“Gotham” 2.2 – Knock Knock (9 out of 10) – Written by Bruno Heller and Megan Mostyn-Brown’ Based on characters created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Howard Chaykin, Frank Miller, Greg Rucka; Starring Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Sean Pertwee, Morena Baccarin, Erin Richards…; Rated TV14. Aired on Fox 09/28/15.
This week’s episode wasn’t perfect but it was definitely a step up from almost every episode last season. One of the biggest problems from season one was the shows need to always have every character in every episode even if they had no reason to be there. “Knock Knock” was missing one of the series biggest and most loved characters, Penguin. He was nowhere to be seen this week. I didn’t even realize he wasn’t in it until I sat down to write this review. This very simple fact is one of the greatest changes so far in the second season. Penguin wasn’t needed this week and that was okay we’ll catch up with him next time the plot needs him.
The other high note for this week is that the show got very violent and seemed more like the “Gotham” from the comics that inspired the show in the first place. Last week ended with a decapitated head and episode two followed that up by having a bunch of people thrown off a roof at the beginning of the episode just so the “Maniax” could send the city a message that they were there to cause chaos. The writers didn’t pull any punches either, a bus full of cheerleaders almost got burned to death and at the tail end of the episode the villains attacked the “GCPD” killing almost every cop that was there.
This season is shaping up to be the dark city that Bruce will feel the need to change. I’m also pleasantly surprised with Jerome (Cameron Monaghan) and Barbara (Erin Richards) so far. Clearly they are the shows version of “The Joker” and “Harley Quinn,” all debates aside, no I don’t think they really will become those characters but they certainly are channeling their spirits and it’s very entertaining to see the show’s version of them unfold.
Mongahan can cackle with the best of them and has impressed me in his role so far. Next to Penguin Jerome is becoming my favorite character. This is also the first time in the series that I’ve enjoyed watching Barbara. Richards has always done a good job in her role but I never really cared about her character and now I do. I’m excited to see what she does next and just how crazy she goes. The same can be said for Edward Nigma. In season one the character just seemed out of place and didn’t seem like a younger version of “The Riddler” other than the fact that he was obsessed with them. Everything changed after his first kill though and this season is exploring the darkness that comes with that act.
The pacing was still off a little bit this week, which is really the only thing that went wrong. We saw Bruce and Alfred go through a very quick arc where Alfred is fired after smashing the computer they found in the future Batcave; which he did to protect Bruce from whatever secret was hiding there and is most likely what got the Wayne’s killed in the first place. Then fast forward five minutes and Bruce has forgiven him and asked him to come back and train him and help get him ready for the path he has chosen. I would have liked to see another episode of Bruce trying to get by without Alfred before rehiring his old friend but the bond between them seems stronger now than it did before.
It’s still very early on in this season but so far I’m really enjoying the show. I can’t wait to see what the villains will do next and how Gordon will attempt to stop them. One thing I hated from season one was how every week there seemed to be a new villain. What I have always wanted from the series is reoccurring villains and that is exactly what we’re getting so far.
Only time will tell though, so until next week “Gotham” lovers and haters alike be sure to sound off in the comments below and let us know what you thought this week’s episode.