Producer: FOX
Writer: Jim Barnes
Director: Jeffrey Hunt
Featuring: Benjamin McKenzie, Robin Taylor, David Mazouz, Donal Logue, Zabryna Guevara, Morena Baccarin, James Frain, Michael Chiklis, Drew Powell, Erin Richards, Sean Pertwee
Release date: USA: OUT NOW!! UK: Channel 5 Spring 2016

Gotham may be the most inconsistent and frustrating show on television. After last week’s fine episode Gotham Season 2 Episode 8 “Tonight’s the Night” quickly devolves into an unintelligible mess thanks to some of the laziest writing around.

The plot had more layered cavities than a hot croissant. Barbara Kean (Erin Richards) is on the Gotham City Police Department’s most wanted list, but she strolls around town and into the station without anyone noticing. Detective Jim Gordon (Benjamin McKenzie) interrogates her, and although the psychological duel between them is interesting he gets no information and she shamelessly manipulates him.

Gordon seeks proof that new mayor Theo Galavan (James Frain) is behind the city’s latest crime wave and agrees to take Barbara out of the station so she can “show [him] something.” Jim naturally agrees, even though he admits it’s a trap. But no matter how well prepared the GCPD is, the crooks easily outsmart them and take Gordon prisoner. And somehow from out of the blue they’ve captured his love interest Dr. Leslie Thompson (Morena Baccarin).

In a sub-plot, Galavan is trying to bribe young Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) into selling him Wayne Enterprises, as Galavan promises to reveal to Bruce the name of his parents’ killer. But as Bruce is wavering just before signing the papers Gordon and the cops rush in to arrest Galavan. Timing! Coincidence! Yawn!

As a villain Galavan is more interested in Byzantine schemes than results. When Alfred (Sean Pertwee) and Bruce show up to sign the contract, why not just take them prisoner? Who needs Bruce’s signature when an evil mastermind can just forge it and disappear Bruce and Alfred?

The series still has much going for it, especially the actors, most notably Robin Taylor as Oscar Cobblepot/Penguin. But the writers of Gotham Season 2 Episode 8 Tonight’s the Night need to step up their game before they start losing viewers. Being a Batman show is not necessarily enough here.

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker