The Arkham Knight Character: My Thoughts (SPOILERS)

Thought I'd do something different and that is giving my thoughts and opinions on the infamous Arkham Knight character that was the in latest Batman game of the same name. This might seems that it is coming a bit but I was late getting the game any way because I went on holiday not long after it's release and I decided to get The Witcher 3 first before I went anyway. Plus the good thing about this is that by now everyone has played the game and probably don't care about spoilers much.

For those who don't know the Arkham Knight was the secondary antagonist in the latest Batman Arkham game; he wore a his own version of the Batman suit, was equal to him in skill and controlled the military that took over Gotham for Scarecrow. His identity was one of the biggest attraction of the game for many Batman fans (including myself) because of his unique design and that Rocksteady promising it was a original character for the game series. So imagine my disappointment when the man behind the mask turned out to be Jason Todd, the second Robin who wanted revenge on Batman.

Now for those who don't know who Jason Todd is he was the second Robin to work for Batman but was really violent, insolent and disagreed with Batman's views many times. He was kidnapped by the Joker and beaten almost to death with a crowbar before being blown up along with his mother. However he was indirectly resurrected by Superboy Prime and taken in for a while by the League of Assassins and even bathed in the Lazarus Pit. He then became the violent vigilante known as the Red Hood who returned to Gotham to get his revenge on Batman.

You know I thought the Arkham Knight was so freaking awesome when I got the game and I still do don't get me wrong; he was badass, his suit was such a great design and he was a match for Batman. I had so many theories to his identity (will list them) before the game's release and while I was playing it and to find out it was Jason Todd was so lacklustre and kind of lazy. It is almost the same story line as in Under the Hood where Jason, thought to be dead, comes back as a new persona in Gotham except that instead of becoming the Red Hood he becomes the Arkham Knight. What is annoying however is that Jason still becomes the Red Hood anyway at the end when part of the Arkham Knight suit is ripped off and it looks like the same Red Hood mask. What was also pretty annoying was that it wasn't even much of a surprise because halfway through the game Batman hallucinates seeing Jason tortured by the Joker and I thought after seeing something like that Jason just had to be the Arkham Knight. Why else would they have shown those flashbacks because if they wanted the Arkham Knight to be someone else then by that point in the game they would have gave hints of that someone but no they flat out tell you it's Jason. In the end Rocksteady decided to play it safe and just repeat a storyline used in the comics when the true identity of the Arkham Knight could have been lots of other Batman characters.

Here is a list of characters I think would have been better for the Arkham Knight, most of these where my theories before the game's release:

Damien Wayne: The son of Bruce with Talia, Damien could have become the Arkham Knight as revenge against Bruce and to prove he is a worth successor to Batman, which is why his suit is similar.

Thomas Wayne Junior/Owlman: Since this character s so well known in the comics and not featured as much as other villains I thought they could have change as much as the want about him without spoiling the character.

Thomas Wayne Senior: Was featured a lot in the commercials so I thought it could be possible he was still alive in the games. It could have been similar to Flashpoint where he was Batman but had no problem killing criminals.

James Gordon Junior: Because Gordon and Barbara where heavily involved in the plot like tricking Batman into thinking Barbara committed suicide and Gordon turning against you I thought it might have been someone close to them. James Gordon Junior his a psychopathic killer who does torment his family in the comics and while he has never been portrayed as a fighter who can stand up to Batman they could have changed it a bit for the game.

Hush: A side quest in Arkham reveals that Hush performs surgery on his face to make him look exactly like Bruce Wayne so he can ruin him so why not be his own version of the Batman while he is at it? But no they just gave him a silly five minute side quest in the game which was a shame.

Clayface: We never did get to find out if Clayface survived his fall into the Lazarus Pit or if it changed him in the end. He could have become the Arkham Knight to get revenge on Batman for his defeat in the last game.

Jean - Paul Valley/Azrael: This character actually was Batman at some point in the comics but was a lot more violent than Bruce. Like Hush I thought Azrael would be featured in the main storyline of the game instead of just being a side mission.

There you have it just a little rant about the Arkham Knight character.

Gotham Season One: Rogues Gallery/What the Little Bird Told Him

"You can assign me to this nuthouse but you can't break my spirit!"

Rogues Gallery: Gordon's reassignment to Arkham Asylum gets off to a bad start when an imate is murdered so he decides to investigate it. Meanwhile Selina and Ivy seek refuge in Gordon's apartment and Cobblepot, Now officially The Penguin, tries to gains more power.

What the Little Bird Told Him: Gordon tries to get his old job back by attempting the recapture Jack Gruber AKA The Electrocutioner (Christopher Heyerdahl) meanwhile Fish makes for move against Falcone but it may not be as easy as she thought it would be.

Finally Gotham is back and it felt like it took ages! Thought I'd review these two episodes together since they where aired together as a feature length episode in the UK and they are a two parter anyway. However I am quite busy this week so I will only be able to quickly do this review in bullet points listing the good and bad moments.

You should have accepted his offer Butch

Good

Arkham Asylum: In the comics the Asylum is like a character itself and they did a really good job of  adapting it in live action. I liked the whole hopeless atmosphere they gave it and the run down and gritty look from the undermanned staff to the fact it still looks barely built. Gordon was also great as a guard there and that he never gave up and I liked the character Dr Leslie (Morena Baccarin) who I think will be a way better love interest than Barbara who they have completely ruined.

The Electrocutioner: I don't know too much about this villain besides from the Arkham Origins games but I liked him in this because it was a really creepy portrayal and it was an interesting take that there are two of them in this episode. Glad he is still alive for another day and I liked the electricity effects and it was something different for Gordon and Bullock to face.

Some good humour: Penguin and Engma continue to provide some nice comedic moments, I like that they can do that but are not classed as just comic relief characters. We also got it from Selina and Ivy when they where breaking into Gordon's apartment and I really like those two young actresses so it was great they had some scenes in these two episodes.

Strong Butch subplot: It surprised me that Fish's right hand man had a decent story and dilemma to deal with, I knew he wasn't just a background character but I didn't know he would get a really good subplot.

Strong Falcone subplot: Another great subplot was with the Don himself and it was interesting seeing him struggling with the idea on whether or not his time in Gotham has really passed, but thanks to Zsaz and Penguin he got over that. It was quite brutal how he strangled Liza to death and I loved the look of Fish's face when she realized she lost.

Hope they bring him back in future episodes

Bad

Fish: I am always going to hate Fish and nothing is going to change that, if a lot of screen time is given to her in the episode than that just automatically puts her in my let downs and drag the score down. This two parter, especially the second episode, made me realize just how stupid her plan actually was with Liza and she never would have been a good Don anyway. I mean Falcone was right; papers don't make a Don and she really thought she would have been that simple? Unfortunately I doubt she will be killed off anytime soon so will are going to suffer her a little bit longer. Just want to mention that the actress of Fish has reported saying that she won't return for Season Two. First off I'm glad the show is renewed for season two but even more glad Fish isn't returning because she was just an awful character who was the one of the two bad things in a great show. I really hope she gets killed off (she should in the finale) but even if she doesn't at least we get a season free of this annoying cow.

Barbara: The second half of the two things that is bad with the show; a completely weak and worthless character who they have ruined. I hate every scene she is in and even though it looks like it's over I have hated this forced lesbian past/relationship they gave her since the beginning (and now they had to introduce drinking and drugs to it). What bothers me the most however is that she seems to take the morale damn high ground against Gordon all the time, like she hasn't done anything wrong and that it's all his fault.

The capture of The Electrocutioner: The character was really cool, as well as his methods and breaking into the GCPD but really, he was stopped by a cup of water that was barely half full?

You don't f**k with Falcone!

Overall this was a great two parter which sees Gordon now back on the force and ends that stupid Liza plan that wasn't going anywhere.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: The Electrocutiner
                   Arkham Asylum/Gordon's time there/Dr Leslie
                   Strong Butch/Falcone subplots

Let - Downs: Fish
                      Barbara
                      A cup of water saves the day

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/          

Gotham Season One: Lovecraft

"Your in my world now Bruce"

The episode begins with assassin Larissa Diaz AKA Copperhead (Lesley-Ann Brandt) infiltrating the Wayne Manor to kill Selina but Alfred holds them at bay long enough for her and Bruce to run. Gordon and Bullock are called in on this and Alfred says he will help meanwhile Cobblepot is called before Falcone because of the recent robbery of his money (last episode), he swears it was Fish not Maroni but Falcone says he wants evidence. Gordon confronts Dent saying that his plan has put Bruce and Selina in danger but Dent is still adamant that Lovecraft is behind everything, Bullock and Alfred then ask a street kid about where Selina would go. In the streets of Gotham Selina wants to leave Bruce however decides not to after he impresses her by jumping across a building and takes her to a hangout of the street kids.

You go Alfred!

Bullock and Alfred then ask Fish for help, with Alfred being the one to persuade her and Selina introduces Bruce to Ivy Pepper (Clare Foley). Gordon then pays a visit to Lovecraft who swears Copperhead is after him as well and has nothing to do with the Wayne murders however Copperhead then shows up, chokes out Gordon and then kills Lovecraft with his gun. Selina and Bruce are then captured by a street dealer who wants to turn them over to Copperhead however Bullock, Alfred and Gordon soon arrive so Copperhead flees and Selina is able to escape. Later the Mayor is furious about the Lovecraft murder, so he blames Gordon for it (saying to the press he drove Lovecraft to suicide) and transfers Gordon to Arkham Asylum as a security guard. The episode ends with Selina visiting Bruce and thanking him with a kiss (because he refused to tell Copperhead anything) and Gordon arriving at Arkham.

Cheer up Gordon, it might be rather nice inside

Took me a while to get round to this but that was because I was busy with my Arrow and Flash reviews but this was the mid season finale so I had time. Anyway this was a good follow up to the Harvey Dent episode and introduced another DC villain; Copperhead, however this one was based on the female Copperhead from Arkham: Origins game because the two from the comics are both men. I didn't like Copperhead in the game because she was practically a nobody when I wanted all the contract killers to be more well known however I liked this version of her. Maybe because its a re telling of Batman's villains featuring their younger versions so they can build up her character a bit more here. I like all of the scenes she was in and used her contortionist skills to choke out her victims like the snake she was named for. So well done with this character, like Zasaz it was a strong introduction for her.

"Why does it have to be kids?"

I was also glad that this episode largely focused on Bruce and Selina in the streets of Gotham because like I have said before these two a great together. It was assuming seeing Bruce unsure of himself in the streets and it is Selina who has to watch out for him. However a real standout in this episode was Alfred and that is because he kicked all kinds of ass! The guy managed to hold off three assassins (also the only one to fend off Copperhead) and persuade Fish to help while bribing and beating up others for information. We also got a touching scene between him and Bruce when they where finally reunited and highlights the bond that they have between them.

"So we just eat with dead body?"

As for the rest of the episode I actually think Fish was okay in this one for once, maybe that is because she was helpful to Alfred and didn't act like a b***h she usually is. I am also interested to see what is going to happen to Gordon's storyline now since he is at Arkham, I have read some people complain about this but I like it. He is obviously not going to be there forever and while he is there we might meet other characters like Hugo Strange or Scarecrow. However what I didn't like was how Dent was portrayed in this because it wasn't the mistake with Lovecraft that annoyed me because he is still young it is the fact he agreed with the corrupt Mayor. Maybe he has a plan but I just didn't like that he back off because of the Mayor's threat so easily.

"If only you had a cape to glide across when you jump" 

Overall I this was a good episode and Gotham has been a strong series so far so I can't wait for it to come back.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Copperhead was a great villain
                   Alfred was a scene stealer
                   Selina and Bruce

Let - Downs: Dent seems a bit out of character

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/