The Review at the End of the Universe
“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…
“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: The Executioner” Though the central plot in this week’s Gotham was Jim Gordon’s chance to prove he’s serious about returning to the straight and narrow it was Ivy and Nygma’s plots that really caught my attention, not least because I was wrong about Isabella surviving her accident. I really thought that she was…
“Mad City: Blood Rush” Gotham finally gives Michael Chiklis something to do in season 3… by turning Barnes into Judge Dredd, replete with “I am the law” quote. Now, I’m assuming the actual idea is to make him into a villain called The Judge, possibly based on judge characters from the comics? My knowledge of…
“Mad City: Red Queen” Gotham’s season 3 plan for Jim comes to a head in ‘Red Queen’, forcing him to consider both his past and future actions. This is something I’ve been waiting to see for a while now. I’d thought it would come mostly through Barnes originally, then maybe through a villain and some…
“Mad City: Follow the White Rabbit” Love is still very much the theme in Gotham this week but whereas last week was virtually a Valentine’s Day episode, with everyone’s love life getting some screen time, this week it’s focused onto Jim and Oswald. Part of me is slightly glad of this as I feel I…
“Mad City: Anything for You” Love is in the air in Gotham this week. Bruce declares his feelings for Selina. Jim and Valerie are threatening to be more than just a hook up. Lee’s lost between two lovers. Even Tabitha’s showing her fondness for Butch again perhaps? It could easily have been a Valentine’s Day episode, twisted…
“Mad City: New Day Rising” I feel somewhat vindicated by this week’s Gotham, specifically by Selina’s quick deduction that Clone-Bruce was not who he claimed to be. Better still, the mistaken identity trope plot offered by Clone-Bruce’s appearance was resolved quickly and didn’t lead to too many ‘but why is Bruce doing that?’ faux-shock moments….
“Mad City: Look Into My Eyes” I feel that Gotham has now succumbed to the influence of those people who believe that “because the plot needs it, darling” is a good reason make a character do something – worse, something that seems quite out of character based on what we’ve seen so far. I can…
