “Arkham”
S1, Ep. 3: “The Balloonman”
S1, Ep. 2: “Selina Kyle”
S1, Ep. 1: “Pilot“