I guess we humans miss what we don’t have, while taking for granted everything that we are being given.
That’s why, when watching a show, I always try to focus on the hits, and not the misses. And believe me, even though the very nature of this series – origin story of today’s grown adults, therefore alive and “well” – might be seen as its biggest enemy when facing episodes such as “LoveCraft,” I couldn’t help but enjoy the whole thing from beginning to end.
It was fast paced, with characters being true to themselves, plus Detective Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue) finally learned how his partner, Detective Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) had been working behind the GCPD’s backs to help solve the Wayne’s murder, while protecting a young but already shady Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova).
There was all that and — in what is proving to be one of the greatest casting choices of the show — a superb Alfred (Sean Pertwee), who kicks ass as if there were no tomorrow; even facing Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) and getting info out of her that poor Harvey couldn’t.
Of course Alfred is not always going to get the spotlight, but here the writers skillfully show viewers how he is much more than a butler to young Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz), who, thanks to Selina being revealed as key witness on the Wayne’s murder, ends up on the run on Gotham’s underground.
Let me say that the few mob families scenes we get on this episode are significant and develop the plot, as after recent events, where he seemed to have lost a part of his empire and the respect of the families, Falcone (John Doman) gives a metaphorical punch on the table, instilling fear even on Fish Mooney, the one to whom Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), playing his insidious game of intrigues, has pointed Falcone towards, as the culprit of the hit on the vault.
And yes, it was her doing, as part of her plan to reduce Falcone’s power over Gotham, but it’s funny how Penguin, who knows for a fact that Mooney is spying on the big Don, is deciding to play a much larger game. Maybe he believes they all will kill each other, leaving him as the new king of Gotham?
There are many characters on this show, but interestingly, the one this episode was named after dies in it, after only having appeared in the last episode. Just a plot device, apparently. However, his existence has evolved the plot and the characters in varied ways; as it is with his death that we see how dark and twisted the apparently noble ADA Harvey Dent can be.
He was bent on catching Lovecraft, and in order to do so he didn’t mind leaking Selina Kyle’s whereabouts, or that Gordon was protecting the child. However, as the mayor points out before Gordon asks him to “kiss his ass,” Dent knows how the game’s played in Gotham.
The other thing that Lovecraft’s death gives the story? Gordon is very publicly humiliated and degraded, ending up patrolling Arkham Asylum.
I believe I haven’t praised Alfred’s portrayal enough. Give. Us. More. Alfred! A war veteran, he is used to combat, healing wounds, and much more, but it wasn’t until this episode that we were given the full Pennyworth treatment. Pertwee’s acting injects so much on every scene he is in, that it’s almost unbelievable that he’s the same actor with whom I had some qualms on the first few episodes.
He’s gotten the grasp of Alfred’s many facets, making the character his. And after all the fighting, running, punishing Mooney’s thug or Selina’s assassin’s for hire, which was his most personal scene? His tender, big hug with Bruce, once they meet each other again.
Bruce’s character learned a few things in this episode, as he faces the bowels of Gotham and doesn’t run or feel scared, creepy/funny meeting with the future Poison Ivy included!
Pity for him is that, though he’s seen how Selina only cares about herself — well, most of the time, anyway — the poor boy has a crush on the little thief. So obvious, in fact, that he can’t hide it from the all-encompassing, all-powerful, Alfred.
As we start the second part of the season, there’s one thing that the show needs to bring the conflict that made the best issues so round, and his name is Sal. Sal Maroni.
Bring on the bad guys!