Good Kid, Mad City.
22 Episodes. Starring: Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Sean Pertwee, Robin Lord Taylor, Erin Richards, Camren Bicondova, Cory Michael Smith, Morena Baccarin, Jessica Lucas, Drew Powell, Chris Chalk, Crystal Reed, Cameron Monaghan & Alexander Siddig.
Harvey, Harvey, Harvey Dent said, "the night is darkest before the dawn". And it looks like Two Face, Aaron Eckhart's words from the now decade gone 'The Dark Knight' classic are about to ring true. As the dawn is coming. With the next run of it's closest Marvel rival 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D' sixth series being sliced into two, the upcoming season 5 of 'Gotham' will be it's last as Bruce Wayne finally steps out of the manor and takes wing as the Batman. Looks like this villain show has lived long enough to see itself become the hero. With lets hope a big ending and not such a 'Smallville' one. But we almost wish you and me could do this forever like the all too tragically poignant last lines of Heath Ledger's Joker. As Season 4 of 'Gotham' (subtitled, 'A Dark Knight'...oh yes! What a way to celebrate the 10th anniversary) may be it's best yet (and the best superhero showcase on the tube...take that Marvel) after the origin shows original, outstanding opening and the last two acts that saw this show throw everything at the gallery of rogues just to see what hanging nail stuck, albeit with "why so serious" fun. Hallmark dark but with a cinematic elegance that even Marvel's M.C.U. can't muster with all its blockbuster bluster. The cowl is off, but all you need to see is the promotional poster of bats flying from Bruce's back like a cape to see subtext runs through this show like a Joker's thumb through a pack of playing cards. Even if they never can reveal the name of their clown prince ace in the hole like a Gotham Kingpin. But Jerome or Jeremiah, it's still all better than just Jared. And even if "HA, HA, HA" purple and green graffiti marks the walls of this town throughout it's 22 episode run, this cold and dark season is much more than just the punchline of a killing joke. There's decadent depth to all the darkness in this night. From the shadows of the street to the corners of the mansion the lamplight doesn't illuminate like a haunted house of a murdered memory.
Far from year one in this no mans land of a long halloween, there is more to Bruce Wayne's manner this season. As he vigilante stalks the rooftops in a bomber jacket and ski-mask cowl on a nightly ritual vigil just like a...you get it. And this year even though this comic-book serial is playing with a full deck, it still has the hands to cut you. As this kid grows more into the top shelf playboy persona of Bruce Wayne, than the billionaire philantrophist's less social side that sees him play dress up in his man cave. The party and bull#### side of Wayne's world is in for one hell of a hangover, rude awakening however as this party on s### doesn't sell anymore like LMFAO (lol...just kidding guys). And one person for sure not sold by this game is Pennyworth. The butler sees it all. And in one powerful and poignant moment you'd be surprised to see in Shakespeare, let alone the graphic novels of nerdom it's all brought to a punch drunk head. The boy wonder of Bruce tells Alfred that ever since he traded the warm fireplace and a nice cup of tea for a shot of whiskey and whichever body would keep him from being cold at night, he's not thought about his dead parents once. Or even felt an ounce of pain. Sounds like the perfect world right? Until Pennyworth hits us with a sledgehammer and the real cost of living as he tells it like it really is and we're paraphrasing a tad here, "but there's no joy without pain Master Bruce. There's no life without pain. There's no love". WOW! Now let that truly sink in as you sweat the spirits out whilst letting loose in the club. Looks like Master Bruce is still the student. As a matter of fact when it comes to weary words like that from the wise, as valuable as his mothers pearls falling on the sidewalk...we all are. If that doesn't floor you and show you that real revelations can come from anywhere, not just the good book and even a T.V. show far from the turned up nose of high brow, I don't know what will. And even though this serial is about the wide world of 'Gotham', it's telling that the soul of this series is actually about its protector and his guardian. And as the maturing David Mazouz and the veteran Sean Pertwee step it up yet again and grow even closer over the seasons, you can tell this bond that goes deeper beyond character could never be broken. And pure potency it's for sure going to make for one palpably real emotional ending when it's all said and spotlight done. And there's a poetry in that.
Still the star of this show is still the stellar Ben McKenzie. Who after appearing to not look like a young Jim Gordon in this anthology's pilot has flown since and taken his own wing to show he embodies Gordon in good guy in a world gone mad spirit and honourable strength. And hey who else are you going to get to play Jim? Colonel Sanders? Legendary Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson? Like Gary Oldman wears the cigar and two fingers of Winston Churchill to the Oscar gold of 'The Darkest Hour', McKenzie deserves an Emmy for being the badge and gun of Jim Gordon, cop to commissioner in this 'A Dark Knight' series. He even gets to rock the iconic lady tickling moustache in a fuzzy dream sequence. I haven't seen a Captain so hell bent on doing the right thing and the conflicted peace of mind that comes with that since the red, white and blue, star spangled shield of America. And now the surf is up for the former long hair, careless kid of 'The O.C.' in this dark and dank, stormy city set in N.Y.C. as effectively as Nolan used the gargoyle gothic Chicago at least he has a partner he can (sort of) count on. But all joking aside, with a shot glass ready bottle of bourbon in the same desk draw as his loaded service weapon, the defiant Donal Logue is by far the best incarnation of the leather hat of the broken and bent, but a good bet, Harvey Bullock yet. Besides we all have a past and Jim's old flames ignite so many schemes and plots here. As the Erin Richards' Barbara blonde gone slicked back atomic is still keen for some action and McKenzie's real life love Morena Baccarin (Ryan Reynolds 'Deadpool' may have something to fourth wall breaking say about this) is now nursing the narrows and an even wider world. Jim still needs them like Bruce his cat in the hat as the Selina, Pfeiffer feline lookalike of Camren Bicondova comes of age and iconic character made her own again, even more than the magnificent Mazouz as they grow closer together for the better. This gallery keeps adding so many more portraits to its profiles portfolio. Like the kitty pride of Jessica Lucas' Tabby cat. Or her butch Drew Powell gone all swamp thing Grundy green. Whilst Chris Chalk's fox in the hole Lucious' tech support and Crystal Reed's Falcone family mob boss really fly, like character actor journeyman Alexander Siddig's Ra's Ah Ghul truly haunting this shows series like his comic stories legend. But its the rogue big three of this bad guy art exhibit that you ponied up the admission fee for. And Robin Lord Taylor's hobbling Penguin, expanding his umbrella like cobbled together covering of the city and Cory Michael Smith's green with split personality envy, Riddler just keep getting better and better no question. But even they've got nothing on the two bit wack job in a cheap suit. Even if the joke really isn't on him, you can see from the scars that Cameron Monaghan wants to watch this world burn. And although we can't call him by his name Cameron still has the last laugh, being borderline both psychotic and iconic. Exiting eerie elevators with a shotgun blunderbuss of a mess and scared victims in his wake, frantically pressing the button of the floor like a kid playing with them all despite their parents warning because they simply light up when you do. Rising up and paying shades of homage to Heath's original party crashing bank job all the way down to that serious tone of voice. Or behind the bars, an inspired interrogation room callback, straight out of the jacket of 'The Silence Of The Lambs' with the boy Bat in a battle for Gotham's soul. And just wait until he makes it all disappear like that pen. Because you're going to want to see this magic trick. More than making up for the milk carton of Marvel's 'The Gifted' Blink and you'll miss her, Jamie Chung's super reporter for the record, the ever evolving and plant growing, changing roots of Poison Ivy, 'Deadshot' wife, Jada Pinkett Smith's crime lord and B.D. Wong's Doctor Hugo Strange in this frames perscription. But still there's so much to reference here in this comic book libary that holds court like owls and from mad hats to cold fronts and all the Scarecrows that stand inbetween pays all honoured respect due to the source material like it was sacred text. And with even more iconic villains from the Rogues Gallery about to become the bane of Bruce Wayne's life, the fifth and final season looks to be bat s### crazy! Now there's a 'Gotham'. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Krypton', 'Smallville', 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.'
No comments:
Post a Comment