tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post6875083633162826123..comments2024-03-28T17:08:01.559-04:00Comments on Doux Reviews: Gotham: The Gentle Art of Making EnemiesBillie Douxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-7448197911303621732017-02-08T09:58:41.735-05:002017-02-08T09:58:41.735-05:00(Slaps own forehead) D'oh!(Slaps own forehead) D'oh!Diogohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09623198557097924154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-11083555843742809402017-02-08T06:16:52.348-05:002017-02-08T06:16:52.348-05:00Mark Hamill's*
Agree on the rest. :)Mark Hamill's*<br /><br />Agree on the rest. :)Patrykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13662838711958747484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-9847350881214570452017-02-07T15:29:54.909-05:002017-02-07T15:29:54.909-05:00Thomas, I would like to take this chance to point ...Thomas, I would like to take this chance to point out that these reviews (and your character analyses) are what brought me back to the show after I abandoned it in early season 2.<br /><br />I hope one day I'll see one of those brilliant character analysis of yours applied on Jerome :)<br /><br />At the risk of sounding controversial, I think Jerome might be the best live-action Joker ever. Yes, this might seem like a slight to Heath Ledger's magnum opus of acting, but hear me out: Ledger was absolutely PERFECT... as Christopher Nolan's Joker. But while Nolan's anarchist is the single best thing in The Dark Knight trilogy and it is 100% adequate to the universe he's in, I feel like Jerome is more quintessentially the Joker, regardless of the universe he's in. While Nicholson and Ledger were A version of the Joker, I feel like Cameron Monaghan magnificently encapsulates a little bit of all of them (including Mark Hamilton's animated version, which is THE definite version of the Joker for me regardless of being comic book, live-action or cartoon). Also, unlike Ledger, who generally speaking is always "serious", Monaghan is genuinely silly some times ("Fowl! He hit me! Did you see that?", as well as being very vain, all which I think it's a part of the Joker that wasn't as present in The Dark Knight.<br />The less said about Jared Leto the better.Diogohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09623198557097924154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-77318465458910029332017-02-04T02:56:08.125-05:002017-02-04T02:56:08.125-05:00Jerome is a brilliant Joker. I loved his fight wit...Jerome is a brilliant Joker. I loved his fight with baby Batman. The Ed/Ozzie stuff is not over. I like that Ozzie wouldn't give Ed up, thus frustating him with noble sentiments he did not think Ozzie had. <br />Their bromance will have more chapters in it. It's a match made in Gotham after all.<br />James Remar! Always a good, creepy actor.<br />great review as ever. I wnat to freeze myself and wake up in april too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-62463953979973776192017-02-02T16:22:00.605-05:002017-02-02T16:22:00.605-05:00Excellent review! I thought this was the best epis...Excellent review! I thought this was the best episode this season. Although I have to disagree regarding the Joker knowing Batman's identity being of no consequence. While I agree that the Joker and Batman are on the same page as far as Batman being Bruce Wayne's true identity goes so Batman would still be his ultimate target if he knew his secret identity. However superheroes have secret identities for a reason and that is to protect people in their lives. If the Joker knew Batman was Bruce Wayne he would do something like kill Alfred just to get to him. (By the way, does Wayne Manor have no security whatsoever? They really need a guard dog or something.)<br /><br />millicentcordelia, I completely agree that sidelining Jim was a great choice! That and keeping him with Harvey most of the time. I've missed their dynamic from the first season. It's really tragic how this show under-utilizes Donal Logue. ("You can say you punched a guy's face off!") Mariannahttp://www.mariannahorn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-72924465365488928432017-02-02T14:30:19.973-05:002017-02-02T14:30:19.973-05:00“this is the vehicle for Batman's first confro...“this is the vehicle for Batman's first confrontation with the Joker. There's no reason to mince words - Jerome is the Joker, and Bruce will be Batman. This is sold immaculately both by the show and the actors.”<br /><br />I agree, and I can’t imagine anyone coming up with any negative criticism of David, Cam, or anything that happened with/between the two characters. Even though this is Earth One, the makers of Gotham have been careful to keep Bruce’s essential history intact, and that’s a wise move. Even looking at all three seasons, this was one of the strongest episodes they’ve ever made, for this reason.<br /><br />Everything was stellar, from the production values, to the acting, the costuming, and the supporting roles played by others. We got to see more of Alfred, and how important he is, than we usually do, which is appropriate because he’s literally Bruce’s family.<br /><br />For once, someone made a good decision about what to do with Jim Gordon. He worked well in a smaller part, and it was a relief that they didn’t try to make him more important than he needed to be. His brief scenes with Harvey, Leslie, and sinister Uncle Frank were effective and to the point.<br /><br />“this proved to be a far better episode for fans of the Ed'n'Ozzie relationship than I suspected. This is because Ozzie did get through to him, and the show did not ridicule or demonize Oswald for his romantic feelings. “<br /><br />Agree there also, although this story line could have used some surprises where Barbara, Tabitha, and Butch were concerned. They’re all interesting characters, but they were little more than set pieces here. I was happy when they made Barbara a villain, but the last few episodes have portrayed her as being little more than power hungry; I’d like to see her re-gain some range.<br /><br />I was pleased that Oswald was allowed to grow as a person; his character became more complex, while Ed’s went in the opposite direction. It perplexes me that Ed has started suffering from “Jim Gordon Syndrome”-a complete lack of self-reflection that’s gone on for an entire season, with the exception of that one revelation that he might not be a good partner for Isabella because he might kill her-as he did with Kristen.<br /><br />The next episode is supposed to be all about Ed, and I hope they give us what they haven’t with Jim-a fleshed out backstory, and reasons to make the character a bit more sympathetic and relatable. Yes, he’s a villain, but as we clearly see with Oswald; the more complex the character, the more the audience will respond.<br /><br />This brings me to Gotham’s greatest strength and its greatest weakness. In a live action version of the Batverse, character development is the crucial glue that holds the production together. David’s portrayal of Bruce, Sean’s Alfred, Camren’s Selina- these are the characters that elevate Gotham, and make me want to keep watching. <br /><br />When the characters become two dimensional, the proceedings become boring. Gotham has fallen into this trap over and over, with a variety of promising characters.<br /><br />The worst has been Jim, who was supposed to be the protagonist of the show, After season one, they dug such a deep hole for this character, I’m not sure he can ever climb out. If they work hard enough, they might be able to repair the damage and make him someone the audience can actually like, and feel interested and invested in. Ben McKenzie is a capable actor, and I wish they’d give him a chance. Otherwise, moving him more and more into the background is the best move.<br /><br />Finally, the Court of Owls story- which has been kept on the back burner so long it’s nearly boiled away- needs to take on more importance in the rest of the season, or there was no point in having started it. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season, and hope it comes up to the bar that was set with this episode!<br /><br /><br /><br />millicentcordelianoreply@blogger.com