Gotham Episodes 13 Thru 14 Reviews: A Villain With A Baby Pig Cant Be All Bad

For the past few weeks I've found myself increasingly disappointed in "Gotham". Why? There is a rich tapestry of characters so that couldnt be it. My absolute favorite is the Penguin. I wouldnt watch the show without him. I also enjoy Fish, Alfred, Bullock and I hope to see more of Dr Thompkins (ie Dr Caliente). Gotham City is a dark, dirty, corrupt environment that I find compelling so it's not the location. Any city with that many abandoned warehouses has got to be a happening place.

That pretty much leaves the plot. Sure "Gotham" has it's high points. I enjoyed our time at Arkham Asylum and hope to see more. But the criminal procedural format isnt working for me. Here's how it typically goes. Someone is killed. The police investigate. We are presented with a red herring. Forty minutes later the criminal reveals himself and there's a wrap up. Case closed. This isnt "Law & Order" people.

We also have Jim battling the corrupt GCPD each week. Every episode involves someone telling Gordo he cant fight the system. He of course ignores them and keeps on chugging along. We get it. Gordon is the moral compass and our entryway into the world of Gotham. But lets face it, he's also pretty boring. Less Jim and more everyone else please!

Having said all that, I sill have faith in "Gotham"-- so get it together and stop making "meh" episodes. While we're waiting for that to happen, here's the most recent highlights.

In "Welcome Back Jim Gordon" Gordo is still fighting the corrupt GCPD. Sound familiar? One of the cops is corrupt and committing murders. Some is killed in the police station. Jim works with Penguin to discover the culprit. Helpful hint Jim: Never owe the Penguin a favor or you'll be sorry. Blah, blah, blah. I dont really care.

A bad guy named Bob tortures Fish. I have a hard time taking anyone named Bob seriously but he does a good job of smothering her with a bag. That was a powerful scene. Mooney is all like, is that all ya got? The woman have nerve. I'd be a little nicer to my torturer... but that's just me. Butch finally rescues her. Penguin has taken over Fish's club and brings Mommy Penguin over for a visit. Jim meets her. Opps Fish is back and she has a baseball bat. Watch out Cobblepots!

Young Bruce and Alfred return from their ski vacation. Cat visits. Bruce has a snow globe for her. He wants her to move back into Wayne Manor. She smashes the globe and leave. She doesnt want anyone to get close to her. Ah young love.

Bring On the Fembots

The other cops make fun of Nygma's card to Ms Kringle. When that guy cracks, you're going to be in big trouble. Zsasz and his fembots show up around town. At the end of the episode Fish gives Harvey a smoldering kiss and says she's leaving town for a while. I'd like to see more of their relationship please.

Please Dont Confuse Me With Dr Frazier Crane

In "The Fearsome Dr Crane" people are dying from their phobias. Jim and Bullock investigate. Yep the guy dangling over the side of the building was afraid of heights. Next a guy with a pig phobia is being tortured by pigs and a guy in a pig mask. Too funny. Dr Thompkins is called in for a consult. The killer is cutting out his victim's adrenal glands. OK, that's different.

Jim and Bullock are eventually led to a support group. Bullock makes a connection with the group leader Scottie. She's afraid of drowning so that's what almost happens to her (until Bullock saves her). Turns out the baddie is a member of the therapy group. His son is Jonathan Crane who will later become Scarecrow. He will live to terrorize another day.

You Really Should Listen To this guy Once In A While

Elsewhere Nygma gets the boot for having his hand inside a dead body. No one will listen to the poor guy and he knows stuff. He's later reinstated after the ME is found to have a locker full of body parts. How convenient. Will Nygma and Kringle ever have a love connection?

In the main event (at least in my opinion), Maroni and Penguin spend some gangster bonding time together upstate. Maronia wants Penguin to tell him his secrets, Penguin wants to shoot Maroni in the face. But the jokes on Cobblepot. The gun he stole is filled with blanks. Fish gave Maroni the heads up that Penguin had been working with Falcone all along. Psych!

Maroni attempts to wipe out Penguin in a car crusher. It's looking like its curtains for Peng. He first calls Maroni who hangs up on him. Too funny! Next he sees a billboard and calls the car crusher operator (saying Falcone will kill him and his family if he doesnt cease and desist immediately). The guy buys it. Next Penguin is on the side of the road. He's picked up by a gospel bus. I just love Oswald and the crazy situations he gets into.

More Of This Please

In other news, Gordon and Babs are officially splitsville. Good! Now Jim spend all his free time with Dr Thompkins. They share a kiss. Jim visits Young Bruce to say he hasnt captured his parents killers yet. Bruce says forget about it. Bruce can do a better job himself.

Fish Sticks Anyone?

And in the final scene, someone attacks Fish's boat. Is it Falcone's men or someone new? Next time Fish, you might want to take a plane instead.

Grade: 3 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). I want to like you "Gotham" but you make it hard sometimes. Focus on what works best for ya (the characters that already exist) and try less being a cop show.