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Gotham is back! This season is about the Rise Of The Villains. This episode shows how the villains growth in power and numbers changes our heroes. This is best summed up in the late Thomas Wayne’s words to Bruce “You can’t have both happiness and the truth, you must choose. I beg you, my son, to choose happiness unless you feel a calling, a true calling.” Jim Gordon has to make that choice early on in this episode and the episode is bookend by Bruce considering the choice. Join us now as we discuss the first episode of Season 2 “Damned If You Do.”
Pardon us as we take short break before the discussion:
Welcome Gotham Undercover listeners old and new! This season things have changed and Karen and I (Geoff) have come on board to carry on the podcast started by Ryan & Tim. We owe them a debt of gratitude of getting things started. Karen & I want to make this podcast one that informs you about Gotham, but in order for it to be successful we need your voices and feedback. Please use the links on this page to connect with us and send us feedback.
Now on to the discussion:
Karen & I cover the things below and much more on this podcast.
Season 1 was very rocky for me and I felt the writers didn’t have a clear direction for all of the characters. I was relieved after watching this episode. It seems to me that we have a clear direction and focus for the characters. The biggest clue for me was Barbara. Last year the writers did not know what to do with her. She was in and out of stories and had very little purpose. But this season has her flaunting he issues and becoming one of the “villains” of the season. Thank you writers! If this is a hint of things to come I’m happy. (ed. note: Karen says “amen”)
Ed Nygma only had a had one scene but it clearly shows a mental break happening. He is having a conversation with himself in the mirror and things are not going well. The question is how long before mirror Ed takes over?
I’m also happy with the casting and the character of Theo Galavan played by James Frain. This episode showed his polish, planning and skill as a top notch villain. Adding his “sister” Tabitha aka Tigress makes them a force to be reckoned with. But they are recruiting and adding in Arkham’s top notch villains. Theo will be the puppet master behind the scenes while his Arkham team will the be the visible force.
Then we have the Penguin he is ruling the mob faction gathering all of Falcone’s organization under him by any means necessary. We even see him using Jim Gordon to do his dirty work. The police know about the mob but with Penguin’s influence will they be able to do anything about it?
Opposing all this villainy we have Bruce and Jim. Jim has been hamstrung by Commissioner Loeb. Forced to work as a beat cop and punished for doing his job. Jim is finally pushed off of the force just like Bullock was earlier. While Bullock has found peace, sobriety, and a job as a bartender, Jim can’t stand not being a cop. Even with the love and support of Leslie, he cannot find peace as a civilian. He is forced to a choice keep his code at the cost of his job or break his code work with the Penguin and get back on the force. Jim chooses his code but a conversation with Bruce about the greater good makes him change his mind. Jim does the Penguin’s errand even to the point of killing a mob boss and the Penguin forces Loeb out. Jim is back on the force but at what cost?
Bruce has tried for a month trying to get into the secret office of his father. It seems he has a ways to go before he is the world’s greatest detective. He can’t deduce that the password is his own name. So he reads a book and decides to blow it open. I’m guessing there is no internet yet. Book knowledge will not cut it, but thanks to Alfred’s experience they build a bomb that opens the proto-batcave open. Bruce reads a heartbreaking letter from his father. After the soul searching Thomas did, he wanted the change things with Wayne enterprises. He even suspected his own death was coming. He urges Bruce to choose happiness unless he feels a true calling. With evil on the rise how many heroes can choose happiness over truth?
Sound Off!
What did you think of “Damned If You do.” What was your favorite moment from this episode?
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