Gotham wasted no time getting campy. “The Balloonman” isn’t quite the Day-Glo shlockfest perpetrated by Joel Schumacher, but it’s still problematic because most of the show’s ensemble, especially Ben McKenzie, are still acting as though they’re in a gritty police drama. Which they are, in a way, because that’s how Gotham is structured, but tonight’s episode required about 50 utterances of the word “balloon,” which is always a good way to lighten the mood. The city itself was way over the top, as a dirty cop prepared to beat a suspect with a Civil Service Award (subtle!); elsewhere, Cobblepot, having returned to Gotham, surveys his surroundings – cops on the take, hookers, pickpockets, purse snatchers – and contentedly sighs, “Home” (even more subtle!).
When a self-styled vigilante dubbed the Balloonman kills a crooked financier by handcuffing him to a weather balloon and letting him float away, Gordon and Bullock get the case, because Gordon and Bullock get every case. Bullock doesn’t seem overly concerned with catching the guy, until his next victim turns out to be the aforementioned dirty cop, Lt. Cranston, seen before his death beating up a drug dealer because he wants more money. He’s surprisingly not frothing at the mouth and gnashing his teeth, so good job on the restraint, Gotham.
“The Balloonman” went full-tilt boogie into campiness in other areas too, most notably in Cobblepot’s storyline – or lack thereof. He doesn’t do much except come back to Gotham, murder one of Fish’s henchmen, and get a job washing dishes at a mob hangout, where he makes the acquaintance of Sal Maroni (Dexter‘s David Zayas, who, along with John Doman as Carmine Falcone, has brought the number of Italians played by non-Italians up to two). The problem with the Penguin’s origin story is that it isn’t an origin story; he’s all crazy, all the time, and seems to have watched too much Scandal, because he’s always ready to launch into an unsolicited speech (when Fish’s goon grabs him, Cobblepot waits approximately 5 seconds before screaming some shit like “Gotham is my destiny!”).
Bruce is fencing with Alfred and refusing to eat, because like every middle schooler who just saw Fight Club and wants to be Tyler Durden, he surely believes that not eating or sleeping makes you a badass. (To be fair, though, Bruce’s chemistry with Alfred is one of Gotham‘s bright spots.) Detectives Montoya and Allen are hot to bust Gordon for killing Cobblepot, and Montoya even shows up at Barbara’s loft, which is probably the nicest apartment on television right now, to warn her away from Gordon. (Speaking of sets, I’ll say this: the GCPD station looks fantastic. Definitely Gotham‘s best set, and it’s easy to see why it’s used so often.) Oh, and Fish is trying to play Maroni and Falcone against each other, even though it’s obvious to any viewer that Falcone is onto her. Jada Pinkett Smith gives every one of her lines the same silky, femme fatale delivery, like a drag queen dressed up as Eartha Kitt. But I’ll give her points for not tethering herself to Gotham‘s dwindling number of serious elements; Pinkett Smith might be the only cast member ready to give the campiness a warm embrace.
So the Ballonman gets caught, obviously, and it’s Child Services employee Davis Lamond (Dan Bakkedahl). The media is already turning him into a folk hero, though, as the least objective reporter in history wonders pointedly who will come forth to save the disenfranchised and disillusioned now that the Balloonman is going to the slammer. Bakkedahl sold his monologue nicely, even if it was a little unprompted, and he was good in a dramatic role; I’m used to seeing him in bit parts in things like Community and The Heat.
“The Balloonman” ends with Cobblepot showing up at Gordon’s apartment, and I’m not sure what we’re supposed to make of this. I’m not worried for Gordon, because duh, so I’d guess next week will start out with a little tete-a-tete between our hero and what Gotham thinks is a terrifying bad guy. Tell you what: you keep the balloons to a minimum, and maybe have Robin Lord Taylor show an emotion beyond “crazy,” and I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, Gotham.
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