Don't "Knock" GOTHAM

Article originally published as GOTHAM Review Knock, Knock on Seat42F.

GOTHAM: (L-R) Gordon (Benjamin McKenzie) and Captain Essen (Zabryna Guevara) in the Rise of the Villains: “Knock, Knock” episode of GOTHAM ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Nicole Rivelli/FOX.

 

As good as GOTHAM’s sophomore premiere is, the second installment, “Knock, Knock,” is even better. Gordon (Ben McKenzie) attempts to get Bullock (Donal Logue) to come back to work, but his former partner resists the force, happy at home with his fiancé, Scottie (Maria Thayer). Meanwhile, Bruce (David Mazouz) and Alfred (Sean Pertwee) clash in a big way, and Galavan (James Frain) coaches his crew, though will he be able to control them for long?

“Knock, Knock” is the episode in which The Joker breaks out in a big, big way. While it’s true that the moniker has yet to be uttered, there is no mistaking whom Jerome Valeska (Cameron Monaghan, Shameless) is as he gives a chilling, insane performance. Jerome is the villain who surprises, and the one who is hard to predict and understand. His slaughter at the police headquarters is maybe the darkest thing GOTHAM has done thus far, and it sets him up to be the most dangerous personality in a city choked with dangerous personalities, the first to truly give The Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) a run for his money. I think if Galavan tries to continue to control Jerome, Galavan will not be long for GOTHAM.

I am disappointed to see so many officers get up off the floor at the end of “Knock, Knock.” It is plenty clear that Jerome and his men are not taking prisoners, and while I’ll forgive them for missing Leslie (Morena Baccarin), who hid, and Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), who heroically saved Ms. Kringle (Chelsea Spack), it doesn’t seem like they are leaving many alive at the time of the assault. I can’t help but wonder if the network required the shot of officers standing up to make the whole thing seem less violent for a broadcast network airing. It takes away from the brutality of the attack a bit. But that’s really the only weak spot in an otherwise outstanding episode.

Of course, Jerome’s actions prompt Bullock to return to work, which is super necessary. Essen’s (Zabryna Guevara) death is tragic, but it is also meaningful. We know Gordon and the police force have to be losing the struggle before Batman eventually shows up on scene, and “Knock, Knock” is the first big victory we see for the baddies. By losing Essen, the good side will galvanize and the war should begin to become all-out in the near future.

Speaking of Batman, I still can’t believe GOTHAM won’t show the caped crusader. It is true that Bruce is very young, but he already has Alfred training him and Lucius Fox (Chris Chalk) helping him set up the Batcave. We are in early stages of a superhero here, and I think we need a teenage Batman to enter and join the fight by season three or four. He can train with Ra’s over summer hiatus, no?

I am incredibly surprised at how far Barbara (Erin Richards) has fallen. Hanging around with villains is one thing, but “Knock, Knock” finds her taking an active, willing role in their nefarious deeds. She lures Gordon out of the precinct, allows him to be beaten up, then jumps on his chest and kisses him. She’s not only evil, she also seems crazy. This means that when she claims to ‘not be sick,’ she could very be wrong, and there’s still a chance that, with proper counseling, she could come back to him. But right now, that seems a far-off prospect.

GOTHAM has a lot of personalities to juggle, and the more they add, the less time the others get. Yet, the way “Knock, Knock” manages to serve Essen, Gordon, Bullock, Nygma, Bruce, Alfred, Barbara, and Jerome all so well proves how the writers have become quite adept at balancing everyone. With so much packed into a single episode, the possibilities open in the twenty episodes left this year are many, not to mention the multiple years this show should get in the future. With smart pacing and expertly woven complex webs, GOTHAM has the potential to be around for a long time, and deserves to be if it can keep up what it’s already doing.

GOTHAM airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Burn Notice is "Under the Gun" and I like it

USA's Burn Notice continues its bold sixth season with "Under the Gun." Michael (Jeffrey Donovan), Jesse (Coby Bell), and Sam (Bruce Campbell) are following a lead when the encounter Rebecca (Kristanna Loken, Painkiller Jane, The L Word), the member of Michael's CIA team that betrayed him. Rebecca takes Sam hostage, leading Michael and Jesse on a dramatic, high stakes chase.

Applause to Burn Notice for continuing to chuck case of the week over interesting, longer story arcs! The return of Rebecca comes at the perfect time! Like Michael, Anson (Jere Burns) has some leverage over her, meaning there will have to be at least another episode where Michael and company try to help her. It's a worthy development, continuing the Anson plot, and finally raising the stakes of the series.

"Under the Gun" is pretty cool. It's not the first time we've seen Sam in danger, but he makes an entertaining hostage. His interactions with Rebecca are fun enough, but with that hint of danger that keeps the pace moving and the episode enticing.

Also, seeing Rebecca match wits with Michael and Jesse, with neither really gaining an advantage for quite awhile, is pretty neat. As the stories have gotten better on Burn Notice, so too have the villains. In this episode, not only does the bad guy get to be complex, not really being all that bad, but she's also smart, testing Michael on many levels. It's this kind of writing that will keep fans coming back to Burn Notice, and frees it of any age curse.

There might also be hints here of how Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) raises Michael's game. Without her, he has seemed a little lost. He doesn't bring the firepower she frequently supplies, and he's distracted. Donovan's acting may not be flawless when he has to dig into sorrowful emotions, but it's effective and appropriate for the character. Having Fiona in jail is doing a number on Michael, which might explain why he can't quite stop Rebecca throughout "Under the Gun."

In the subplot, Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) make a friend in prison named Ayn (Zabryna Guevara, 3 lbs.). It's clear that someone, most likely Anson, really wants Fiona dead, and the would-be assassins keep coming. To stop the latest pair, Fiona asks Ayn to orchestrate a shake down, which she does, building a little trust among the two women.

It comes not a moment too soon. Fiona is marked for death, and how long can she keep it at bay? Sure, she's stopped a couple of attempts thus far, but people are just going to keep trying to take her out. Having Ayn in her corner makes it a little more difficult to get to Fiona.

As Fiona's part of the bargain with Ayn, she must have a package delivered to the prison. This is easier said then done, which Madelaine (Sharon Gless) discovers when she attempts to retrieve it from Ayn's ex. She leaves with a black eye. Poor Maddie! She needs more good story, and when she gets some, one would prefer not to see her beat up during it.

Of course, Michael avenges his mom in a very serious fashion, letting some anger boil over. It's a testament, once more, to how much he misses Fiona. Yes, Michael will not let anyone mess with his mother and get away with it. But he's also on edge because of the situation, making him less predictable.

Going forward, surely Fiona will be freed before she is killed. But until that point is reached, how far will Michael go? How much will he break down? These are the questions driving the current batch of episode, and they are doozies, to be sure!

Watch Burn Notice Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on USA.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Read every Burn Notice review I've ever written. Article first published as Burn Notice is "Under the Gun" and I like it on TheTVKing.com