SummaryBefore he was Commissioner James Gordon (Ben McKenzie), he was a young detective, partnered with the legendary policeman Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue). Their first case together is the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne, where Gordon first meets young Bruce Wayne.
SummaryBefore he was Commissioner James Gordon (Ben McKenzie), he was a young detective, partnered with the legendary policeman Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue). Their first case together is the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne, where Gordon first meets young Bruce Wayne.
The quality of these first two episodes signals a level of consistency which season one was lacking, and while it may not have dramatically altered itself, enough has been improved that it deserves a second chance and should remain a must-watch weekly piece of television for those who are fully engrossed in this prequel.
True, Gotham has more than its share of monologuing villains and expository or portentous lines (Lee to Gordon: “You wanna be a cop so bad you'll break the law?”), but it undercuts those conventions often enough to make them feel like a conscious homage, not just clunky writing.
Holy **** ! Just finished watching this season. Such a good season. The story is much more interesting than the first one. Amazing screenplay and writing, Visuals are on point and the music is much more deep and atmospheric.
The irony is that this is set in the Batman Universe, but it's so much better than all of the batman movies >.<
Must watch for anyone
Without exception this is the single greatest series to come out of the new focus on comics over the last decade or so. While the first season focused on the city and the police, with James Gordan as the main character, and his relationship with his partner, his attitudes to corruption, and his attempts to police through a city controlled by organised crime... this season takes all that and builds on it perfectly.
The tone and style remains as we explore the character of Gordan being repeatedly tested and slowly breaking as he realises he can't police in Gotham without becoming corrupt himself. This alone would make for a stellar series but it was actually the secondary plot for the most part.
The primary focus is looking at the villains of Gotham, as it takes the characters of 'The Penguin', 'The Riddler', Theo Galavan who is likely to be revealed as another major villain (my guess being 'Ra's al Ghul'), and more. Each of these characters are explored in depth and show shocking arcs that are entertaining and at times disturbing. There's a distinct psychological horror aspect to the show as more and more people who are clearly mentally ill take centre stage and start to effect the direction of the city. This slow shift moves the focus of the show from a crime-noir style to a unique psychological-noir that takes elements from psychological thriller and mixes it with the film-noir aesthetic to provide something truly special.
Without giving away spoilers it's difficult to discuss the show any further, but suffice to say it's one of the most compelling shows I've ever seen; and watching multiple characters crumble to madness, even the "good guys" in their own way is extremely addictive to watch.
The show is still subject to the freak-of-the-week formula that so pervasively plagues comic book series, and its treatment of the criminally insane remains more criminally over-the-top than in Gotham's peer programs (Arrow and The Flash, most notably). On the whole, though, Gotham's second season debuts as strong as--if not stronger than--the series premiere, encouraging those who stuck with the hammy inaugural season to settle in for the long haul.
With so much hammy and hollow hideousness running wild, Gotham needs its heroes to provide some grounding and winsome humanity. But the fixation with villainy--with anti-heroic postures--extends to them, as well.
There's a much sharper focus and clearer sense of direction.... [However,] Gotham remains fundamentally unbalanced, and there doesn't seem to be a solution short of a time jump that DC Comics would likely never allow.
Enters Dr. strange, a further unveiling/ expansion of season ones characters, Mr. freeze, butch and his unlikely new ally, the emergence of the riddler, a frenzy of converging plots, and the penguin (hobble-pot) solidifying his base……the writers are top tier, the sequence of events well placed therefore well thought out, the suspense (terribly suspenseful), and my attention……well, they had me from the beginning!
This show is just awesome. I'm always surprised by what is going to happen next. This is not Batman!!! This is better than Batman ever was. It's always shocking what the characters do or not do.
The perfect series became just another story about Batman and its villains, maybe that's what it was since the beginning, but somehow they made it look like it could be something different. Well, it is not different at all, and it makes me really sad.
Season 1 was all Penguin and in Season 2 we've moved away from Oswald Cobblepot and onto to the other characters in the Batman universe. And unfortunately it just doesn't entertain as much as it should or even could. It feels weak and lifeless when Penguin isn't on the screen. Especially Master Bruce.. He and his mini characters are a bore. Alfred, Nygma, Bullock are good everything else is only fair.
Season 2 of Gotham is still the entertaining mess that Season 1 was. While things get darker this time around, the lack of consistency in terms of quality of the episodes is a put off.