For better or worse, a successful episode of Gotham is contingent on its crime-of-the-week. In “Red Hood,” Gotham handles this task with grace, putting forward an uncommonly exceptional episode of television. Gotham has a serious problem with corruption. We’ve seen bits and pieces of how this affects its citizens—corrupt police, mob influences and rampant unchecked crime. This […]
Gotham: “The Blind Fortune Teller” Review
Circuses get a bad rap on television. They are associated with horrible misfortune and dark, disturbing secrets. Maybe it’s because many people are afraid of clowns, or because circuses were plagued with scandals for a very long time. Whatever the reason, it is rare to see a circus depicted in a wholesome light. Gotham is no exception. […]
Gotham: “The Scarecrow” Review
Gotham, at this point, feels like a bad CW show circa 2006. It is so full of melodrama, moody stares and juvenile exposition that I’m amazed the show got picked up for a full second season. I had so much hope back when previews for Gotham started, but each week, the show brings us new and exciting […]
Gotham: “The Fearsome Dr. Crane” Review
Fear is a powerful emotion. It renders some people unable to leave their house, while others jump out of planes and off bridges to confront fear head-on. On this week’s episode of Gotham, Dr. Jonathan Crane (Charlie Tahan) prefers that people deal with their fears in a more deadly manner. Dr. Crane spends his time targeting victims in support […]
Gotham: “Welcome Back, Jim Gordon” Review
“Welcome Back, Jim Gordon” sounds like the title of an episode all about Jim Gordon’s return to the GCPD. And it is… sort of. Gordon is back as the do-good detective who wants to straighten Gotham up. But instead of the support of his fellow peers, he once again experiences the city’s internal corruption. So much for […]
Gotham: “What the Little Bird Told Him” Review
Gotham is frustratingly inconsistent. “What the Little Bird Told Him” is a decent episode, much better than last week’s, but still unsure in its footing. Gordon (Ben McKenzie) manages to get himself reinstated as detective by promising to catch the escaped Executioner (Christopher Heyerdahl), while Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett-Smith) finally makes her move against Falcone (John […]
Gotham: “Rogues’ Gallery” Review
The holidays brought about rest, relaxation and new beginnings. This fresh start did not rejuvenate everything, however. As I was afraid would happen based on its fall finale, Gotham’s return episode, “Rogues’ Gallery,” perpetuates the series’ fractured structure and unclear overarching story. This episode is a perfect example of showrunner Bruno Heller’s inability to balance its crime-drama ambitions […]
Gotham: “Lovecraft” Review
When I saw the first previews for Gotham, I was interested to see how the villains and city of Batman’s world came to be. But week after week, the show has delivered little backstory for its protagonist, an underdeveloped Gotham and a largely unengaging supporting cast. Frustratingly, the character who receives the most attention each week is Bruce Wayne: the person we […]
Gotham: “Harvey Dent” Review
“Harvey Dent” is a decent episode. Both Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova) and Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) receive modest character development and crime-of-the-week continues on along the show’s theme of misunderstood villains. Where it falls short is in its portrayal of titular character Harvey Dent (Nicholas D’Agosto) and in its adherence to the mob wars that are inevitably […]
Gotham: “The Mask” Review
It is important to stand up for what we believe in. Gotham is full of crime and corruption, but Gordon (Ben McKenzie) isn’t deterred by it. He wants to help and serve its citizens in any way he can. I do not have the same tenacity as Gordon, however. I cannot keep fighting for Gotham. After two strong […]
Gotham: “Penguin’s Umbrella” Review
When you cross Gotham’s biggest crime bosses, you pay the price. Gordon (Ben McKenzie) learns this lesson in Gotham‘s best episode to date. After the momentum from last week’s episode, “Spirit of the Goat,” Gotham is finally getting somewhere. “Penguin’s Umbrella” gets off to an explosive start. Pulse-pounding music overlays a scene where a desperate Gordon […]
Gotham: “Spirit of the Goat” Review
Greed is a disease. It festers and spreads throughout the body until you’re consumed with thoughts of money and power. For some, the One Percent needs a reality check. They argue there is no fairness in a tiny minority that holds all the wealth while the rest of us have to suffer. “Spirit of the Goat” takes […]
Gotham: “Viper” Review
Chemical warfare is terrifying. Imagining all of the different types of weapons that have and will be invented sends a shiver down the spine. So when a drug that gives the user the ability to rip someone apart with their bare hands was introduced on Gotham this week, my interest was piqued. As with “Arkham,” “Viper” continues to unravel the mystery connection between Wayne Enterprises […]
Gotham: “Arkham” Review
Each week of Gotham brings new disappointment. I want to like this show. I recommend it to people who ask my opinion. I try to get excited when Monday night rolls around and I always pray that the new episode will be the one to capture my love and adoration. After watching “Arkham,” I fear I hope in vain. […]
Gotham: “The Balloonman” Review
“The Balloonman” is an interesting episode, even if it doesn’t feature the action-packed punches I expected from the previews. The opening shot is beautiful. It features stunning cinematography that carries over throughout the episode. Director Dermott Downs and DP Tom Yatsko’s composition exposes the beauty Gotham while highlighting the crime and decay of the city. Downs and Yatsko treat us to a […]
Gotham: “Selina Kyle” Review
“Selina Kyle” opens with a shot of Bruce Wayne holding his hand over an open flame. Although clearly in pain, Bruce does remove his hand until Alfred (Sean Pertwee) comes into the room. Once Alfred realizes what Bruce is doing, he yells at the boy, only to immediately regret his outburst and instead wrap Bruce in a big […]
Gotham: “Pilot” Review
In the weeks leading up to Gotham, Fox put a lot of effort into marketing. The studio released an interactive version of the Thomas and Martha Wayne murder scene for fans to explore, as well as a site for the fictional newspaper, the Gotham Chronicle. But will that all pay off in ratings and critical acclaim? […]
