Gotham Review: Cat's in the Cradle

Gotham, Episode 2: "Selina Kyle"

Tonight we got a sense of what "Gotham" is going to be like from week to week.  Focusing on one of it's copious amount of characters while still moving the overarching story of the season.  From the title of this episode, you may assume that this episode would give us a character study of the young, runaway thief, but you'd be wrong.  For an episode bearing her name, very little time was actually spent with or on  young Selina Kyle.

Fall TV Preview: Once Upon a Time - Season 4

ABC Show Hopes Introducing Characters From One of the Biggest Disney Movies Ever Will Bring More Viewers to the Fairy Tale Drama

"Once Upon a Time" had a pretty stellar third season.  It took the some of the characters out of Storybrooke to a familiar yet unfamiliar Never Land and gave us a new villianous take on classic character Peter Pan.  The second half of the season introduced the how's take on the land of Oz as the residents of Storybrooke especially Regina clashed with the Wicked Witch of the West.  Creators and executive producers, Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis, began teasing the introduction of a Disney character a couple of weeks before the season finale leading to lots of fan speculation on who they might be introducing next.  I don't think anyone guessed that the person emerging from the bottle Emma and Hook brought back from Rumplestiltskin's vault would be Elsa from maybe the biggest Disney movie of all time, "Frozen."  "Once" has introduced characters from various Disney properties before, last season introduced the Little Mermaid herself, Ariel, but this is the first time they have brought in characters this fresh.

Elsa isn't the only "Frozen" character who will be gracing TV screens.  She's bringing sister Anna and her boyfriend, Kristoff, and evil prince  Hans.  Elsa will be played by actress Georgina Haig, who played Olivia and Peter's daughter in the FOX sci-fi drama, "Fringe."  Anna is brought to life by newcomer Elizabeth Lail.  There will be flashbacks to the sisters time in Arendelle that seemingly take place after "Frozen" and it seems Elsa will be misunderstood by the denizens of Storybrooke. She also brings a snow monster with her.  So there's that.  One character who will not be making an appearance is sun loving snowman, Olaf, which is probably for the best.  Elizabeth Mitchell of "Lost" has been tapped to play the as yet unnamed antagonist of season 4A.  Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, they are dividing up the season again this year.  The first half airing uninterrupted in the fall and then returning in the spring.  

Even as the "Frozen" arc wraps up, there is much to be excited about.  Will Scarlet, the Knave of Hearts from the doomed spin-off "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" will be joining the cast full time.  There is the matter of Belle and Rumple's marriage which is surely in for tough times once Belle finds out the Dark One dagger she has is a fake and that Rumple seemingly killed Zelena.  I say seemingly, because I really hope we haven't seen the last of Regina's green hued half-sister.  There is also the ramifications of Emma's do-gooderness to deal with.  She saved Marian from being executed not knowing that who she was saving was the thought dead wife of Robin Hood, the man who may be Regina's last chance at true love.  Will this be what pushes Regina back to the dark side, basically undoing the majority of the development that she went through last season?  It's rumored that she will be bringing her Magic Mirror, Sidney Glass, out of "retirement."  I'm really hoping that this is just a stepping stone and not the full fledged return of the Evil Queen.

I know that everyone is super excited about the "Frozen" characters showing up and being the focus of 4A, but I think I'm more psyched for 4B since it's been revealed that the amazing Kristen Bauer van Straten will be taking up the villain role and bringing Maleficent back to Storybrooke.  A character who hasn't been seen since season one.  Not much is known about what brings her back or what the nature of the story will be, but I'm ready.  

So, are you a dedicated "Once" fan or a newbie that is being enticed to watch the show because of the inclusion of the "Frozen" characters.  I'd love to hear from both in the comments.  "Once Upon a Time" returns tonight at 8/7c on ABC.

Fall TV Preview: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season Two

Can Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Keep It Up?  Producers Hope That Show Keeps Momentum It Gained Last Season

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was one of the most heavily promoted shows last season. The first TV show to spin out of Marvel's hugely popular cinematic universe?  It is going to be hugely successful right?  The biggest show of the new season, right?  Not so fast.  The show opened huge, but then lost viewers until finally stabilizing around the midway mark of the season.  What was the reason for the loss of viewers?  Well, there are a few reasons that viewers could have tuned out.  It's Tuesday at 8/7c time slot was tough.  It was facing off against "NCIS," the most watched show on network television.  No matter how many times I type that or say it or hear it, it is still hard for me to believe.  It also faced off against NBC's reality powerhouse, "The Voice."  "Agents of  S.H.I.E.L.D.", despite it's high profile pedigree, is still a genre show.  Genre shows sometime have a hard time finding a wide audience.  

It didn't help matters that the show didn't have a lot of momentum.  The characters were good, but there seemed to be limited story progression.  You weren't sure why you should care about what was happening.  This was billed as a show that would impact the Marvel movie universe and vice versa, but it felt like it was constantly treading water.  Turns out, it was.  

In "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (SPOILER ALERT: if you've been living under a rock) turned S.H.I.E.L.D.'s world upside down by revealing that it had been infiltrated by the terrorist organization HYDRA.  This revelation kicked the series into high gear, because it caused the titular organization to not exist.  Throwing true believer and team leader, Phil Coulson, into turmoil.  The pace picked up and never let down.  From the reveal that do-gooder agent, Grant Ward, was actually a HYDRA agent to the season finale revelation that Coulson was promoted to director of an organization that doesn't really exist anymore.   

The big question is: Can the show maintain this momentum and will modern day fickle viewers still care enough to show up to find out?  As for the former, I think they can.  Lots of great casting announcements have made the rounds over the summer.  Lucy Lawless will be appearing as S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Isabelle Hartley, a bad ass who I expect to clash with Coulson and Ming-Na's, Melinda May.  In preparation for the upcoming, "Agent Carter," which will be taking the show's place while it's on hiatus, Hayley Atwell and the Howling Commandos from the first Captain America movie will be appearing in flashback.  The casting announcement I'm most excited about is Adrianne Palicki as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Bobbi Morse aka Mockingbird.  In the comics, Mockingbird is the ex-wife of Avenger, Hawkeye.  Does this mean that Jeremy Renner will be making a guest appearance?  Probably not, but I can dream.  

The show has lots of loose threads to pick up on like Skye's mysterious origin.  It was revealed at the end of last season that Skye is an 0-8-4, or an object of unknown origin.  We will get some answers to her parentage when Kyle Machlaclan shows up as her father who is just being id'ed as "The Doctor." For now.  Coulson is still dealing with being brought back from the dead and the weird drawings that he was scribbling on his wall in the finale.  Will Ward prove himself to the team and work his back into their good graces?

I have high hopes for the show's second season, and I think that it can keep up with the quality that it was producing at the end of it's freshman run.  Are you ready for more Agents?  Did you give up and are thinking about rejoining the fold?  Let me know in the comments.

Gotham Series Premiere Review: There Will Be Light

Gotham, Episode 1: "Pilot"

I was talking with a friend of mine about "Gotham" yesterday and my friend wasn't sold on another re-telling of the Batman origin story or an origin of the villains that populate the most infamous city in the DC Universe.  Is there anything new here for die hard Bat fans?  Will this bring something fresh to the Batman mythos?  After watching the pilot for the much anticipated FOX show, I can say the answer is tentatively yes.  "Gotham" tells a familiar story, but by shifting focus away from Bruce Wayne and onto new cop in town, Detective James Gordon and the shifty characters that he encounters, the show helps turn something old into something new.

Fall TV Preview: Gotham Begins

FOX Is Banking on a High Profile Origin Story Being the First Big Hit of the Fall

When is a show about Batman, not a show about Batman?  The answer is: when that show focuses not so much on the Bat, but the infamous criminals that helped make the hero who he is.  FOX is hoping that the current comic resurgence in popular culture will give them a hit with "Gotham."  The story focuses on Detective James Gordon, the man who will grow to be Commissioner and Batman's greatest ally, and his partner, Harvey Bullock.  While investigating the murder of young Bruce Wayne's parents, they are also dealing with the crop of villains that are popping up to terrorize the citizens of America's most dangerous city.  

The big question is, will viewers want to back down this well trod path.  FOX seems to betting big. If you watched the network at all over the summer, I'm sure you saw a minimum of 3 commercials per show on FOX all summer long.  Rather than re-tell the story of how Bruce Wayne became the winged terror of Gotham's underworld, creator Bruno Heller, decided tell the story of some of the Bat's most fearsome foes.  How did Oswald Cobblepot go from pathetic underling to the runner of Gotham's mob ties.  How did Edward Nygma go from a GCPD coroner to the prince of puzzles, The Riddler?  How did young orphan, Selina Kyle, grow up to be Gotham's best burglar, Catwoman? How do Gordon and Bullock fit into this?  Can they do anything to stem the tide of crime and make Gotham a decent city?

 I think this will make for compelling television, because it's not like "Arrow," where Ollie is striving to save Starling City.  Gotham is beyond saving and these new criminals will only make things worse.  You are watching everything spiral out of control knowing that Batman is the only one who can bring some sense of order to the chaos.  There are heroes, but they are everyday heroes like Benjamin Mckenzie's Gordon who fights against the stem of corruption to be an honest cop, while his partner, Donal Logue's, Bullock fails prey to it.

The producer's are also introducing some new characters like Jada Pinkett Smith's mob boss, Fish Mooney.  The cast is rounded out by unknowns which I think was good of the producers.  It allows them to put their own stamp on these iconic characters.  The producers have also tweaked young Bruce Wayne's origin by making Gordon and Bullock the detectives that are investigating his parents' murder, which ties him into the proceedings.  

So, are  you planning on watching "Gotham" tonight when it premieres on FOX at 9/8c?  Are you excited, nervous, apprehensive?  Do you have high hopes?  Do you think there is anything new that producers can bring to this?  Watch the trailer and then let me know in the comments.