There was a lot to be excited about for the second episode of Gotham entitled, "Selina Kyle." After seeing the title to this episode last week I figured Gotham was going to give each budding character their moment in the sun (or moonlight this being Gotham City) let them have their own episode and allow the viewing audience their chance to get to know each character.
I was doubly excited to see the above frame because I thought Gotham was going to drop Easter eggs to the expanded DC universe and we'd get looks at future heroes as well as villains. The picture above with the trident I surely thought was a nod to Arthur Curry aka Aquaman!
So did we get our early Catwoman story and a wink to Aquaman?
No and No.
Alas, the price to be paid for being a comic geek. Over expectations.
Selina actually disappeared for much of this episode and when we did get to see her again she didn't disappoint. She exhibited that streetwise resourcefulness we expect of her by eluding the cronies of the Dollmaker and facilitating the rescue of her fellow street urchins.
What was disappointing was seeing her shed that guile with the "inappropriate touching" tact she used to see Jim Gordon. How very tired was that. I think I've seen this particular ruse by TV and movie "problem children" at least a dozen times. Maybe two dozen.
It's a disservice to her future character. Let's hope Gotham doesn't resort to similar tropes for the rest of its characters.
So what did I like?
Arkham References
Early on while Gordon and Bullock were having their usual battle of wits, an Arkham reference was dropped by Gordon and I thought to myself, "Cool, they're keeping the idea of Arkham Asylum alive for future use in the series.
But it didn't stop there.
Always look at the books my friends. They are part of the set design for a reason.
The bottommost book in the above stack (Barbara's apartment) is titled, "Asylum of the Birds." It immediately made me think of a future denizen of Arkham Asylum, "The Penguin." We get our asylum reference and a bird reference. It also makes one think once they get Arkham going in this series that Oswald Cobblepot may be its first inmate.
A third reference...
Thank you Alfred. Our third Arkham reference comes our beloved butler when he exclaims to Jim Gordon, "It's bedlam, isn't it?" Bedlam was the nickname given to St. Mary of Bethlelem, London. An insane asylum from the early sixteenth century. Bedlem was middle English for Bethlehem. A nice tangential reference for where the future crazies of Gotham will end up.
Mommy Issues
This episode also gave a look into the psyches of our future villains. Super heroes often have Daddy issues. Maybe it's the mothers for villains.
We get a quick look into Selina's locket. It was in the context of the memory of her mother. The above look actually could be of two different women. A mother and a grandmother perhaps? Maybe even an adoptive mother with the birth mother. Both lost to Selina?
Carol Kane (barely recognizable) played Oswald Cobblepot's mother. Naturally she's blind to her sons development as she sees him as a good boy and even handsome to look at. Ah, a mother's love. And blindness. If she only took a closer look.
What's this, a future mother? Well, it's just a guess but they can do anything they want with the Fish Mooney character. She belongs to Gotham alone. But as a mother? How about in relation to "Lazlo" who has been identified as Mooney's lover. He may also be a....
Joker Tease!
He kind of looks like an early Joker doesn't he? He certainly has the motivation to become the Joker after the beat down he took from Falcone's men. Driven to crime and revenge at the behest of Fish Mooney? Yes, it's a stretch, but one never knows.
I suppose I could take it one step further and have Lazlo and Fish the parents of the future Joker. That's one baby I wouldn't want to see. Wouldn't that be a killing joke!
The first Joker tease of the episode came early on when a fellow cop took umbrage to Jim Gordon stepping on his shoes. "Clown" he called him. Get it? Shoes, clown, clown shoes, the Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime. I'm not making this up.
Odds and Ends
We get a good panning shot of the Gotham skyline again. The Clocktower is visible and we also get a look at that mysterious building with the Z atop it. What does it mean? Seriously, does anyone know. A Victor Zsasz reference? Weren't Victor's parents rich? I think he inherited their international industry or something. I'll have to Google it.
Edward Nygma is back. Seen "behind bars" perhaps. Or maybe he is just a little "shady" considering he is seen through venetian blinds.
Last but not least, Bruce.
Inuring oneself to pain are we? Getting too close to the flame Mothman? Oops, I mean Batman. Well, they're both urban legends. The jury is still out on the future Batman. Listening to heavy metal and scrawling demented pictures in a notebook? Bruce is supposed to be sad and lonely not unhinged.
That comes later.
Here's a look at that new Gotham trailer. Look for the holes! (Oh, and Victor Zsasz is in it too.)
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