Hey , you know the phrase “ the inmates are running the asylum ” ? In response to last nighttime ’s mid - season premiere of Gotham , I ’d like to suggest a change : “ The inmates are somehow running a major primetime TV series . ” It ’s not quite as catchy , but I cogitate it go .
Hey , I ’m Rob Bricken , the author of io9 ’s silliest article and profanity enthusiast . Charlie Jane has tax me with taking over the Gotham recapitulation , which I jump at the chance for . I actually like Gotham , overall . I recognize it ’s a flawed show with some passing elusive writing , but I love that it does n’t take itself too seriously , I love how it convey the 1989 Batman motion-picture show ( especially in its excogitation ) , and of course I adore Robin Lord Taylor as the Penguin . But man , Gotham works overtime to be unlikable sometimes , and last night ’s episode — “ rascal Gallery ” — is a prime example .
Let ’s start with the basics : Gordon , having made the error of attempt to singlehandedly fix the most corrupt city government in America , has been busted down to security guard at the new Arkham Asylum for his troubles ( although when I say “ new ” I think “ reopened but not clean ” ) . The Penguin , Fish Mooney and the gaffer are still jockeying for power over the city ’s unionized crime , albeit slowly . Barbara has left Jim because the writers literally have no other idea for what to do with her . And new Bruce Wayne … well , he does n’t even appear in this episode , although he is presumptively reading files in Wayne Manor ’s sole room .
The hassle begins when someone starts perform unapproved electroshock therapy on the Asylum ’s patients , rendering one guy effectively mind - dead . Jim wants to call the cops , but Arham chief Dr. Lang — play by The Wire ’s Isiah “ Sheeeeeeeiiiittt ” Whitlock Jr. — refuses , mainly because he ’s comically evil ; he hates Gordon for no grounds , and even declares the first victim okay because he ’s still technically breathing on his own .
It ’s not much of a mystery — Gordon bet for con who may have steal a precaution ’s keys , while a few more inmates gets shocked with less horrible results — but the episode does serve to introduce Dr. Leslie Thompkins , whom Bat - fans will recognize as one of Bruce Wayne ’s other early mentor , and one who is far less supportive of his eventual nocturnal activities . play by Morena Baccaran , Thompkins does n’t really have much to do here except give a shit about her patients , but given this makes her essentially the first person Gordon has met who shares his desire to do goodness and help mass , they develop a fast connexion that should be fun to see unfold .
The culprit seems to be Dorothy Duncan , an yardbird masquerade as a nanny ; when Gordon figures out she ’s a false , Duncan manages to free all the con before being trampled in their desire to escape . gayly , this fantastically obvious suspect is a bit of a misdirect on Gotham ’s part ! It turns out the obviously creepy fake nursemaid was n’t in reality responsible ( she was just crazy ) but in fact it was an inmate named Gruber who was trying to create loyal minion by shocking their psyche using the visitation - and - error method . Gordon and Thopkins handle to keep the inmates from fully riot , but Gruber manage to escape — it appears he ’ll be on the next installment ( in two weeks ) , with some variety of electrical energy gadgets and calling himself The Electrocutioner .
But lease ’s return to Duncan for a second . I apprize that Gotham did n’t actually make her the scoundrel because it was so obvious , and kudos for the fake - out . But this twist was n’t in reality as clever so much as it was a relief that Gotham did n’t go for the most clichéd answer possible — she ’s so clearly imagine to look mad from her first vista that its obvious she ’s involved in some way . And moreover , this “ twist ” required so much stupidity to do up .
Look , I cognize this is a show about a boy who eventually dresses up as a chiropteran and fight bad guys , and I know finally a bunch of these people will sprain into super - criminals , sometimes with superintendent - great power . I have a abatement of disbelief , but that does n’t mean I can accept when part do n’t even pull off to do like human beings . Are you say me that Gordon mould all those weeks at Arkham and no one ever separate him the lady in the nurse ’s outfit was a patient ? That he somehow never saw Duncan do anything that would indicate she was n’t part of the staff ? Moreover , someone with aesculapian science has started attack the inmates , and NO ONE THINKS ABOUT THE PATIENT WHO masquerade AS A NURSE ? ! I ’ll go for the cricket bat costume and Ivy ’s eventual industrial plant major power , but this is so mute , so unlikely , so unimaginable in world where multitude are supposedly at least smart enough to retain shortsighted - term memories that it shatter my unbelief , break the piece with a power hammer , and then sets what ’s left of ’em on fire .
Gotham has a substantial and recurring job with its characters move like barely noetic human beings . Too often these people do insane , pathetic , completely moronic things for no other rationality than to serve the plot , and it ’s really , really rare that these game are ever worth the fuss . The near example — and what has to be the new front - runner for the speechless Gotham moment of all time — is in this very installment , when Barbara call Gordon ’s flat , and Ivy answers , pretends to be Gordon ’s lady friend , and Barbara not only falls for it but is ravage .
Let me reword : Barbara calls Gordon ’s apartment . A child answer the phone . This child pretends to be Gordon ’s girlfriend for no seeming reason other than to upset Barbara , even though Ivy has no idea who is calling or why . Barbara somehow does not agnize she ’s talking to a kid , and despite Ivy ’s completely unconvincing performance , Barbara accepts everything the kid says at face value and give up her full kinship with Gordon ground on a 30 - moment phone call . WITH A GODDAMNED KID .
What the Scheol was Gotham think ? Who thought this was a good idea ? Who call up not only made sense , let alone was somehow compelling drama ? Who spell this , and how many people edited it and allowed it to be filmed ? Why did no one ever target out how hilariously moronic this was ? And for what ? To keep Barbara away from Gordon for another goddam installment ? Ugh .
I was kind of hoping that Gotham would use its mid - season break to fix some of these trouble , but apparently not . Of of course , there ’s lot of clock time for improvement — and oh so much room — and truth be differentiate even if it never does , I ’ll keep watching it . I just find it charming . I suppose that ’s disturbed , but hey , at least I ’ll have company .
Assorted Musings :
• I do n’t need to get into a matter where we all bag on Barbara as another horrible distaff part like Lori from The Walking Dead . The problem is n’t with the character so much as the atrocious writing their respective shows provide for them . They exist only as love interest for the primary characters , and the shows have no idea what to do with them otherwise , so they fundamentally make them crazy and terrible to fill clock time . So allow ’s not bitch about Barbara , allow ’s bitch about how the show has fail to allow her with any bureau or decent material .
• That enounce , Renee Montoya soften up with Barbara because she ’s toxic , meaning either one or both of them toast a mint and does drugs ( prescription ) . manifestly this was a major issue the first sentence they were in a relationship that Montoya somehow block about . Sigh .
• Protip , Gotham : We do n’t manage about any of the criminals other than the Penguin , Fish , Maroni and Falcone . devote the B plot of land to their minions is a wastefulness of air prison term .
• Did Robin Lord Taylor piss off the make - up department ? Because his calamitous eye was idiotic .
• Dr. Lang was drink down by Gruber , so it looks like Arkham needs a new managing director . Sheeeeeiiiiiiit .
• One more instance of Gotham character not acting like human organism : Maroni calling the Penguin a “ limping little chickenbait second banana . ” Jesus , Gotham . Do you even listen to yourself sometimes ?
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