Amph Gotham - the TV series

Ender, I'm so very deeply sorry that someone threatened your self-identification with a children's story character by playing someone who was teased in their youth in manner that's consistent with the sort of personalities young adults would often tease. Maybe he should just have more sex and commit more murders so that you can comfortably fantasize about how awesome it all is without having to worry about anything like realism.

 

Yes, but how many aspie superheroes are there?

 

And here...we...go.

 

Because the comics portray the existence of the MCU in a similarly unbelievable fashion yet somehow manage to make it seem believable?

 

OK I will concede Wocky that the latest episode is, in fact, a bit silly.

 

Can we ask at least agree this is the best live action Penguin origin story ever?

 

"No one kills councilmen, it's cheaper to bribe them."

I just want more stuff like that from this show. Also the killer's apologetic "I really did vote for you," line, that was darkly hilarious.

It still feels like they're figuring out the dynamic for each character on here. Also, hey, way to go! Fish dropped her accent for like two lines and it was great! So is she this very street-level thug who's jumped up to being a boss, and we get these cracks in her veneer every so often? That'd be pretty cool, like her "unsophisticated" accent slips through every so often.

 

I admit, I would've enjoyed if they had dipped into the Arkhamverse and given Oswald a Cockney accent like his counterpart there.

 

I think the Penguin arc is one of the more interesting parts of the show so far. It's neat to see him work his way up the mob ladder. And I'm amused by Angel from Dexter playing Maroni.

I do wish that they would stop Gordon's weekly visit to Wayne Manor, though. I know that they want to give Bruce more screen time (and the kid is probably one of the better child actors on TV) but there are other ways of doing it rather than the seemingly obligatory visitation.

Regarding the eye-poker: looks like Fox is trying to become the HBO of basic cable with graphic visuals (not to mention Mooney's kiss with that one girl and the ensuing catfight--stuff that would probably make Littlefinger all giddy).

 

It's been noticeable for the last two episodes also. Whenever Fish is talking publicly or to the GCPD it's very over-the-top with the hyper-pronounced drawl (Haaaaaaaar-veyyyy). When she talks one-on-one to Falcone it is reigned in and somewhat more like a New Orleans accent. But whenever she is talking to just her crew it's almost Jada's regular speaking voice. It's like that when talking to Butch in Ep 2 until she bites out the last sentence, and the same when she is talking to Laslo before ordering his death.

 

You mean like how they did Arkham City on the map?

I agree with Quest here. The show has some good moments, and there's some perfect casting in terms of Bruce, Bullock, Penguin (Alfred should be posh, not working class like John Pertwee is going for).

And when Gladwell kills the second councilman, with the dark clouded sky of the Asylum behind him, you keep expecting Batman to show up which is a positive. But at other times, it's just... a police procedural where the bad guys get caught every episode.

Arrow took time to really find its voice and be less cheesy. So I'm hoping Gotham will too, despite being a different network entirely.

 

The Arkham City namedrop was...eh. We got it, guise. It was cute, I guess. But perhaps a bit unnecessary. Still, seeing gloomy, dilapidated Arkham Asylum made me throw a big grin for being one of those little details the show does right. Unlike, say, gruff, blue-collar Alfred.

I hope you're right and that the show finds its voice soon. More grit, and definitely less-to-no cheese. The police procedural thing is almost senseless given the level of corruption the city and its police department are mired in. Gordon should try to make a difference regardless how bleak things are and that, hopefully, his actions and example rub of on people like Bullock.

 

Adios to those leaving the show. You'll be back...just like you were for Agents of Shield. This is seriously the same conversation that went down last year concerning AoS.

 

Alfred being "gruff" and blue collar was mostly a Earth One/Beware the Batman invention right? OK fine, and Michael Bloo'y Caine and his Sarf London voice. But a proper English butler would use received pronunciation at one extreme, or a rather Oxbridge-y post accent at the other. Remember, Alfred's either former MI6 - which at the time was an old boy's network, or hired from Buckingham Palace. None would tolerate "you oight then guv?" as a means of speaking.

So, whilst Michael Gough in the Burtonverse was far too old, and Michael Caine far to Sarf Lundun, Jeremy Irons in the BvS/DCCU is basically the best of allt he casting. Pertwee is doing a good job in all respects except his accent.

 

That's the trick. Everyone thinks the show is about the birth of Batman. It's really about Alfred's accent going from Eliza Dolittle to public school.

 

It's the little details. They practically cast Vinnie Bloody Jones in the role.

 

Yeah but I still don't like AoS in my defence I acknowledge it's gotten much better but it's just not my thing.

 

Just saw the pilot then. I really like it.

Terrific tone, good cinematography, great performances and some descent writing. My only gripe is that they did exactly what I joked about earlier; spoon-feeding and foreshadowing.

"What's your name?" "Ivy" - standing next to a fern

"I have to conquer my fear" - Bruce

"I don't like being called Penguin" - Oswald

They actually did it! But that's ok, there's too much other really good stuff in the show for those nitpicks to get in the way. I'll check out the second episode soon.


Oh yeah, get Christopher Eccleston to play Oswald's Dad. I said so.

 

Well you've already got the son of one Doctor playng Alfred, having one of the Doctors play Penguin's Dad would be... Fantastic!

 

I gotta say that Pertwee's opening shot when he walks in the alley was very Three, Nine and Twelve inspired in the way it had that intense authority about it.

 

I just saw the second episode today. Overall I like it but the key problem is in the foreshadowing and the constant nods to the fact that we are watching the villains in their making. Why do people call Oswald penguin? Is it his nose? Why does Edward tell riddles...compulsively? Why is Selina dressed like a cat burglar?

See, all the necessary elements for the story arc are there and they're really good. The trouble is, it's moving too fast and oversimplifying it which is why this show may not last long. If the show moves too slow and methodically develops the characters it runs the danger of just being a generic crime show but in moving too fast like it is the villains come into their own too quickly. We're definitely not going to see Batman this year so what sort of growth and development will be left for subsequent seasons to keep these villains interesting? I mean, Catwoman virtually is cat woman while Penguin really seems to be getting his start and it's only the second episode.

There was a mention in tonight's episode that the Wayne and Falcone families were in partnership - this is where the show should have started because on the surface we see a family oriented businessman only to slowly learn things aren't as squeaky clean as we think. From there, we learn of some possible motives for the murder which establishes an arc for Bruce. In becoming the Batman not only does he want to avenge the death of his parents and rid Gotham of crime, but also reconcile the sins of his father. So far the characters just seem to be behaving the way they are purely because of what they will become rather than showing us what aspect of their history informs those quirks of theirs. Anyone want to bet that we'll be introduced to Harvey Dent as a child or teenager that likes flipping a coin...because it's what he does?

 

Oswald shuffles when he walks, like a penguin.

This week's episode toned down the villain name dropping though.

 

IIRC, the shuffling is due to someone busting his right kneecap in the pilot, twisting his leg at an angle. At least they didn't go with other birdlike deformities/mutations. All that's missing is the eye injury that'll make him wear a monocle...