First time I’ve gotten to watch live in a long time, so forgive this if my thoughts are more jumbled than usual.
General Thoughts: Here’s what made this episode successful: it was tonally consistent. Even the moments of humor came from a dark and twisted place, matching the gritty and raw look at the rise of Azrael. It wasn’t meant to be cartoony but to drive home how twisted this city and this reality is. Taking a week off from Penguin and those highly campy antics he’s been a player in this season was needed so that the show could find its niche in dark mythology building.
LIKED
–“He’s wonderful, isn’t he?” Not the word I would use, Strange (but this fits perfectly with Dr. Strange’s Mad Scientist trope)
–Gordon and Strange have excellent tense chemistry, especially when Strange calls Gordon’s bluff and gets pretty gosh darn threatening.
–“Puzzles are my forte, and nobody beats me.” “I did.” Everything that is Ed Nygma is fabulous, especially him analyzing all the patients in Arkham. He’s an egomanicial sociopath who thinks he is better and smarter than everyone and this scene really proved his particular brand of neurosis.
–Ms Peabody continues to be the much needed “we ain’t got time for this” comic relief.
–I really like the idea of Strange creating his own monster based on the notion that everyone needs a story and an identity. Everyone on this show creates one another with their own heroic and villainous acts and we all tell our own story and understand our own identity through those acts; this is a pretty extreme, in your face, way of selling that point, but it’s a good one to sell.
–The sword thirsts for blood? Is it Stormbringer??! (yes, yes. All heroes–or villains believing they are a hero–must have a magical sword. It’s tropetastic)
–“This is leather on a stick!”
–“I find you to be a PITA (abbreviated for forum)” <–this is literally the first time I’ve ever liked Barnes because yes Baby!Batman, go home.
–Nygma’s attempt to find the hidden passage while the happiest music in the world plays in the background until his descent into the bowels of hell (more or less). Dark, twisted, weird, humorous moment that actually fits with the tone of the episode.
–RIP Barnes
DISLIKED
–“I needed to be sure you were behind this, and now I am.” Because Strange lied? And you could tell? Sorry, Gordon but that isn’t exactly hard evidence that stands up in court. (10 minutes later, at least Gordon acknowledges this to Baby!Batman)
–Nygma is in the medical profession; he would know that it’s no longer called “multiple personality disorder” but goes by the more proper term: Dissociative identity disorder
–Let’s run to the roof to get away from the madman! (this is a terrible idea. This is what gets people killed in horror movies. Get in a CAR and DRIVE AWAY)