How GOTHAM Went From Good To Must-Watch This Season

**IF YOU AREN'T CAUGHT UP WITH SEASON 2 EPISODE 2 OF GOTHAM, YOU BEST NOT READ**

In its second episode of its second season, Gotham gave us what any other show would've labeled a season finale. There was blood, chaos, and everyone was on fire. It was a far cry from a year ago when I wrote off the show. I stopped watching shortly after the Jerome episode citing the following reasons...

• The show relied too much on character recognition and teases
• It felt like they were slipping into episodic format with a never-ending slew of cases with little progress.
• Batman was 13.

Despite my protest, I became enamored with the promos for season 2 and decided to hop back on and binge the rest of the first season before season 2. The latter half of the first season was leaps and bounds above all that led up to it. Finally I saw story progression, and began to notice performances outside of the phenomenal Penguin performance Robin Lord Taylor still continues to crush. After three days, I decided Gotham was good enough for me to follow in its second season...at least until Arrow and The Flash come back.

This season thus far has turned the series from good enough to flat out "must-watch" for any superhero series fan. So much is already there this season that simply wasn't there in its first season.

Everyone Has Stepped Up Their Game

I personally think a lot of people on set got a little jealous for all the love RLT was getting for playing Penguin, because it seems like literally everyone has stepped their game up. At first Jerome annoyed me, but I learned to love him after the season premiere. Same goes for Cory Michael Smith, who has only recently won me over with his Edward Nygma. At first, Ben McKenzie aggravated me, as out of all performances, his seemed the most vanilla. This season it's almost his strength as he plays straight man to a city gone to hell. It makes sense that Gordon is the level head.

Someone specific I need to single out especially is David Mazouz aka young Bruce Wayne. I never thought watching someone become Batman would be entertaining, especially right as they become a teenager, but he has proven me wrong. While he doesn't have the strength, skills, and stealth, Mazouz does a very good job at showcasing the analytical and obsessive mind of Batman. Quite honestly, I think his Bruce Wayne is among the top three performances of the character, but really he's in his own league as no one's really shown this unique time in his life.

Of course the acting this season has only amplified with the addition of career character villain James Frain. Those unfamiliar should expect big things from him this season!

They've Found Their Formula

Watching the series, I was never entirely sure where Gotham drew its inspiration from. Was I watching a Nolan nephew, Schumacher sequel, or Burton backstory?

This is just my opinion, but I really think Gotham is the lovechild between Batman Forever and Batman Begins.

Gotham has moments where it's serious, dark, and foreboding. Moments like those and the general cinematography give me a Nolan vibe. On the flip side, you have that over the top chaos, the insanity of villains, and wild scenarios that feel more akin to Schumacher. Together we have a blending that becomes something that Batman and Robin never could pull off: camp with a serious flair.

They're Mixing Things Up

A lot of people had things to say when season one of Gotham concluded, but not too many were happy with the supposed changing of Batman's origin in which we were led to believe Bruce and Alfred had uncovered the Batcave. I applauded the change as it never really made sense that the Wayne family had this infinitely massive cave that Bruce was somehow able to electrically wire with no one even noticing a change in energy readings.

The same people who gripe about small changes like this would be applauding this series if it were written as an alternate universe comic. Don't take their words with weight — they need a reason to hate something everyone else loves for no other reason than to be contrarian. We've spent years watching Batman relive his origin again and again...I'm completely fine with some creative license being taken! It freshens things up and gives me something to anticipate as opposed to yawning and saying "I know where this is headed."

The Best Is Yet To Come

It's a bold move to end the second episode of your season killing off a bulk of the GCPD and immediately incapacitating the new commissioner. For those wondering what comes next, the famous line from The Dark Knight Rises comes to mind...

"He's a war hero...this is peace time."

We're about to fully see the war that brought Gotham to its knees, and what made Jim Gordon the straight-laced law man who stood in front of it all and fought against all odds. If that isn't exciting, I don't know what is.

So if by some chance you're someone who read this and hasn't kept up with the season, take it from me: it's more than worth your time to catch back up for what looks to be an awesome season.