– Spoiler Review –
Gotham is hit by a string of robberies from the Red Hood Gang, while an ominous figure from Alfred’s past shows up at the Manor, Mooney’s situation really escalates, and Penguin might just have found a friend in Butch. By embracing its comic book heritage, Gotham actually was a lot of fun this week in “Red Hood.”
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!
The saga of the Red Hood in this episode is entertaining, as it imbues the wearer with a sense of confidence and moments of luck, and it changes hands several times throughout the episode. The mask’s symbolism of power and leadership is an important part of its draw, as each person who kills for it wants to use those side-effects to their advantage. The group sure makes short work of itself, leaving Gordon and Bullock barely any police work to do (well, that’s not entirely new) but it was fun all the same. It’s episodes like this one, plus “Spirit of the Goat” and “What the Little Bird Told Him” which help differentiate Gotham from the rest of the procedural crop by injecting itself with its comic book roots. It’s been few and far between that the show has catered to the huge built-in Batman audience and hopefully this episode signals a change as we get towards the end of Gotham’s full season run.
If you enter an episode in the pouring rain and the shadows, with the only light revealing your face being lightning, you’re going to be bad news. An old army buddy of Alfred’s shows up at the Manor doors and right away I was very uneasy about him. Alfred is uneasy too, especially after Reggie tries giving Bruce a few tips on fighting. But they find themselves drinking the night away later and all seems great until Alfred happens on Reggie stealing things. As surprised as I was by Reggie stabbing Alfred once he catches him, the reveal Reggie was working for certain parties at Wayne Enterprises to obtain how much information Bruce really had was a notable and enjoyable twist. This show hasn’t had too many surprising moments, but this was one of two from “Red Hood.”
When I said Mooney’s situation escalates quickly in “Red Hood,” I wasn’t kidding. In no time she finds her negotiations aren’t going anywhere close to how she imagined they would, leaving her with two impossible choices. The ‘manager’s’ two options: Dr. Dulmacher A.K.A. The Dollmaker (who we last heard about in “Selina Kyle”) either gets Mooney’s searing eyes (which Jada Pinkett Smith totally has) or everyone in the basement is killed and they start recollecting people for more parts. Mooney’s third option is one for the record books: she tears out her own eye with a spoon and stomps on it with her shoe. Holy. Crap. I mean, holy shit, she just tore out her own eyeball! Both badass and disgusting, making me love Mooney even more.
Now for the b-plots: Minimizing Penguin’s time on the screen does help the show focus on more of the other aspects, but he’s just too good of a character to be sacrificed in this way. His unease with Butch is understandable given their history, but it’s eventually hard for him to deny Butch gets results. I’m also happy Butch had a reason for helping Penguin with the nightclub besides just whatever conditioning Zsaz gave him. Yes, the other plot involved Barbara hanging with Selina and Ivy again, and again it was pretty substandard. In the end, she decides to drink because SOMEHOW she didn’t expect to see Gordon with another woman already and tries to teach Selina to use her beauty to her advantage. I loved Selina’s line, “Look how well it’s worked for you.” Booyeah!
Here are a few other things:
- I’m just confused as to why Gordon, who was clearly holding the red hood after they took out the final gunman, would’ve dropped it and left it at the scene of the crime. Sure if he hadn’t, its legend wouldn’t have a chance to grow and haunt Gotham City in the future, but isn’t that like throwing away evidence or something?
- Also, when Gordon and Bullock were following Destro (Jonny Coyne) and they hear the gunshot in the apartment, how come one of them didn’t watch the fire escape while the other went in?
- There were little hints Reggie isn’t all that evil, considering he seemed to stab Alfred in a way that wouldn’t kill him and he questions if going after a young boy is worth all this trouble. More than you know, Reggie, more than you know.
Let’s keep those twists and surprises coming, otherwise Gotham is going to be remembered more for being safe and stale than bold and exciting. “Red Hood” is another of the unfortunately few episodes where it was obvious this show has a hidden potential that we should all hope it can hit more often.
+ Mooney’s third option
+ Reggie’s double-surprise
+ Red Hood shenanigans
– Barbara hanging with Ivy and Selina
– Penguin relegated to sub-plot
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
GOTHAM REVIEWS:
S1, Ep. 16: “The Blind Fortune Teller”
S1, Ep. 15: “The Scarecrow”
S1, Ep. 14: “The Fearsome Dr. Crane”
S1, Ep. 13: “Welcome Back, Jim Gordon”
S1, Ep. 12: “What the Little Bird Told Him”
S1, Ep. 11: “Rogues’ Gallery”
S1, Ep. 10: “Lovecraft”
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“