Synopsis: The sudden death of a key witness has Gordon suspicious.
I’m still waiting on Gotham. Much like Jim Gordon, I believe in the city yet continue to be disappointed by some of its actions. When will it become what it can (and should) be?
Let’s rewind. There is a lot going on in this week’s episode, “Welcome Back, Jim Gordon.” We meet Flass, Nigma gets more screen time, Fish has an adventure, Gordon plays whodunnit and Bruce gets his first heartbreak. Whew! What an episode, right?
Eh.
The story with Flass was just too brief. I drooled a little bit when he was introduced, because I thought this would be a long arc that we would see play out for the rest of the season… not finish by the end of the hour! Don’t get me wrong, I thought the character was justified and served well, it just would have packed a bigger punch had he not been contained to one episode.
Gordon has a big task ahead of him. A man who has stepped up as a witness to a murder, is murdered and Gordon takes responsibility. That’s cool… but Ben McKenzie needs to tone it down a little. He tries to be too intense at times, which often comes off more comical than anything. Do you think he’s the one that helps Bruce get his growl?
Speaking of Bruce, Selina Kyle breaks his heart. This was the worst part of the episode BY FAR. Selina drives me crazy in this show for just about any reason you can think of.
On a few positive notes, Fish has a tale (not tail) to tell. She’s all over this week, getting captured, escaping, avoiding getting shot… it’s just Jada Pinkett Smith needs to get with McKenzie and tone it down a little bit. However, I didn’t mind her this episode.
Now to the main finale: Edward Nigma. Finally this guy is getting some screen time and I’m loving it! No one will top Robin Lord Taylor’s Penguin (another fantastic week from him) as the standout from this series, but Cory Michael Smith (what’s up with actors’ three names?) is coming in a close second. The writers behind the show are slowing starting to reveal what flips Nigma’s switch and I can’t wait to see him when it happens.
Overall, not a bad episode but not really a great one either… which has become my final word on Gotham so far. I see the potential and am waiting for it to turn it up, and stay there. But I haven’t given up on it, and neither should you.
Rating: 6.5 / 10
