Gotham "Penguin's Umbrella" Review

Jim Gordon meets a new friend named Victor Zsasz while Penguin pits idiot mob bosses against one another on this week's Gotham.

Synopsis: As violence between Maroni (guest star David Zayas) and Falcone continues to escalate, Penguin reveals a new element of his manipulative strategy, forcing Gordon to deal with the consequences of his decision to spare Penguin’s life.

High Points:

• Jim Gordon is the local badass
• Enter Victor Zsasz
• Penguin amps up the mob war by playing both sides of his chess board
• Love how Penguin has Maroni's ear
• Beating or a bullet?
• Jim and Harvey attempt to enforce the law
• Harvey Bullock is a chubby chaser and I dig it
• A fun twist for the Penguin at the end
• No Riddler!

OSWALD FOR MAYOR!

Low Points:

• I would rather drink Mama June's piss than hear Fish Mooney speak
• Falcone would rather play with his cocks (chickens) than his new girlfriend
• Much prefer lone serial killer Zsasz to mob enforcer (I know its early on, but only 28 kills so far that is some weak shit, Victor)
• When Penguin said "Honk, Honk", it was bad enough, but actually having him explain a goose noise to Maroni made me lose faith in humanity.
• Barbara Kean is an absolute dumbass
• Why is Vic Zsasz's ringtone "Funky Town"?

Verdict: Thank god for the Penguin. Week in and week out, he is the best part of this program. So because he was the focus this week, it was my favorite episode of Gotham so far (which ain't saying much, but still). Ozzy is playing for keeps and has all three mob bosses at each other's throats. He is the best "politician" I have ever seen. When I go to the voting booth tomorrow I'm voting Cobblepot. Elsewhere Jim and Harvey actually attempted to deal out some real justice this week. Usually their cases are the weakest parts of the show, but surprisingly going after the Mayor and Falcone was very compelling. Good on you Gotham! But none of this changes the fact that Fish Mooney needs to die. Jada Pickett Smith overplays her so much that she has become unbearable. Other characters are starting to grow on me, but Fish never will. Overall "Penguin's Umbrella" gets a 7.5 out of 10. Definitely an improvement over last week.

Bald Villains: Anthony Carrigan played The Mist on The Flash a few weeks back. Tonight he was on Gotham as serial killer supreme Victor Zsasz. The question isn't will Anthony play another bald DC villain, it's how many bald DC villains will he play? My guess is 20 or 30 at the least. Just wait, he will to nab the role of Lex Luthor for Greg Bertlani's upcoming Supergirl show. You go Anthony Carrigan, you naughty boy, you!

Gotham "Viper" Review/Thoughts

Free Drugs! Get your free drugs here! Gotham is overtaken by a new "super" drug. Mild SPOILERS!

Synopsis: Gordon and Bullock search for the source of a new street drug that causes euphoria then death. Meanwhile, Oswald Cobblepot works his way deeper into Maroni’s inner circle and Fish Mooney continues her plot against Falcone.

High Points

• Bullock likes pickles
• Bruce is the best detective on the show
• Bullock and Gordon's interplay still fun
• Edward Nygma didn't make me puke this week
• Penguin tells Maroni the truth
• David Zayas is a great Maroni
• Penguin compromises Gordon again

You haven't earn the right to call me Mama, Jaden!

Low Points

• No one questions random guy handing drugs to everyone
• Viper (Later Venom) leads to milk addiction
• Low grade special effects
• Cases are very linear
• Jada Pinket Smith's overacting has worn its welcome
• Van Gough wannabe and Super Old Man were shit villains
• No suspense
• Awful villain motivation
• Villains only exists to show Wayne Enterprises sucks
• Another episode more dead villains to never return
• Falcone is thinking with his dick

Verdict: Arrow is great. The Flash is great. The Walking Dead is usually fun. But unfortunately Gotham is quickly becoming The Agents Of SHIELD (otherwise known as Agents of SHIT) of DC comics shows. This week the new Fox hit decided to bastardize Bane's favorite drug Venom (I NEED MILK!!!). By having it created by two badly motivated villains who's grand plan was thwarted by simple having people run out of a room. The whole situation just had no suspense and was just plain boring. Five straight weeks of uninteresting cases and undeveloped quickly dead villains. Once again the redeeming part of the ep. was the Penguin. His confession to Maroni and how it subsequently affected Jim was the only exciting event to take place. Otherwise this episode was just a set up to show that Wayne Enterprises is run by shitheads. Huge surprise, since we have yet to find one decent person in the city besides Bruce, Alfred, Jim, and maybe Harvey. Well at least this WE plot thread allows lil' Batman to go on a detective case into his parents' company. Could actually be something worth watching. Unlike Fish Mooney's scheme to trick Falcone to fall in love. I thought this was a mob war not Gossip Girl. I understand Mooney is playing both sides of the coin by banging the Russian dude too, but this fake girlfriend plan is overused on TV. Overall I give "Viper" a 5.0 out of 10. Scarecrow looks to be the villain next week perhaps he can get this show out of it's early growing pains.

Thanks for reading. What did you think of Gotham's fifth episode? Sound off in the comments. Make sure to check out our reviews every week and follow our live action tweeting of every episode @Caped_Informers and @cstrand73. See you next week folks!

What did you do to Venom?

Gotham Conspiracy Theory: Is Harvey Bullock actually Bubble Bass from SpongeBob Squarepants? I don't see anyone saying he isn't the Sponge's arch nemesis. Expect the crossover soon. You heard it here first!

Gotham "Arkham" Review/Thoughts

The gang war starts as councilmen are killed off left and right in this week's Gotham. SPOILERS

Synopsis: As a contentious city council vote on the future of the Arkham district approaches, politicians from both sides are in danger. Gordon and Bullock must race to protect the council and an old friend visits Gordon.

High Points

• The Asylum look cool
• The gang war starts
• Bruce Wayne starting to be a detective
• The Penguin and Gordon's evolving relationship
• Penguin's promotion
• Gordon and Bullock's dynamic
• Ozzy manipulating and killing
• Arkham will be reopened

Arkham sure is lovely this time of year

Low Points

• Again slow episode with little tension
• Edward Nygma sucks
• "It was just a box of paper clips!"
• Villain once again a bore
• Fish Mooney "Chick Fight" scene stolen from The Dark Knight
• WE GET THE BEST OF BOTH PLANS!

Verdict: This show should really be renamed Penguin because he is the only interesting part of the story. His crawl to the top of the mob world is filled with manipulation and murder. The rest of this show is just filler really. Filler with crappy Batman teases. Sure Arkham Asylum will be reopened but did anyone really feel the Councilman serial killer case was interesting at all? Just another by the numbers investigation that ends in killing the suspect. I enjoy seeing Harvey and Jim's separate philosophies on solving cases go head to head, but otherwise that story arc was just bland. Meanwhile Maroni and Falcone war began in the most boring way possible, fighting over a vote. In the coming weeks I hope the battle for top Don really picks up. As Penguin gets more involved (especially by playing both sides of the coin by working with Gordon) it definitely should. Overall I give the episode a 5.5 out of 10. Ain't good ain't bad.

Thanks for reading. What did you think of Gotham's fourth episode? Sound off in the comments. Make sure to check out our reviews every week and follow our live action tweeting of every episode @Caped_Informers and @cstrand73. See you next week folks!

Jim Gordon's Movie Pick of the Week: Jim should really pick up Chasing Amy this week. He seemed uncomfortable with his wife's past lesbian relationship and Kevin Smith's flick would really help Jim figure out his feelings on the situation. Perhaps he could resolve his inner problems the same way Batfleck's character tried to. Bring Barbara and Montoya together and say...