Gotham (TV Series) Mad City: Better to Reign in Hell (2016) User Reviews

DC done right.

[fredschaefer-406-623204 · 8/10 · 19 September 2016]

For those who were not happy with the way the DC universe was handled in BATMANVSUPERMAN and SUICIDE SQUAD, and there are many millions of them, a new season of GOTHAM is back on the air to show them how it should be done. This Batman show without Batman really goes the extra mile to make the world of the Dark Knight come to life. They do this mainly by some spot on casting and scripts which, despite some clunky plotting, that gives us what the movies often lack-humor.

The season 2 finale saw the destruction of Indian Hill and the mass escape of Huge Strange's creations into the streets of Gotham City; the first episode of season 3 picks up a few months later, when these monsters, led by the returning Fish Mooney, are making their presence felt. Jim Gordon is now a bounty hunter, having failed to patch things up with Lee, spurning an offer to rejoin Commissioner Barnes's police force and making some scratch by tracking down Strange's creatures. Meanwhile, teenage Bruce Wayne has been away, secretly tracking down leads as to who was behind Indian Hills and using Wayne Enterprises as a cover. As usual, Bruce rushes head on into trouble and in the episode's final scene, gets kidnapped after poor Alfred takes a beating.

In between we catch up on all our favorite characters: Oswald Cobblepot is back where he needs to be, in charge of the Gotham underworld and determined to get Fish; Ed Nygma is still incarcerated; Barbara Kean is still seriously disturbed and running a nightclub with Tabitha Galavan, while poor lovelorn Butch still pines for Tabitha; Selina Kyle is working for Fish, a decision she is clearly starting to have second thoughts about, especially when her good friend Ivy runs afoul of Fish; Lucius Fox is working for the police now, where Harvey Bullock has gone back to being a detective with Barnes back in charge. Ethel Peabody turns up briefly before coming to a bad end when she can't tell Fish where to find Dr. Strange. That worthless mayor even shows his face and one of the more interesting plot threads from season 2's finale, Bruce's doppelganger shows up a couple of times, is he really Thomas Wayne Junior? It's one of the more interesting fan theories.

With all this catching up, there wasn't much time left for setting up the story arc for this season, except that the bad guys appear to be doing very well for themselves, besides Bruce being kidnapped, Jim gets knocked out while Barbara and Tabitha break very bad on some hoods trying to muscle in on their club. The Court of Owls appears to be in session and the fun has just begun.

A nice start for a long series!

[asb_deutsch · 7/10 · 5 July 2018]

Season 1 was average and boring, but Season 2 really pumped this series. I think Fish Mooney ruined Season 1. I like Valorie Vale (yummy!) , and she seems like an interesting addition as a reporter. This deserves a solid 7.

It's business as usual in Gotham as new villains rise and the countdown begins for when Jim will take them down.

[Amari-Sali · 7/10 · 19 September 2016]

Trigger Warning(s): Blood

Main Plot (with Commentary)

Topic 1: In 6 Months Time (Gordon and Bruce)

There is a 6-month time jump the last season and this one, and during that time Bruce believes he has come to discover who is the true organization running Wayne Enterprises. He even decides to, in a board meeting, call them out. Leading to him being kidnapped and Alfred being knocked out. As for Jim? Well, with it seeming Lee has moved on he returns to Gotham as a bounty hunter. One which plans on taking down all of the Indian Hill escapees for their reward and not returning to the force. Perhaps it just pays better?

{Commentary}

Setting aside Bruce confronting the Court of Owls, for the next episode is when that becomes of interest, you have to admit it was nice to see him, as soon as he gets back, seeing Selina. Granted, him coming and going as he pleases is straining their relationship, but they're teenagers. Their relationship can't be as complicated as their adult counterparts. But with mentioning their relationship comes Bruce's clone who with Selina being kind to him now is following her. Leading to you wonder what may the story-line be for the Court of Owls' backup plan in case Bruce couldn't be controlled.

As for Gordon, let's be frank. Granted, Bruce is too young to be Batman, but arguably Gordon isn't much of a good replacement. He has a John Cena/ Rambo type character in which he doesn't get hurt like Alfred or even Captain Barnes. Yet, he fights with stronger adversaries and recovers in as little time as possible and surmounts all obstacles. I can't be the only one bored of this right?

Topic 2: Dangerous Women (Barbara, Tabitha, Penguin, and Butch)

With Theo gone, now Tabitha and Barbara own a bar. One which Penguin tries to bring under his umbrella, but the girls are fine on their own. They can handle the local mob and with Tabitha and Butch broke up, there is little reason for any sort of partnership between all parties.

{Commentary}

While Barbara and Tabitha's pseudo-Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy-esque shtick is kind of entertaining, I have to ask why are they still focused on? Fish is bringing a huge amount of villains and being this show seems incapable of producing compelling original villains, can't they just slowly but surely introduce the ones which either are big names or else were in lesser known arcs? That or just tease their arrivals? It worked well with Jerome.

Topic 3: GCPD vs. An Army (Gordon, Selina, Harvey, Fish Mooney)

The likely focus of the Mad City arc is the GCPD trying to deal with the Indian Hill escapees. Of which Gordon has become a bounty hunter of sorts for them, to the point they are relying on him too much. Which is a bit of a problem because Jim isn't the man he used to be. With a million-dollar bounty placed on Fish Mooney's head, he screws over Harvey, this journalist named Valerie Vale who is trying to help him, and he gets Ms. Peabody killed. For with Fish's powers slowly killing her, she needs medicine. Of which only Hugo Strange can provide. But that isn't the only thing she wants out of the well-hidden Dr. Strange. She also wants an army of people like her too.

All the while Selina is by her side either for protection or money. But with Ivy wanting to get involved, she, unfortunately, finds herself at the wrong place at the wrong time. Leading Fish to ask her life draining monster to age Ivy to dust. But with his grasp slipping, and Ivy falling into an aggressive sewer pipeline, expect to see the older Ivy soon.

{Commentary}

Enough is not said about Jamie Chung as Valerie Vale. Someone who, honestly, isn't necessarily a breath of fresh air, but can at least be considered a few hits of cologne on this bloated show. Though with Gordon doing a 180 as if Clayface is still impersonating him, and with Fish as campy and eye roll inducing as ever, can these new crops of monsters raise the bar? Or will this show remain the type you hope for the best and prepare for the worse?

But, with that said, Selina's next move after thinking Ivy was murdered should be interesting.

Highlights

Jamie Chung, I believe, may have the charisma needed to present herself as a silver lining on this show. Though, she might now be alone. The Court of Owls, like most of the villains from the Batman source material, could very well join the ranks of Selina, Penguin, and Riddler. Granted, something about them already seems very campy, but they might be the type of villain(s) this show needs. One truly formidable and not here today and seemingly bound to be defeated by Jim before you know it.

Low Points

Barbara and Tabitha, even if they bring Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy vibes.

On The Fence

Fish's Army has a vast amount of powers, of which should be interesting to see as they face off with the GCPD and also Jim Gordon. However, you know they aren't going to survive past the mid-season finale likely. Making only Bruce's clone someone of interest. Especially as he adjusts to some semblance of freedom.

Kinda disappointed

[carolinelovesalan-06395 · 6/10 · 15 March 2020]

The set up of the Indian Hill escapees as monsters was really interesting to me, even with Jerome possibly returning, but the set up was paid off horribly by turning them into just meta humans with no physical alterations and surving as Fish Mooney's lakees