Director: Paul A. Edwards
Writer: John Stephens
Cast: Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Robin Lord Taylor, Sean Pertwee, Jada Pinkett Smith, Erin Richards, Camren Bicondova, Zabryna Guevara, Makenzie Leigh and John Doman.
Synopsis: Gordon and Bullock investigate a Gothamite who runs a deadly fight club for candidates applying to work at his financial firm. Meanwhile, Bruce returns to school and gets a visit from a new friend.
Verdict:
After last week’s pulse-pounding episode, things calm down a little bit for the show’s eighth episode. With Jim and Harvey now officially off Falcone’s hit list (for the moment), operations seemingly return to normal for the two brazen detectives. However, with the rest of the corrupt GCPD still firmly under the wing of Gotham’s criminal underworld, Jim’s relationship with his co-workers has become slightly awkward to say the least…
Unfortunately however, ‘The Mask’ tones down on the narrative devices that made ‘The Penguin’s Umbrella’ so interesting and engaging. With Mr Cobblepot easily the most exciting aspect of the series, one would assume that Gotham would utilise its largest attraction in a far more extensive manner after last weeks fantastic episode. Robin Lord Taylor’s slimy villain has captivated viewers from day one of DC Entertainment’s Batman prequel, and as a result has garnered huge amounts of attention from otherwise sceptical audience members. This is why it is disappointing to see that the Penguin has been side-lined for a largely filler story riddled (no pun intended) with numerous plot threads and unnecessary characters. Although this does not mean that Gotham‘s eighth episode is a complete waste of time, it is worth noting that it may confuse newcomers and individuals who have not been paying complete attention for the first seven adventures.
Jim and Harvey’s relationship is continuing to blossom nicely, after the two bonded as friends for the first time during their shared experience as fugitives last week. However, it is very clear that the episode is heavily geared towards healing the damaged relationship between Gordon and the rest of the GCPD. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does detract from the frantic, claustrophobic atmosphere of ‘The Penguin’s Umbrella’ which I enjoyed so much. Also, speaking of developing relationships between fresh partnerships, Bruce and Alfred finally begin to share some genuinely heart-warming moments of bonding in this weeks episode. After Bruce receives some cruel torment from a fellow student upon his return to school, Sean Pertwee’s Alfred displays his first signs of likeability since Gotham started. The current mentor and future-trainer allows Bruce to dish out some well-deserved revenge on the boy who insulted his dead mother, when he drives the young bat-kid to his front doorstep and witnesses the brutal beating without intervention. Aside from the fact that children surely aren’t that horrible in real life, this moment creates some beautiful bonding for Bruce and Alfred that we had yet to see until now.
With Alfred due to begin his training with Bruce in the coming weeks, we are starting to get a clearer picture of how the heartbroken orphan will transform into the future warrior we know him to be. However having said that, David Mazouz’s Bruce is definitely still quite a way off becoming the Dark Knight audiences are familiar with. All together ‘The Mask’ is a solid hour of television, however I hope to see the coming episodes focus more on Gordon’s on-going war with Gotham’s mobsters, and in particular the unsuspecting rise of the Penguin. I am also quite glad to see that Erin Richards’ Barbara has temporarily exited the show, as her character is beginning to get irritatingly two-dimensional. Although, the under-written nature of the Barbara is no reflection on the extremely talented Welsh actress, who will undoubtedly return at some point in the near future. It will also be exciting to witness the return of Selina Kyle next week, as well the highly anticipated debut of Harvey Dent (played by Nicholas D’Agosto).
[usr=3] Gotham airs on Channel 5 every Monday night at 9pm. Check out their official website here.
