Director: Danny Cannon
Writer: Bruno Heller
Cast: Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Robin Lord Taylor, Sean Pertwee, Jada Pinkett Smith, Camren Bicondova, Erin Richards, Cory Michael Smith, Zabryna Guevara and John Doman
Synopsis: Detectives Gordon and Bullock investigate a child trafficking ring preying on Gotham’s street kids, including Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova). Meanwhile, Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) resurfaces in the countryside and begins to make his way back to GOTHAM.
Verdict:
So here we are, two weeks in to what was arguably the most anticipated television event of 2014. It seems strange to think that this time two years ago we were still overthinking and overanalysing the highly publicised ending to Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed DARK KNIGHT trilogy. Now, with that awfully big bat-shadow looming over Gotham before it even began, is the show performing as expected on the second episode of its maiden season? (tantalisingly titled ‘Selina Kyle’).
The first episode of Gotham had given itself quite a bit to establish before Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock set off to clean up their city’s messy streets. Thankfully however, the busy and jam-packed world-building of the pilot has been pushed aside in favour of a slightly smaller episode that allows it characters to grow in a much better light. Although pretty much every character from the shows first episode is present in ‘Selina Kyle’, most of them are reduced to small cameo roles in order to focus on our incredibly handsome leading man Ben McKenzie. The plot of this weeks adventure does appear to be largely filler, but it seems that it may contain elements that carry through to future episodes of the season. Gotham‘s second episode revolves around the mystery of a couple that are kidnapping homeless children for a seemingly unknown (but deadly) purpose.
As you can probably guess from the synopsis, this episode allows us to get a much better look at Camren Bicondova’s future Catwoman, Selina Kyle. Although what you probably wont guess is that a better ‘look’ is all we really get, as Bicondova doesn’t actually utter her first words until half way through the story. Visually the young actress is a brilliant fit for those big shoes previously filled by Michelle Pfeiffer, Anne Hathaway and erm…Halle Berry. However, we have yet to actually get a good idea of what Bicondova will bring to the role other than an athletic teenager with a very stylish dress sense. But, with all this said, the brief bits of dialogue we do get from our new Selina Kyle towards the episodes climax, show a lot of promise for the shows upcoming episodes. Bicondova may not be quite as talented as her fellow young thespian David Mazouz (the young Bruce Wayne), but she does tease just enough potential to keep me interested in her violent young cat-burglar.
Speaking of Mazouz, it appears that Bruno Heller is understandably giving some serious attention to young Wayne’s transformation into the future Dark Knight. The idea that Bruce began to self-harm after his parents murder is a very interesting concept, which sheds light on an area of his life previously untouched by other media adaptations. This also allows the audience to follow the relationship of Bruce and Alfred Pennyworth as it blossoms into the father/son bond we all know and love. Sean Pertwee should also be commended for his harder representation of Alfred, as a post-military man with little-to-no knowledge of fatherhood, which therefore gives Gotham a wonderful canvas to work with in terms of character development.
The question remaining for next weeks episode is whether or not Selina really knows who killed Thomas and Martha Wayne, or if the sneaky feline is pulling a fast one on our favourite detective. Hopefully it will also allow the extremely talented Donal Logue to expand upon his so-far one dimensional Harvey Bullock, and tricky dynamic he has with his new partner. McKenzie once again carries the show on his very capable shoulders, as I suspect he will do for the foreseeable future. But, Gotham‘s psychotic villains Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), will no doubt continue to intrigue viewers with their carefully unveiling performances of the city’s most terrifying inhabitants. One also has to wonder what the Penguin is really planning for his big return to Gotham City, and whether he will take over the criminal underworld sooner rather than later. Overall, the episode is much slower in terms of action and suspense, but brilliantly builds on the pilot’s characters well enough to keep people watching for the next few weeks at least.
[usr=3] Gotham airs on Channel 5 every Monday night at 9pm. Check out their official website here.
