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Gotham
Oct 3, 2014 10:36:14 GMT -5
Post by Tony on Oct 3, 2014 10:36:14 GMT -5
I finally got to catch up and watch the first two eps last night.
So, yeah, opinions and assholes and all that, granted, but holy crap this show is awwwwwwwful. Just so, so bad. It has the look and the atmosphere down, and there are brief police-procedural-y moments during which it resembles a good show, but the bulk of it is inconceivably bad/neigh-unwatchable. From Jada Pinkett chewing the shit out of the scenery like a first year drama student, to young Bruce and His Alfred really missing the mark, to the shooting of the Waynes scene, to Selina "Call Me Cat" and her steampunk-y ridiculousness (and my reservations going-in about having a 13/14 year old pre-Catwoman character, knowing full well that Catwoman is fundamentally a very sexual character, were not really assuaged; it's weird and flawed from the start, and a very strange decision to even attempt the portrayal of that character at that age on screen, given who we know she becomes, and how she typically carries herself and acts and whatnot; extremely awkward business, that; not ok with it), to the Penguin (how many times did they call him that per episode; fucking christ), to Nygma, to just . . everything . . literally everything about this show other than Gordon and Bullock just screams way-too-on-the-nose, wink-wink nod-nod, scene-chewing awfulness. Everything that looked terrible about it from the commercials is doubled-down on in the full-length show. Eye-rolls from start to fin. Damn shame; wasted opportunity.
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Gotham
Oct 3, 2014 13:29:20 GMT -5
Tony likes this
Post by courtneyk on Oct 3, 2014 13:29:20 GMT -5
I finally got to catch up and watch the first two eps last night. So, yeah, opinions and assholes and all that, granted, but holy crap this show is awwwwwwwful. Just so, so bad. It has the look and the atmosphere down, and there are brief police-procedural-y moments during which it resembles a good show, but the bulk of it is inconceivably bad/neigh-unwatchable. From Jada Pinkett chewing the shit out of the scenery like a first year drama student, to young Bruce and His Alfred really missing the mark, to the shooting of the Waynes scene, to Selina "Call Me Cat" and her steampunk-y ridiculousness (and my reservations going-in about having a 13/14 year old pre-Catwoman character, knowing full well that Catwoman is fundamentally a very sexual character, were not really assuaged; it's weird and flawed from the start, and a very strange decision to even attempt the portrayal of that character at that age on screen, given who we know she becomes, and how she typically carries herself and acts and whatnot; extremely awkward business, that; not ok with it), to the Penguin (how many times did they call him that per episode; fucking christ), to Nygma, to just . . everything . . literally everything about this show other than Gordon and Bullock just screams way-too-on-the-nose, wink-wink nod-nod, scene-chewing awfulness. Everything that looked terrible about it from the commercials is doubled-down on in the full-length show. Eye-rolls from start to fin. Damn shame; wasted opportunity. I think you're holding back here a bit Tony. It's O.K. to express your real opinion  I definitely disagree on the cast, but I agree that the show hasn't been terribly subtle so far. I think a lot of that, as I said on the podcast, is that they're trying to hook in a mass audience that may only have a passing familiarity with the characters through the movies or old T.V. show, and feel the need to really jog their memories about who these characters are and keep repeating it to get it to sink in. Do I think it could be handled better? Oh yes. Still, I'm enjoying it for the actors and atmosphere, and I think there's enough there story-wise that the show has potential. I mean, it will never be Breaking Bad or The Sopranos, but it's good start-of-the-work-week popcorn fun for me. Edit: Oh! Also! I am SUPER excited about the Harvey Dent casting news. I loved that actor on Masters of Sex and think he will be great in the role. |
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Gotham
Oct 5, 2014 20:47:39 GMT -5
Post by sammiecassell on Oct 5, 2014 20:47:39 GMT -5
I finally got to catch up and watch the first two eps last night. So, yeah, opinions and assholes and all that, granted, but holy crap this show is awwwwwwwful. Just so, so bad. It has the look and the atmosphere down, and there are brief police-procedural-y moments during which it resembles a good show, but the bulk of it is inconceivably bad/neigh-unwatchable. From Jada Pinkett chewing the shit out of the scenery like a first year drama student, to young Bruce and His Alfred really missing the mark, to the shooting of the Waynes scene, to Selina "Call Me Cat" and her steampunk-y ridiculousness (and my reservations going-in about having a 13/14 year old pre-Catwoman character, knowing full well that Catwoman is fundamentally a very sexual character, were not really assuaged; it's weird and flawed from the start, and a very strange decision to even attempt the portrayal of that character at that age on screen, given who we know she becomes, and how she typically carries herself and acts and whatnot; extremely awkward business, that; not ok with it), to the Penguin (how many times did they call him that per episode; fucking christ), to Nygma, to just . . everything . . literally everything about this show other than Gordon and Bullock just screams way-too-on-the-nose, wink-wink nod-nod, scene-chewing awfulness. Everything that looked terrible about it from the commercials is doubled-down on in the full-length show. Eye-rolls from start to fin. Damn shame; wasted opportunity. I think you're holding back here a bit Tony. It's O.K. to express your real opinion I definitely disagree on the cast, but I agree that the show hasn't been terribly subtle so far. I think a lot of that, as I said on the podcast, is that they're trying to hook in a mass audience that may only have a passing familiarity with the characters through the movies or old T.V. show, and feel the need to really jog their memories about who these characters are and keep repeating it to get it to sink in. Do I think it could be handled better? Oh yes. Still, I'm enjoying it for the actors and atmosphere, and I think there's enough there story-wise that the show has potential. I mean, it will never be Breaking Bad or The Sopranos, but it's good start-of-the-work-week popcorn fun for me. Edit: Oh! Also! I am SUPER excited about the Harvey Dent casting news. I loved that actor on Masters of Sex and think he will be great in the role. Courtney, you & I are soooooo on the same page with this. There is so much backstory and mythology and history it's so hard for Batman fans to give it a fair shake. I'd bet that if Batman '66 was released now it would get killed, and it's adored (by me too). It's one of the problems with mass media now days. We have our loves and if someone puts it to TV or movie, it can NEVER meet our expectations (unless it doesn't change much I.e. Lord of the Rings) people hate change |
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Gotham
Oct 7, 2014 10:12:56 GMT -5
Post by courtneyk on Oct 7, 2014 10:12:56 GMT -5
I think you're holding back here a bit Tony. It's O.K. to express your real opinion I definitely disagree on the cast, but I agree that the show hasn't been terribly subtle so far. I think a lot of that, as I said on the podcast, is that they're trying to hook in a mass audience that may only have a passing familiarity with the characters through the movies or old T.V. show, and feel the need to really jog their memories about who these characters are and keep repeating it to get it to sink in. Do I think it could be handled better? Oh yes. Still, I'm enjoying it for the actors and atmosphere, and I think there's enough there story-wise that the show has potential. I mean, it will never be Breaking Bad or The Sopranos, but it's good start-of-the-work-week popcorn fun for me. Edit: Oh! Also! I am SUPER excited about the Harvey Dent casting news. I loved that actor on Masters of Sex and think he will be great in the role. Courtney, you & I are soooooo on the same page with this. There is so much backstory and mythology and history it's so hard for Batman fans to give it a fair shake. I'd bet that if Batman '66 was released now it would get killed, and it's adored (by me too). It's one of the problems with mass media now days. We have our loves and if someone puts it to TV or movie, it can NEVER meet our expectations (unless it doesn't change much I.e. Lord of the Rings) people hate change Glad to know that you are still enjoying it, and yeah, it is always going to be difficult to adapt something with a large fanbase and many years of history - someone is bound to be disappointed. I think the show is still finding its footing and deciding exactly where on the Batman '66 - Burton - Nolan spectrum it wants to be tonally, but apart from the black hole of chemistry that's the Jim and Barbara scenes every week I'm interested and not checking my phone to see what else is going on in the world. Partly that's because I'm taking notes for the recap and/or livetweeting, but still. Watching Gotham to do the recaps doesn't feel like a chore, you know? |
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Gotham
Oct 7, 2014 12:29:18 GMT -5
Post by wamphari on Oct 7, 2014 12:29:18 GMT -5
Ok i'm really down to just like penguin. Acting getting really stilted, story kind dumb. It really feels like the whole show is saying, "isn't it going to be awesome when Batman shows up?" A show like this can't be based on some way far off future payoff. Gordon just isn't compelling, and he has no chemestry with bullock who remains a walking talking caricature. And speaking of no chamistry, does anyone believe that montoya and barbara were ever together??? I mean that kiss, how bad was it? It was the least genuine beleiveable kiss I've ever seen. I feel like I'm watching this more out of habit.
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Post by goodeeveening on Oct 7, 2014 20:46:41 GMT -5
I enjoyed the first two episodes but this third one was a mess. I feel like when you jump to death-by-weather-balloon in the third episode it isn't a great sign.
Also, Selina "My Name Is Cat And I Can See In The Dark Get It?" Kyle is really starting to get on my nerves. It shouldn't be this hard to write a believable street-wise, rough and tumble teen girl.
Unexpectedly, I quite like Barbara? I like that she trusts her instincts and stands up for herself. I hope the writers give her something to do in future episodes.
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Gotham
Oct 7, 2014 22:45:29 GMT -5
Post by sammiecassell on Oct 7, 2014 22:45:29 GMT -5
I enjoyed the first two episodes but this third one was a mess. I feel like when you jump to death-by-weather-balloon in the third episode it isn't a great sign. Also, Selina "My Name Is Cat And I Can See In The Dark Get It?" Kyle is really starting to get on my nerves. It shouldn't be this hard to write a believable street-wise, rough and tumble teen girl. Unexpectedly, I quite like Barbara? I like that she trusts her instincts and stands up for herself. I hope the writers give her something to do in future episodes. Pretty much how I felt about the third episode except for replacing Cat w/ Fish lol |
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Gotham
Oct 9, 2014 9:08:17 GMT -5
Post by courtneyk on Oct 9, 2014 9:08:17 GMT -5
Oh, Gotham. I feel like I have a weird perspective on this show because I spend so much time with it doing the recaps. I may have developed Stockholm Syndrome. Plus, I have absolutely fallen under the spell of Robin Lord Taylor and will now happily watch him dramatically read Google search results (phone books are so passe). So, I don't know. I get the criticisms, I do. The villain-of-the-week? Not super interesting.
The problem with this particular episode was first, that the Balloonman's agenda doesn't tell us anything we don't already know about Gotham. Second, we're already being introduced to the "major" antagonists like Penguin in the story as ongoing characters, so we know we don't really need to care about the villain in the episode because he or she will be taken out pretty quickly. Third, the Balloonman's modus operandi was really fairly cheesy and funny - which is fine! I like that! The dangling priest? HILARIOUS! - but it's sort of jarring with the otherwise dark atmosphere of the show.
Like I said earlier, the show needs to decide where on the Batman spectrum it fits, and stick with that. It needs to continue with what works (OSWALD!), fix what doesn't (Barbara needs something to do besides sit in her apartment and wait to ask Jim what's wrong/have Montoya burst in and fling backstory at her, Selina needs someone writing her who's spoken to a teenage girl before), make the villains-of-the-week more compelling, and finally, show something of the city beyond the crime and corruption. Why the hell does anyone live there? And if everyone in Gotham is this terrible already, what exactly will Bruce be fighting for later? Just let it go, sell Stately Wayne Manor and move, seriously.
The thing is, I do still enjoy this show. It holds my interest, and the parts I like (which, let's face it, are mostly Oswald), I really really like. I am sad though that so many people who were looking forward to it aren't enjoying it, and it's a shame. I hope the problems we're seeing are just growing pains as the show finds its footing. I still think it has potential. It just needs to live up to it.
I spend way too much of my week thinking about Gotham, can you tell?
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Gotham
Oct 9, 2014 10:14:36 GMT -5
Post by CaptainSuperior on Oct 9, 2014 10:14:36 GMT -5
For me personally I've been moderately enjoying this series, which surprises me because I had pretty low expectations. With that said I have an uncanny ability to keep the idea in the forefront of my mind that this is an early history "Elseworlds" telling about the city of Gotham in relation to the life of Batman. I enjoy the anachronistic style of the show that borders on the modern world and classic Noir. Also the mix of dark humor and the Gothic nature of the violence in the city against the backdrop of a Gotham that is dirty but yet very bright. I think the primary focus of this show is going to be the ascent of Gotham to the pinnacle of its dark nature, which pushes this incarnation of Bruce to become Batman. My only major gripe with the show is I have a hard time believing anyone in Gotham becomes a hard line crime boss with the first name Fish, I mean really!?
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Gotham
Oct 9, 2014 10:55:14 GMT -5
Tony likes this
Post by courtneyk on Oct 9, 2014 10:55:14 GMT -5
For me personally I've been moderately enjoying this series, which surprises me because I had pretty low expectations. With that said I have an uncanny ability to keep the idea that this is an early history "Elseworlds" telling about the city of Gotham in relation to the life of Batman. I enjoy the anachronistic style of the show that borders on the modern world and classic Noir. Also the mix of dark humor and the Gothic nature of the violence in the city against the backdrop of a Gotham that is dirty but yet very bright. I think the primary focus of this show is going to be the ascent of Gotham to the pinnacle of its dark nature, which pushes this incarnation of Bruce to become Batman. My only major gripe with the show is I have a hard time believing anyone in Gotham becomes a hard line crime boss with the first name Fish, I mean really!? Her name has to be Fish because Penguin is going to gobble up her crime empire! Gettit? Gettit? *Gotham writers beat you over the head with metaphor repeatedly* Glad you are enjoying the show, though!  |
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Gotham
Oct 9, 2014 16:17:04 GMT -5
Post by courtneyk on Oct 9, 2014 16:17:04 GMT -5
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Gotham
Oct 9, 2014 18:58:47 GMT -5
Post by sammiecassell on Oct 9, 2014 18:58:47 GMT -5
You know I'm with you Courtney, I'm still enjoying too and unless it goes completely off the rails I'll watch the whole season, I was just really disappointed with this weeks episode...stupid TV writers loop,lol |
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Post by courtneyk on Oct 10, 2014 15:26:04 GMT -5
You know I'm with you Courtney, I'm still enjoying too and unless it goes completely off the rails I'll watch the whole season, I was just really disappointed with this weeks episode...stupid TV writers loop,lol Even in a great show, there's almost always going to be a few episodes you're disappointed with, especially with network shows and their long seasons. Hopefully this ep was just a blip for you! Just saw that episode 7 is titled "Penguin's Umbrella." Guess which episode I am immediately most excited for??? |
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Gotham
Oct 10, 2014 18:21:05 GMT -5
Post by sammiecassell on Oct 10, 2014 18:21:05 GMT -5
Well since you're obsessed with all things Robin Lord Taylor......I think I can figure it out lol
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Post by courtneyk on Oct 10, 2014 18:29:50 GMT -5
Well since you're obsessed with all things Robin Lord Taylor......I think I can figure it out lol Ha ha, I suppose it is not much of a mystery. Apparently he's been out in LA doing interviews and promo all over the place so I guess the Gotham/FOX people have figured out who their breakout star is! |
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