The Review at the End of the Universe
Heroes Rise finale: “Destiny Calling” and “HeavyDirtySoul” Gotham ends season 3 with many characters questioning their identity: those having been infected with the virus supposedly seeing their real selves; those caught up in the chaos seeing what they’re made of in the face of it. Some of these questions definitely had a greater effect on…
“Heroes Rise: All Will Be Judged” It feels like last week’s episode of Gotham was more of a setup for this week’s rather than something I could enjoy on its own merits. This week the strength of The Plot Force (the force that makes characters make out-of-character or silly decisions to suit the needs of the…
“Heroes Rise: Light the Wick” Gotham returns this week to the too-many-characters problem of season 1 but worse, manages to undermine most of the episode’s plot by removing all purpose and meaning from character interactions. As we sometimes still see with this show the needs of the plot can seem to outweigh the needs of…
“Heroes Rise: The Primal Riddle” I do like to understand the episode and arc titles Gotham uses, if only because it helps overcome my concern I might be missing something important in an episode. I confess to being slightly unsure what ‘The Primal Riddle’ is though. Is the prime question one of who we are…
“Heroes Rise: These Delicate and Dark Obsessions” The rise of heroes in Gotham season 3’s final arc still seems more of a future promise than a present event. Certainly Bruce is moving into his training in earnest but it’s difficult to see how Jim’s upcoming dance with the Court of Owls will make him a…
“Heroes Rise: How the Riddler Got His Name” So Gotham is set to finish season 3 with a rising force of heroes to counter the preceding Rise of the Villains. But this would appear to be a promise at this stage, given that the latest episode focuses so much on The Riddler – unless Lucius…
“Mad City: The Gentle Art of Making Enemies” Gotham’s second mid-season finale this winter presents a villain-off between Jerome and Nygma. In a competition of scheming, both have emotional issues to resolve, Adam-West-era kill devices and an image to sell. All in all I thought this delivered a very good episode but almost entirely through Jerome, who…
“Mad City: Smile Like You Mean It“ So Jerome Valeska officially returns in Gotham season 3’s January mini-arc. He’s not officially the Joker yet, so Jerome being an inspiration for a future Joker is still possible, technically, but is there enough evidence now to suggest that it’s just a matter of time before Jerome wants a proper…
“Mad City: Ghosts” Gotham season 3 returns for a 3-episode arc before another long break with ‘Ghosts’, digging up the past with Oswald’s father, Selina’s mother and for Gotham City itself with Jerome Valeska, who might end up being the Joker after all? When I heard that we were just getting a short plot arc…
“Mad City: Beware the Green-Eyed Monster” I wonder if the Gotham mid-season finale has split its audience’s opinion based on people’s preferred character. If you don’t think Gotham should have a Batman then you’re never going to like the amount of time given over to Bruce and Selina this week. Thing is, I thought theirs’…
