As the title would indicate, this episode’s focus is on the future Catwoman, young Selina Kyle. Sadly however she isn’t that prominent in the actual storyline and for that, I was disappointed. Besides the opening scene where a bunch of street kids get abducted by some psycho couple named Patty and Doug, we don’t get to see Selina again until 30 minutes later. Everything she has done through two episodes has been done so in silence. This adds a sense of mystery to her character who’s future we already know. Warning spoilers ahead…
The real story behind this episode was the further development of Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor) as the true villain of Gotham. There’s an old saying that a wounded animal is the most dangerous. Having been beaten and presumed dead, the Penguin fit on revenge, wants to build his own crime empire and take over Gotham for his own.
It begins with a hitchhiking ride turned to murder and kidnapping. Cobblepot is not the lackey we saw in the pilot but a brutal and unpredictable psycho with a raw violent streak. Speaking of violence, the antagonists are Patty and Doug who work for someone called the Dollmaker, an international buyer who is interested in purchasing children of any gender for reasons yet to be discovered. For those who are not aware, the Dollmaker is a character based on the New 52 from DC’s 2011 re-launch of its comic line.
Unlike the first episode in which I thought was overloaded it with villain introductions, this second episode lays the groundwork for a season long story arc between the tension and power struggle of Falcone and Mooney, the rise of the Penguin and now the introduction of what could be a major player, the Dollmaker.
The one thing missing from this review, is Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon. Gordon continues his investigation into the Wayne’s murder but more importantly we see the relationship between Gordon and Bruce, who is battling demons of his own. I felt like Gordon will play more of a father figure to Bruce and that feeling has not waivered.
Much like what Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.LD. faced in its earliest episodes, Gotham is still in the process of developing a world built by Batman and his rogue gallery but will not have the Dark Knight to fall back on. Instead, it will be built on the shoulders of Jim Gordon, Harvey Bullock and the Penguin to name a few.
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
