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Gotham: 'What the Little Bird Told Him' Review

Written by Richard "Chubtoad" Sheldon

The Electrocutioner stirs up trouble in Gotham City as the war starts heating up between rival gangs.  Here is my review:

 

Gotham has been getting better in the way the creative team balances several plot threads while giving us a compelling story of the week.  As we left off in the last episode 'Rogue's Gallery', we find Jack still on the loose with his meathead thug Aaron.  The papers have dubbed him "The Electrocutioner", which tickles Nygma's funny bone.

 

The opening of the episode is probably one of the best delivered to date in my opinion.  We see a Gotham villain take what he lost and needs for his sinister plan in a most awesome and brutal way.  All the while Johnny Cash's 'God's Gonna Cut You Down' is playing over the scenes.  Very well done.  This gives me the tone I want from a Gotham episode.

 

Jack visits old crime partners and regains some equipment left behind when he went to Arkham.  While the scene was incredible to watch, it really was not anything more than a piece of the setting for the story to unfold from.  Most importantly we find out that of his many targets of revenge, Maroni is one of them.

 

We are introduced to Commissioner Loeb played by Peter Scolari.  Comic fans of 'Batman: Year One' are excited to finally see this character.  I was also happy to see Peter Scolari on screen again.  Always takes me back to 'Bosom Buddies' in my mind.  The commish has it out for Gordon and Gordon uses his knowledge, although some of it is a lie, of The Electrocutioner to leverage him being reinstated to detective.  I was kind of sad at this thought as I wanted a bit more of Officer Gordon at Arkham.

 

The fate of Jack's plan unfolds in some humorous ways.  He takes out the PD in an interesting way, save Gordon who wore his police issued "rubbers".  The manner in which he is foiled is simple, yet funny and entertaining.  So we see Jim re-instated to detective.

 

In other plot threads we see Penguin getting ready to leave a Maroni laugh factory around the dinner table.  He makes an excuse to see him mother, but the Penguin is running to see Falcone who has summoned him.  This is when the Electrocutioner attacks and sends a jolt to Cobblepot's bird brain.  The event almost has him singing like a canary to Maroni about Falcone.

 

Falcone has troubles of his own.  His gal pal Liza has been taken.  Where is Liam Neeson when you need his particular set of skills when you need him?  Penguin finally gets to Falcone and spills the beans on Liza and Fish's plan to de-throne the Don.  Falcone has been to the rodeo a few times and smells something is fishy with Mooney and calls her bluff. Falcone gives Liza a choking and Fish is left alive for future needs.

 

A few smaller points are we get a throw away scene with Barbara and her parents.  I like her less and less.  We also see Gordon lock lips with Dr. Tompkins.  I think they make much more sense.  Which means Barabara will probably find a way to make her go bye bye.

 

We find out Jack's real last name is Buchinski which matches the comics for the electrocutioner.  I still think he is Hugo Strange in disguise.

 

We had a few cute scenes of awkward exchange between Nygma and Ms. Kringle.  Seems silly, but I am interested in where this is going.

 

Episode 12 and things are primed and ready.  The pieces have started to fall in place and now Gotham is poised to put the pedal to the floor.  Get ready!  It is going to be a fun ride!

 

I give this episode of Gotham 3.75 out of 5 stars. 

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