“Good Job. Thanks for helping the bad guys.”
Harvey’s dig in Mad City: Smile like you mean it is in this review a commendation for the writers; they reminded me how enjoyable the show can be when the storylines stick to what they do best. And what they do best are showcasing villains in a disturbingly humorous manner. Smile continues in the same groove from last week’s episode, and sees the magnificent return of Jerome while managing smaller, plot-progressing “B” stories. It wasn’t the five story juggling act from last week, but it didn’t need to be. Last week needed a big bang to start the winter premiere, and Smile shifted into a higher gear effortlessly without a lot of pomp and circumstance. You don’t always have to have a double fudge brownie with chocolate chips when a regular but equally tasty brownie will do. Sometimes a brownie is just a brownie, but it takes you where you need to go and I was not disappointed with the treat that was Smile like you mean it.
For the record, Gotham as a series works best when it is disturbing, violent, and humorous without standing on a soapbox and giving us the hard sell that Gordon is the commissioner we need. Smile is likely Gordon’s strongest episode, precisely for the fact that the drama with Lee was relegated to dine at the kids’ table. At best their relationship works when it compliments the main drama, much like the side plate of vegetables that go with your 24oz rib steak dinner. The real sizzle here is Jerome’s return, and another stellar performance from Cameron Monaghan, who resurrects his Joker role with menacing absurdity. It should be noted that no one connected to the show has officially applied the Joker label to Jerome, but like most things in life, labels are for cans. The menacing eyes and ‘HaHaHaHa” arranged in a deranged smile as the symbol of the Joker cult is enough to keep our attention.
The show is able to balance humour and darkness, though not as often as I would like; we have seen in the past when that mix is just right, and Jerome’s plan is as menacing as Dwight’s inability to fill the big shoes are amusing. Such an example is when Dwight’s attempts to revive Jerome don’t go according to script and he executes Plan B: cut off Jerome’s face and wear it over his own to persuade the Cult of the Joker disciples he is a worthy substitute is a disturbing nod to Hannibal Lecter. On the flip side, Jerome revives, bandages his skinless face reminiscent of Nicolas Cage in Face/Off and demands answers from Lee who, with the best “I’m getting too old for this shit” look on her face, is so over having a gun pointed at her and having to explain everything to the men of Gotham. This scene is a great example of how humour is used as a moment of levity against the dark tone of the episode, and also that it was done well.
Jerome’s story hits its peak when he catches up to Dwight, takes his face and stage back and proclaims a message for Gotham’s citizens to take their city back in Gotham’s version of The Purge. And as a counterpoint, the scene of Jerome stapling his face back on is equally disturbing, and Gordon makes it to the roof in time to see the power plant explode, plunging Gotham City into darkness, both literal and figurative. And you thought Gotham was a wretched hive of scum and villainy in the light; buckle your seatbelt, because Kansas is going bye-bye, and so did the episode in the show’s best cliffhanger.
Meanwhile, it seems Bruce and Selena are on a different show, more like a teenaged version of The Young and the Restless because they are young, restless for their own reasons, and their love story is more justifiable at tugging heartstrings as they are teens and likely the only characters not to deserve the truckload of misery dumped on them like they have experienced thus far. Cole, the guy from Maria’s past, confronts Bruce and Alfred about the $200K Maria apparently owes him. It’s a shakedown. Bruce knows it and he doesn’t flinch, though the same cannot be said of Selena. She gets her hackles up rather quickly, believing Cole will continue to blackmail Maria for more money. But on a deeper level, all of Selena’s buttons are being pushed; she hates benefitting from Bruce’s privilege and money, she also hates bullies, and she doesn’t trust Maria, even if she really wants to.
It’s this last element that cuts the deepest, as Selena accuses Bruce of knowing Maria was involved in the con all along. But the anger is misdirected, as she is angry with herself; she knew Maria was involved, which was why she followed Cole to the hotel and confronted Maria. More telling was Selena disappointed rather than angry or surprised; clearly she really hoped, believed, that Maria would love her enough to stay. While we all saw this dénouement coming, it does give Carmen Bicondova something more to work with than being petulant all the time. And while I don’t put much stock in the Bruce/Selena romance, the writers have done a better job of late at giving them more emotional complications rather than all physically dangerous ones. Let’s see what’s in store for the two of them during the Great Gotham Blackout; either it will force them to honestly talk things out or Bruce will prowl around the city in Batman underoos. I’m really hoping the latter happens, even if Alfred opts to wear a Burt Ward, ‘60s era Robin costume.
Meanwhile, Penguin gets sucked into Nygma’s revenge plot even more, as Bat-crazy Babs shows up on his doorstep and tells him he needs to meet with the gang bosses: “Do that disco vampire thing with your hair” is the best line of the episode and solidifies my belief Babs needs more screen time. This storyline also solidifies my belief that the show can get away with being campy and strange in its tone, as they have the talent to pull it off. Babs and Tabs eliminated Gotham’s gang bosses who supported Penguin, and Nygma faked his own kidnapping to lure Penguin to an abandoned factory. Things don’t look good for Penguin, but we know it won’t end in his death. If we are lucky, perhaps a severe disfigurement, or the realization of Nygma’s betrayal of Penguin’s betrayal will send him permanently over the edge and we have a lunatic Penguin on the loose in a blacked out Gotham. Though it is with some sadness that, after a long and winding road to become The Man, Penguin’s undoing is because of his heart. The fact I feel for Penguin is entirely due to the performance of Robin Lord Taylor; that, and also perhaps the twisted sense of morality presented on the show.
Another week of less sarcastic Harvey, but Babs filled the void and Jerome’s return made things chillingly entertaining.
Tune in next time – same Bat-time, same Bat-channel.
