Maniax TV, Massacre Special: Gotham Season 2, Episode 2 Review
The Gotham selfie: you and whoever you're about to throw off the rooftop.
Bad news: the Casting Department will be very busy between now and next Monday. Good news: we have Detective Harvey Bullock back on the police force!
The police force of 2.
Of all the Gotham episodes to date, this one requires the most suspended disbelief.
Playing spider S&M with the Mayor? OK. Before trying to burn alive a busload of cheerleaders, leading them in some cheers first? Dubious. Maniax alphabet-themed mass murder? Really?
Jim Gordon going from a disgraced detective and fired traffic cop to probably the new police commissioner, all in 2 weeks? Sad, but true.
Speaking of career changes, Theo Galavan has found his true calling: as an acting coach.
"It's the overture, and the audience is hushed, expectant..." as he grades the Maniax's efforts at stagecraft: "sinister and authoritative," "boyishly charming," "the laugh is fabulous."
So fabulous, The Laugh has been hijacked by Barbara. Barbara and the Maniax, the heavy metal band absolutely nobody wants to see on tour.
Back at the Wayne mansion, Bruce fires Alfred for taking a sledgehammer to Mr. Wayne's computer.
Sometimes all a serious romantic relationship needs to get to the marriage proposal is one last blow-out fight, followed by a devastating breakup. In a father-son way, that's what happened to Bruce and Alfred this week.
Alfred has vacillated between nervous, unsupportive, and condescending the whole time Bruce has been looking for clues to his father's secrets. Pick a lane, Alfred. He reluctantly helped Bruce build the bomb that opened the door to the cave (and despite himself gave Bruce a high-five when it actually worked).
But Alfred is a loyal soldier. He takes his responsibilities to the deceased Mr. and Mrs. Wayne very seriously. Seriously enough not to back down from what he fears will get Bruce killed, too.
Bruce is still a kid, although he thinks and talks like he's 30. He's stubborn and proud, but deep down wants all the grownups in his life to be proud of him, so he manned up and apologized to BOTH Alfred and Jim Gordon in the same episode.
(The fact that Bruce came to the police station after the massacre and embraced a broken and bloody Detective Gordon - in a white sweater, no less - was a genuine uncle-nephew moment. We need more of these.)
So, the Wayne Mansion deal is struck: Bruce agrees to do what Alfred says without question - he offers to go back to school, too? shock! - and Alfred asks mysterious Wayne Industries tech genius Lucius Fox to resurrect the computer.
Actually, Alfred threatened to filet Mr. Fox and eat him for breakfast, but that's the British Army for you.
Jerome, who of all the Maniax has the most captivating TV personality, finds threats boring. He likes fast-forwarding right to the part where you bleed out during the commercial break.
Following an intriguing Cameron Monaghan interview, the Gotham fandom has been going 'round and 'round about who The Joker will ultimately be. Jerome? Barbara? Or, a myth personified by various characters on the show over time?
My money is on Jerome, who brings chain saws to sword fights. It takes balls to play Russian Roulette 3 times in a row. On yourself.
If episode 2 taught us anything, it doesn't matter. Mayhem is a team sport. Without the lunatic farm team and a deep bench, The Joker is nothing but a good laugh.
