Gotham Review: “Selina Kyle”

Gotham did little to make me a fan this week, though some of the characters have potential. I wish an episode entitled “Selina Kyle” had featured more of, you know, Selina Kyle.

Title: “Selina Kyle”

Directed by Danny Cannon
Written by Bruno Heller

Ben McKenzie as Detective James Gordon
Donal Logue as Detective Harvey Bullock
Camren Bicondova as Selina Kyle
David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne
Robin Taylor as Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot
Zabryna Guevara as Captain Sarah Essen
Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth
Erin Richards as Barbara Kean
Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney
Lili Taylor as Patti
Carol Kane as Gertrud Kapelput
Frank Whaley as Doug
Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma
John Doman as Carmine Falcone
Richard Kind as Mayor Aubrey James
Victoria Cartagena as Renee Montoya
Andrew Stewart-Jones as Crispus Allen
Wayne Duvall as Morry Quillan
Kyle Massey as Macky
Joey Starr as Arbogast
Michel Angelo Milano as Lazlo

Full cast and crew information may be found at the imdb

Premise

There’s trouble in Gotham City.

High Points

The episode became most interesting when the future Penguin and Catwoman took centre stage.

Low Point

The forced conflicts between Gordon and Bullock were laughably overdone, despite the actors’ best efforts. Jada Pinkett Smith is the wrong actress in the wrong part speaking terribly silly dialogue– with her teeth.

The Scores:

Originality: 2/6

Effects: 5/6

Acting: 4/6 This week’s villains were interesting, if deliberately overdone. Taylor, Bicondova, and Doman are right for their parts. The detectives must struggle with some really bad dialogue, and the belief that shouting equals emotional intensity.

Story: 3/6 The pilot forced too much story into too little space, but at least it had a story. The second episode drops us into story arc overkill too soon. Nothing feels complete, and none of it is interesting enough on its own.

Emotional Response: 3/6 I enjoyed seeing Cobblepot’s mother, who has an established presence in Batman’s history.

Production: 6/6 Production remains high.

Overall: 4/6 Gotham: the city so corrupt, people can kidnap and murder in plain view, while driving a clearly-marked van. It makes me wonder if Falcone’s people wear jackets with Cosa Nostra across the back.1

In total, “Selina Kyle” receives 27/42

Notes

1. With a tip of the hat to Neal Stephenson.

3 replies on “Gotham Review: “Selina Kyle””

  1. The episode definitely needed more Selena Kyle and less Fish Mooney. Every episode should have less Fish Mooney. Zero Fish Mooney is the ideal amount of Fish Mooney.

    The dynamic duo of kid-nappers (high five) was a bit over-the-top, perhaps that will be explained better… I like Lily Taylor, it’s a shame that Almost Human got canceled.

    Gordon’s reaction to the guy falling down the well was nice…

    Anyone else notice the big and bright green Q on the side of a building during one of the “city flyby” in between shots?

    Penguin and his Mom were good, and Cat. The bits with Bruce and Alfred seemed a bit off though. Like they shoved it there because they couldn’t figure out how else to squeeze him in.

    I would love to see in the next 3 episodes:
    Penguin returns, in some sort of disguise so Gordon doesn’t get outed
    Penguin kills Fish Mooney, preferably in a way that stops her from talking first
    Penguin’s mom becomes the new crime boss instead of him.

    It’ll never happen, but hey… maybe someone is watching us.

    /You’re welcome, Fox.

    • Was name recognition so important to them? Less-than-adequate performance aside, I cannot believe Smith’s character as a female underboss / captain. The show’s Kittygirl version of Selina Kyle would tear her to pieces in a fight.

  2. I take solace in the fact that in Batman canon, Falcone is still around. and there is no such person as “Fish Mooney” (seriously…wtf is up with that name? maybe…penguins eat fish? but if they’re setting that up…I refuse to even think it. it’s too…ugh.)
    all in all, though, I liked this one better than the first one. there was much less “wink wink” crap. hopefully they’ve gotten that all out of the way.

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