“Ha ha ha ha, hahaha, ha, ha, ha, oh, a-hee-hee, ha ha, oh, hee hee, hee ha, ahaha. I thought my jokes were bad” – Joker (2008)
Closing my eyes and reliving the amazing appearance of Heath Ledger’s performance, I must say Cameron Monaghan as “Jerome” is killing it.
Jerome’s transformation, head hanging low, then smoothly lifting up his boyish face into the ear-to-ear grin that is grimly nightmarish. What a fantastic flourish. On the same platform of true terror in Ed Kemper’s (Cameron Britton, Mindhunter) rise to form, all within a smooth shift of pitch in his voice. Chilling. I love it.
Scarecrow as an addled adolescent under the thumb of his mad scientist father who’s plagued by tragedy, is heartbreaking. Sympathy for the devil, or so it seems. Haunted by the ghoulish cloth faced crow has propelled his descent into despair. Well, it will be some time before he gains a hand in the power play among the higher ups. The shift toward becoming the facilitator of fear shaking the mental stability of his future victims will be interesting to see. Going to places they didn’t want to go, I’m sure. I can’t wait.
Sad but inevitable to watch as Bruce Wayne’s innocence slowly fades, yet, he must embody the hero Gotham needs. Along that journey, his anchor and push toward greatness comes from Alfred. A steady stillness within each storm, their bond is essential. Perilous parallels are strewn throughout when Selina challenges motives and methods to achieve justice and revenge.
Coup by Fish Mooney, her wielding of power and evolution into her new image is captivating, reminiscent of Sin City.
Ogre villain, creates an atmosphere of a darker 50 Shades of Grey. Once the victim becomes the prey closer to Gordon, it elicits more eminent danger. Whips, chains, dom vs sub, in this motif, it asks: who has control?
Beneath the guise of charm, the ugly on the inside cannot be eliminated. Viewers must remain vigilant in removing the illusion each character creates. You may guess and be wrong when deciding who can be trusted and who cannot.
Riddle from the Riddler: “I can give you the strength of heroes, or leave you powerless”
Ed Nygma – breakdown of boundaries into the maniacal state of mind. Voices are swirling around in his thoughts, and the way out of his mental maze seems masked. Thus, the onset of who he will ultimately become.
Kringle’s beau is the part of the puzzle that moves Nygma into irreversible decisions and conflicting choices. So it begins.
Precariously positioned, Alfred’s window into the past appears out of thin air, and he is rightfully suspicious. Friend or double-dealing foe? People change, or they reveal their true colors. Desperate moves must be made to quell the potentiality of this threat causing chaos.
Even the greatest leaders, most influential figures fall. Finale brings down powerful players in the games of Gotham, and it is fast paced plot to digest. Let’s get Season 2 rolling!
Season 2:
Who is this Theo Galavan?? Essential executioner unleashing Arkham’s most dangerous inmates. That much is clear. Duplicitous and double-crossing “diplomat” with an insatiable thirst for tyrannical terror, a volatile cocktail. Carrying on the legacy of the Dumas family history, cult following, enveloped in a mystical past. How will he move all the chess pieces to command and conquer? One pawn at a time. Strategy, intellect, and slaying without mercy.
Always remember: a narcissist is the hero or the victim, but never the villain. Or so they say. Charisma is the camouflage, proceed with caution.
Upon viewing Jerome, we gaze upward from low camera angles, signifying his rise to power. Loose cannon, unpredictability, manipulating the unstable ones is his overall aura.
Unsettling, unnerving, and undermining of any level of comfort Gotham once had. Spinning wildly out of control, never-ending nefarious plans, all upending into a world of horror.
Penguin is the crime lord usurper, with a horde of moxie-filled followers is taking shape. Crippled by the impending doom of his loving mother being held hostage elicits empathy from the audience. What’s fostering within his fragility and ferocity? Pay close attention to the flames that bring the dancing shadows across his narrow face. Roaring fireplaces in the background, something is burning inside his psyche. Demons are looming in the dark. And I like it.
Oswald’s pain is a double-edged dagger, if you will, and it cuts deep. Strange how we begin to mourn alongside the villain despite their acts of violence. When the innocent fall victim, it’s true heartbreak to witness and we are powerless to stop it.
Simultaneously, GCPD is being remodeled by a human tank. But at least Bullock is back! Ah, the voice of brutal honesty and expertly timed jocular jokes.
Most notable scene (so far): Fantastic ground level camera angles during the flame throwing fight. Amazing. Reflections of the climbing conflagrations within the ninja goggles depict the wickedness within. Once in the background, now in the forefront, burning a path of razed earth. No one flies out as a phoenix, Selina suffers.
Poor Edward, the answer to the riddle he didn’t want. Remnants of human nature fractured into fragments. A tragedy. Mr. Hyde overthrew Dr. Jekyll, illustrating his identity.
Emotional tone: How does evil emerge? Take away love, warmth, and a feeling of home. Stripped of any comfort, only cold, vindictive, and resentful hatred follows.
Improvements: Tighter network of storylines, steady pulse of tension, and overall emotionally charged fuel to the flow.
Who killed the Thomas and Martha Wayne? So much to struggle for this resolution, yet there are more questions than answers, poor Bruce.
As of right now: …not on team Barbara, per se, however, she is an Achilles heel for Jim.
Possible theme: Missing eyeballs are abundant! Perhaps this is a metaphor to those characters who only see half of what is happening and are blind to malevolent forces.
Revelation: Flightless bird given wings by The Riddler. In Penguin’s rebirth, the veil of his hateful exterior has been lifted. It hard not to be warmed over with empathy, sensing the weight of his sorrow. Oswald is a humbling human side. Be cautious, dissent into mania amidst this dastardly duo.
With great remorse, another Gothamite criminal causes a senseless death. Profoundly presents the consequence of maintaining morality. Gordon’s psyche is tormented.
To be continued…
Through the Looking Glass 