User Reviews

Although not as good as last week's episode, 'Knock Knock,' 'The Last Laugh' is still a very good episode that satisfyingly ends off the three-part story that kicked off the very promising-looking season 2.

After Commissioner Sarah Essen, a friend of Gordon and Bullock's, was killed by Jerome at the end of the last episode, Gordon and Bullock are out for revenge and looking for Jerome. Meanwhile, Theo is planning something big that will make Jerome a 'star.' Jerome must first cover up any tracks that might lead to Theo being revealed as the person who broke him, Barbara, and the others out of Arkham Asylum, and in doing so frames his blind father and kills him. Later, Jerome and Barbara disguise themselves as a magician and his assistant, and they perform at a fund raiser for children in need that Bruce, Alfred, Selina, Leslie, and Barbara happen to be attending. There he kills the temporary Mayor and takes everyone hostage.

Of course, the episode ends with **SPOILER** Jerome getting betrayed and seemingly killed by Theo. However, I personally do not believe he is dead - or at least, I really, REALLY don't want him to be. Here are my reasons for thinking he might still be alive:

• The blood from the stab wound on his neck formed a smile around his mouth.

• When Theo said at the end that he 'knew Jerome wouldn't last long,' Barbara says 'I don't know... the kid had a way about him.'

• It would make sense story-wise: he could suddenly reappear at the end of the season as the full-fledged Joker and reveal that he played a joke on them, and then disappear for the rest of the show.

• It would be really stupid for the writers to kill him off this soon, especially because Cameron Monaghan was the best thing about the show for these past three episodes.

Of course, there is evidence to support that he is dead, like seeing Jerome in the morgue. One might also say that seeing all those people at the end go insane and start laughing in a Joker-like style is evidence to support that someone will copy him and become the real Joker, but I think that idea is stupid and doesn't really make sense story-wise.

Overall, I really liked this episode. My only complaint was that the pacing seemed off - Jerome and Barbara's 'magic show' took up over half the episode. However, that was basically finishing off a three- part story, so it makes sense that it would be longer than if it was a one-off episode.

It has been a good beginning of the second season, but Jerome Valeska shouldn't have left the show. With only 4 episodes, he has become the prince of chaos. He is not just a legend or a myth. He is the one who knows how to rule the city without rules. The maniac who thinks that madness is the redemption for the world where we live in. The panic's master and the defender of horror. The clown that everybody fears to laugh at. Why did they killed him and transformed the character just into an idea?

But despite the script, Cameron Monaghan did an amazing job. He brought a fresh air to the young 'Joker'. He didn't missed all the gestures of the the old actors who played the role, and he had that psychotic expression expression in the eyes, particular of the circus villain. He was perfect in every scene. This guy deserves recognition. Despite that he won't appear more in Gotham, the audience will remember him. Congratulations to Cameron. His career has just began to rise.

Heath and the others would be proud of this brilliant, talented boy.

The previous episode of Gotham was excellent and shows that season two has already surpassed season one for thrills,spills and downright shocking chaos with the characters being much more interesting than before and acting greatly improved.

Last weeks shocking death of Commissioner Sarah Essen(Zabryna Guevara)has sent shockwaves round the GCPD and we see Gordon(Ben McKenzie)and a returning Bullock(Donal Logue)questioning dodgy people about the whereabouts of Jerome(a unmissable Cameron Monaghan)who along with the Maniax(the group set up by Theo and Tabitha Galavan who are played by James Frain and Jessica Lucas respectively)was behind the murder of Essen and many police officers on duty that day.They arrive at Jerome's estranged fathers apartment just after a visit by his son and Tabitha results in Jerome murdering his own father and sees both Gordon and Bullock knocked out by a mixture of sleeping gas and a kick to the head.

After another escape from Jerome his boss Galavan sets up a hostage situation at a children's hospital gala with the intention of kidnapping young Bruce Wayne(David Mazouz)who is attending with Alfred(Sean Pertwee)who is attracted to Dr Leslie Thompkins(Morena Baccarin).

He sets up Jerome and Barbara(Erin Richards)to pretend to be magicians so they can take the gala hostage which leads to Jerome killing the deputy mayor before they kidnap Thompkins and then after threatening to kill Alfred they get Bruce on the stage.

In a shocking moment Galavan 'rescues' Bruce by killing Jerome(a double cross by Galavan to show Jerome he was never in his plans at all)and showing Galavan to be a 'hero',whilst this happens Barbara escapes and everyone goes home safe plus Galavan's true plans begin to reveal themselves that he has a personal vendetta with the Wayne family(which we see more of in future episodes).

Just after Bullock warns Penguin(Robin Lord Taylor)to stay away from Jim or he'll kill him and he taunts him over his status as 'King Of Gotham' and that he has not forgotten about Penguin being involved in Fish Mooney's death.Whilst this goes on we see many Gotham citizens going insane after Jerome's act on TV and are excited by it leading to many mass murders and Jerome's father last words to his son 'you will be a curse on this city and your legacy will be death and madness' coming true leaving a last image of a dead grinning Jerome.

There was so much of a comic book feel to this episode and the shock at the end was one I was never expecting and though Jerome's Joker(or was it)had in a short time created a legacy on this show and in the plot this must of been a red herring by the makers to believe Jerome was the young Joker and whether the real version of Batman's arch enemy will be in the show in the future and also maybe a watching Gotham citizen will be driven insane to become thee Joker.

Acting was better than ever in this episode with Monaghan supreme as Jerome and this was his show whether its taunting his father with the story of his badly abused childhood(you can kind of understand his loopiness tbh),mentioning that Bruce has a 'split personality' or taking over the gala in true psychotic mode(along with Barbara who played Harley Quinn to his Joker on the stage)which leads to people round the city losing their own marbles he simply steals the show from any actor,actress or character(even the main players)and to see him die at the end was kind of sad to see such a flourishing player in an already criminal packed city killed so quickly and a bit odd.

Other actors are still excellent like McKenzie as Gordon,Taylor as Penguin(in a smaller role for a change),Logue as Bullock(glad to have him back in cop mode)and Pertwee as Alfred who still brings the shows best laughs which included trying and failing to chat up the lovely Dr Thompkins and cheekily blames Bruce for messing it up for him('you made me look like a right muppet back there')plus he gets to show off his ex military life in the gala scene,we see Selina Kyle(Carmen Bicondova)briefly too who shares a sweet exchange with Bruce.

I'm still not a big fan of Theo Galavan who though played well by Frain is a slimy character who I hope gets killed at some point(love his gorgeous sister Tabitha though as she is proper nasty)and Barbara though a tad better than before is still not that greatly acted by Richards who I just find annoying a lot of the time.

Not a great deal of action with most either taking place at the gala or in a brief battle at Jerome's fathers place(with a big kick to the head by Tabitha for Gordon to go with it)but the gala moments are gripping and love the team up of Gordon and Alfred(and Alfred taking care of bad guys in a Batman sort of style)plus Jerome taunting his audience before his boss's deception shocks us all.

By far the best episode yet of Gotham and turned it from a interesting show in season one to a always gripping show in series two with short but very sweet action,very good acting including Monaghan who stole the plaudits from others,dark humour all around and a twist no one seen coming and changes the plot kind of for the best(shouldn't of killed him though)as it set up future story lines for other main players.

Plot; Gotham's wealthiest citizens are taken hostage by members of the Maniax and ultimately saved by mysterious billionaire Theo Galavan.

Another exceptionally strong episode with a nice, tight focus. Gotham is at its best when its building on the story at large and not focusing on one-offs and a villains of the week. Speaking of villains, we lose one here, and it's a doozy. I was convinced he was going to develop into the Joke, but the coda seems to indicate he was merely the inspiration. But if I've learned one thing from comic books, no one ever stays dead.

I was very disappointed in killing the Joker so soon. Makes no sense and leaves me very unsatisfied. I think I'll be skipping the series for awhile. I might hold out for a couple of episodes, but so far the villains really pale in comparison besides the Penguin and Riddler. I guess if the entire show is based on building villains, why kill the most important villain in the entire batman genre?

I also don't care for Gordon a huge amount. I find that turning Barbara into a villain isn't a good twist at all and that Gordon's new woman is rather unlikable. Why make so many wild changes with the plot? It would be nicer if it fit more in with the comic books.