Bliss

Just when you think this series is taking you in one direction, when you think there may be some calm, then BAM! BOOM! POW! No you don't.

We see some backstory begin to evolve here and give us some insight to our favourite driver.

What's really interesting is seeing Oz try to juggle all these angles while still maintaining his (less than) upstanding appearance.

The way things unfold here and further backstory is hinted at, without revealing too much (or anything at all) really sets the tone for things to come.

We see where certain loyalties are in this episode with an incredibly suspenseful finish that only raises more questions.

As I said in my review of episode one, the paths ahead are many and this episode leaves us an indelible amount of guesswork.

A cliffhanger and its not even mid-season yet? If this show wasn't written so well i'd be afraid the quality might drop off. But I sincerely doubt that.

Yet another banger for The Penguin.

Ep.3 Entertainment Value 10/10 Overall Rating 10/10

Can't wait for the next episode. Things are really heating up.

Based on the first few minutes I wanted to dislike this episode because it starts with a flashback/backstory about sidekick Vic. In my ignorant opinion Vic's story was superfluous and his character could only serve the narrative through his interactions with The Penguin as a foil/mentee; so I thought this would be a wasted episode. It's nice to be wrong.

I still think Vic is best in small doses, but his rejection of redemption in a sort of truncated Michael Corleone arc is effective and affecting. Plus this episode gives Colin Farrell his best (brief) dramatic moment so far. His tense interactions with Cristin Miloti's Sofia Falcone are ratcheted up to breaking point. They're enemies; and they're also reluctant allies with a preternatural ability to finish each other's lies. Watching Farrell and Miloti spark off each other is an acting tour de force that singlehandedly carries the episode.

Another beyond solid episode this week.

Oz is playing the card of Sofia Falcone while Vic is burdened by his past and mixing the people of it in this new lifestyle. Oz and Sofia are trying to push the "revolutionary" drug into Gotham and need to re kindle old connections to do it. Vic is questioning whether this life is for him or not.

Very very happy with this weeks episode. We get a lot of Oz and Sofia one on one, there is a clear tension of what Oz did to her before and that looming issue of Oz working for as opposed to working with.

We get flash backs for Vic but the perfect amount, enough to establish relationships and build more of Gotham without feeling dragged down by a flashback.

There is no dialogue wasted, a perfect blend of action and drama this episode, an incredible ending and I'm very much looking forward to next week, 8.5/10.

This episode is packed with interesting layers. On one hand, we have super intense moments, like Victor's terrible day when his life is turned upside down because of the Riddler. These scenes are memorable because they bring a genuine emotional impact... We finally get to see the chaos of Gotham's explosions from the perspective of an ordinary person, and that makes all the difference. Victor's life being destroyed isn't just visual, you really feel it.

Now, talking about the main duo, what's happening between Oz and Sofia is what really keeps the series going. The tension between them is so obvious, and the mutual trust game (or lack thereof) is one of the most interesting points of the episodes. The show does a great job of exploring this "dance" where both know they can't fully trust each other, but they still have to work together. Colin Farrell absolutely nails it as the Penguin, creating a character that's both charming and repulsive at the same time. You even like him in some moments, but then you quickly remember he's really a scumbag at heart.

And Sofia is slowly revealing herself to be more than just a crime boss. The way she handles the new drug "Bliss," almost like it's some kind of salvation, says a lot about her worldview. She's not just after power - she's searching for something deeper, something that hasn't been fully explained yet... Cristin Milioti does a brilliant job portraying this almost religious, fanatical side of Sofia. Every scene between her and Oz is a masterclass in subtlety and manipulation, where it's clear that, even though she enjoys Oz's lies, she knows she can never let her guard down.

The highlight of the episode is when Oz and Sofia fully embrace their "partners in crime" mode. The chemistry between them is off the charts, and you can feel that these two could cause a lot of damage together. And this is where the show really shines: in building these complex relationships where no one is fully trustworthy, but everyone needs someone.

This episode opens with a flashback to the flood from The Batman, from the point of view of Victor. If I am to be honest, the flood in the Batman didn't really seem like all that much of a deal. The water went up to the chest, people were cold since it was November but it didn't seem al that catastrophic. Well from Victors' point of view it was very catastrophic. Won't say much more to spoil the plot but the water is depicted to be much more destructive, taking many lives. That pretty much means that The Batman himself failed pretty badly, he caught the Riddler too late and it cost many lives and left the city in turmoil. What a great setup for the next movie!

Concerning the episode and the series? The Penguin himself is still the same awesome sleazy gangster character as in the previous episodes. Still pretty great. What is new is that this episode actually made me like Victor... Is like the right word? I don't agree with his actions, but I am starting to understand him better. He is no longer the passive reactive NPC that he has been before, now he makes some decisions, an takes action. The Flashback to the flood also paints him better as a person. He is becoming more 3 dimensional, interesting, intriguing. Such a nice feeling to have a well written series to look forward to again!

P. S. This is purely my speculation about the plot, read at own peril. I fear poor Victor wont make it trough the story, simply for pragmatic reasons. He is the POV Character for the audience and once that function expires with the series, I can't really see him appearing in the Batman sequel. The most pragmatic would be to build him up, make the audience care for him and then have him die which would tie the series up nicely. Purely my speculation, just want to have it posted beforehand.