Gotham 1.02 “Selina Kyle”

If Gotham’s pilot worked well establishing the grim tone of both the city and the overall series, while also introducing some characters and planting the seeds of future subplots, this episode succeeds at focusing on one of Batman’s most prominent lovers/villainesses, Selina Kyle – the soon to be Catwoman (Camren Bicondova).

Though her appearances on the pilot might have seemed randomly placed, once again Selina’s character is at the heart of the episode’s mystery — the abduction of street kids for purposes yet unknown — and if the last scene cliffhanger is any indication, Cat, as she likes to be called, will be, along with Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) the character that helps move Gotham’s plot forward. Therefore, I’m starting to think that the writers have thought through Selina’s role in the big scheme of things.

There are many things to be enjoyed here, such as the over-the top creepy and weird performances of the Dollmaker thugs, Patti (Lili Taylor) and Doug (Frank Whaley). The Dollmaker villain is already creepy and scary enough, but Patti’s and Doug’s acting throughout the episode is permeated with a ‘60s Batman vibe to it.

They make it clear to the viewer how demented they are, and how easy and enjoyable it is for them to lure the street kids or steal a whole bus full of them. Even if this was just a subplot to introduce the Dollmaker character through his thugs, while giving Selina Kyle some more screen time, it was good enough to make me want more of it.

Once more, Edward Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) is unnecessarily creepy, and though once more he provides valuable insight on the missing children case, he is definitely getting weirder by the moment, something that annoys everyone at the GCPD.

And though Detective Gordon is already busy enough trying to learn to play by the rules of “The Program” while maintaining his integrity — something he of course ends up doing, as he’s the beacon of hope and of what’s right in Gotham — now he has to deal with a troubled Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz).

The kid is trying to test his limits, and in doing so, he’s testing Alfred Pennyworth (Sean Pertwee) as well. The quiet, calm, always supporting and encouraging butler from the comics is nowhere to be found, as in Gotham we find someone uncapable of dealing with the child’s moods, which are already turning dark as he’s closing in on himself, turning into the young Bruce Wayne that, struck with grief, will eventually become the Batman.

I loved, however, two nice touches that seem to hint at this: Bruce’s dark and bloody drawings and the unnoticed, silent way he creeps into the room, with Alfred noting that he’s been doing that as of late.

The interactions between Jim Gordon and Detective Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue) with Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) are really good, as with a few lines of dialogue we are reminded of the thin line that exists between the GCPD and the city’s crimelords. Heck, even if they tried to get you killed last week, it must have been a misunderstanding, and here we are all smiling like the best of friends.

And though Fish Mooney gets less screen time, mainly because the episode’s script is centered on other characters, her scene with Carmine Falcone (John Doman), Gotham’s kingpin of crime, is great. Once again, a simple, subtle/or not demonstration of who’s in charge.

But what about the now fugitive Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor)? Well, he’s growing to be one of this reviewer’s favorites, as each scene he’s given ends with him violently taking another step toward transforming himself into the Penguin.

He enjoys killing, but what is that drives him? It really seems to be a mix of many things: a terrible need to be accepted, a strong inferiority complex, and an overprotective mother, Gertrude Kapelput (Carol Kane), whose appearance in this episode reveals many things.

The overall score is good, as Gotham continues to develop its characters and introduces new ones, amidst a dark and sometimes crazy atmosphere. We get hints at Arkham Asylum being another player very soon, we see that corruption runs all the way to the Mayor’s Office, and that Detective Jim Gordon might be fighting for a lost cause.

The seeds that these first episodes have planted are strong. Now let’s watch how they grow.