After last week’s episode, ‘Beasts of Prey’ and even after Gotham has taken over a month out, sadly the show is still the same old drab it has always been. Yes, drab maybe a pretty harsh word it use, and thus a word one would ordinarily try to refrain from using in the same context as Batman; but this week's, Under the Knife offers us nothing we haven’t seen way back since episode one.
by Gloria Daniels-Moss
After last week’s episode, ‘Beasts of Prey’ and even after Gotham has taken over a month out, sadly the show is still the same old drab it has always been. Yes, drab maybe a pretty harsh word it use, and thus a word one would ordinarily try to refrain from using in the same context as Batman; but this week's, Under the Knife offers us nothing we haven’t seen way back since episode one.
Many shows have the same problem and invariably it’s down to the fact that many American TV series insist on writing over 20 episodes each season. Unless the story is worthy and engaging enough to be stretched over 20 hours of airtime, don’t allow for your show to jammed packed with filler episodes, full of clichéd and outright predictable storylines. Although following the same format, this episode presents us with a much darker chapter allowing the characters to really take their form. After chasing down Milo Ventimiglia’s Ogre, Detective Gordon continues his investigation (no change there then), as well as Bruce and Selina who are teaming up together in order to take down a corrupt Wayne Enterprises employee. Meanwhile, Ngyma saves the day and manages to rescue his oh-so-lovely Miss Kringles. I know what you are thinking, lots of exciting things are happening here – well kind of. They do manage to cram an awful lot into this 45 minutes and just as you think it’s redeeming itself, naff dialogue and overdone plotlines creep back onto the screen. The main issue with this show has to be its constant idiot proof pointing out who these characters will eventually morph into on the screen before us. We get it – he’s The Riddler and little spoilt brat Bruce Wayne will eventually be the vigilante known as Batman.
One thing that does have to be mentioned though, is how good the camera work and cinematography are at the Charity Ball. Barbara looked spectacular and the grandeur of the location was a visual feast for the eyes. Although, some appealing shots and costume design isn’t enough to hide all the niggling problems with this one. Not the most eye-rolling episode of Gotham, but certainly not what we were all hoping for, yet again. Considering we are very close to the finish line with one, it doesn’t bode well that the show has been granted a second chance at this famous comic book backstory with Season Two. Is this the Gotham that we all wanted? I think not.
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TV Editor: Graham Osborne
TVReviews on the best TV has to offer, as well as retrospective looks at the shows of yesteryear we miss so much. Email: [email protected]
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