Newsletter
  • Guides
  • Previews
    • Indie Games
    • PS4
    • PC
    • Xbox One
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo 3DS
    • PS Vita
    • PS3
    • Xbox 360
    • Wii U
  • Site Info
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Staff Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Privacy Policy
      • Cookies Policy
    • RSS Feeds
    • Social Media
      • Youtube
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Twitch
      • Instagram
      • Tumblr
      • Linkedin
      • Pinterest
      • Discord
  • Discord
  • Store
  • Logitech G
  • green man gaming
  • Affiliates
    • GAMIVO.com
    • Logitech
    • Astro Gaming
    • Nord VPN
    • Best Buy
    • Namecheap Hosting
    • Blue Mic
    • Ultimate Ears
    • Jaybird
Sunday, June 4, 2023
BG
  • News
    • All
    • Esports
    • Interviews
    esports tournament dates 2023

    Don’t Miss These Major Esports Tournaments Coming in 2023!

    explore a new world of esports - bet successfully on valorant matches!

    Explore a New Era of eSports: Bet Successfully on Valorant Matches

    betting on video games - 5 tops picks

    Betting on Video Games: 5 top picks

    Kristala Gets Exclusive Beta Demo

    esports betting featured image

    5 Secrets of Bankroll Management That You Don’t Know

    Wanted: Dead Enemies and Bosses Explained Video

    8 Minutes of New Atomic Heart Gameplay

    Chance to make money with valorant?

    Valorant, CS: GO, Dota 2 – Just Online Games or an Opportunity to Make Money on Bets?

    Amazon Luna Games Coming in February

    Trending Tags

    • Top Stories
    • PlayStation
    • Xbox
    • Nintendo
    • Retro Games
    • Mobile Games
    • Indie Games
    • Square Enix
    • Sony
    • Microsoft
    • PAX
    • EGX
    • Gamescom
    • Rockstar Games
    • Electronic Arts
    • Activision Blizzard
    • E3 Expo
  • Reviews
    • All
    • Flash Game Reviews
    • Google Stadia
    • Indie Game Reviews
    • Mobile Game Reviews
    • Nintendo 3DS Reviews
    • Nintendo Switch Reviews
    • PC Reviews
    • PS Vita Reviews
    • PS3 Reviews
    • PS4 Reviews
    • PS5 Reviews
    • Retro Game Reviews
    • Reviews RoundUP
    • Xbox 360 Reviews
    • Xbox One Reviews

    Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly Nintendo Switch Review

    Atelier Ryza 3

    Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key Nintendo Switch Review

    No More Heroes 3 PS4 Review

    Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters PS4 Review

    Wanted: Dead Review

    The Legend of Heroes Trails From Zero

    The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero PC Review

    Amnesia: Memories + Later x Crowd Review

    Dusk Diver 2 PS5 Review

    Yurukill: The Culmination Games

    Yurukill: The Calumniation Games Nintendo Switch Review

    Trending Tags

    • Resident Evil
    • Call of Duty
    • Final Fantasy
    • Destiny
    • Borderlands
    • Halo
    • The Elder Scrolls
    • Fortnite
    • PUBG
    • Bioshock
    • The Witcher
  • Opinion
    • All
    • Second Opinion
    7 Tips to Game in a Shared Space

    7 Tips to Game in a Shared Space (Without Irritating Each Other!)

    explore a new world of esports - bet successfully on valorant matches!

    Explore a New Era of eSports: Bet Successfully on Valorant Matches

    betting on video games - 5 tops picks

    Betting on Video Games: 5 top picks

    esports betting featured image

    5 Secrets of Bankroll Management That You Don’t Know

    Popular games featured image

    The increasing popularity of online casinos

    Manga Review: Summertime Rendering Volumes 2 & 3

    buying, szelling, and trading csgo skins

    What To Expect When Buying, Selling, & Trading CS: GO Skins

    What Are the Best Ways to Gear Up in Retail WOW?

    Chance to make money with valorant?

    Valorant, CS: GO, Dota 2 – Just Online Games or an Opportunity to Make Money on Bets?

    Trending Tags

    • Is It A Classic?
    • Remember When
    • Do We Even Care Anymore?
    • Humpday Haikus
    • Top Series
    • Thirsty Thursday
    • Aging Gamer
    • On The Way To E3
  • Podcasts
    • All
    • The BagoCast
    • TSR BagoCast

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – The Future of Game Journalism

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Social Media & Esports

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Politics in Video Games Games

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Content Creators vs Game Journalist 2

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Titan Fall and Apex: Legends Hacked

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Content Creators vs Game Journalist

    BagoCast EP: 12 – Code Vein and the DLC

    Debate/Discussion: Bad Video Games That We Love

    Discussion/Debate: Is Bioware Gone?

    Trending Tags

    • Film Fallout
    • 8Bit Proof
    • Gaming Historia
    • Bago Anime Cast
    • Gamers In Beta
    • Gamers Unscripted
  • Videos

    So, You Wanna Play Junker Queen?

    Matchpoint Tennis Championships Live Review

    Void Slayer – Review

    The IDEAL Spider-Man VR Game

    Crunchyroll Panel Full Video @ Anime Frontier

    BPM: Bullets Per Minute – Shooting to The Beat (Review)

    She Will Punish Them – Warning: Mature Content (Early Access Review)

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – The Future of Game Journalism

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Social Media & Esports

  • Geek Culture
    • All
    • Anime and Manga
    • Anime/Manga Review
    • Collectibles
    • Comic Books
    • Cosplay
    • Movies
    • Tech
    • TV Shows

    RiotPWR Gaming Controller RP1950 Is Future Proof

    Manga Review: Summertime Rendering Volumes 2 & 3

    Pwnage Releases New Info On Stormbreaker, The Magnesium Alloy Gaming Mouse

    Eminence in Shadow Mobile RPG Gets New Trailer, Available Now

    Crunchyroll Announces Anime Frontier Panels and Premieres

    Crunchyroll Announces Hell’s Paradise, The Ancient Magus’ Bride S2, and More Upcoming Anime

    The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie Gets New Key Visual, Tickets Now on Sale

    Crunchyroll Rich Presence Now Available on Discord

    Udon Entertainment Announces Persona 4 Arena & Ultimax Manga Coming 2023

    Trending Tags

    • Movie Reviews
    • Movie News
    • TV News
    • TV Episode Review
    • Episode Guide
    • Competitive Gaming
    • Tech News
    • Tech Review
    • Anime and Manga News
    • Anime and Manga Review
    • Comic Book News
    • Comic Book Review
  • Forum
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All
    • Esports
    • Interviews
    esports tournament dates 2023

    Don’t Miss These Major Esports Tournaments Coming in 2023!

    explore a new world of esports - bet successfully on valorant matches!

    Explore a New Era of eSports: Bet Successfully on Valorant Matches

    betting on video games - 5 tops picks

    Betting on Video Games: 5 top picks

    Kristala Gets Exclusive Beta Demo

    esports betting featured image

    5 Secrets of Bankroll Management That You Don’t Know

    Wanted: Dead Enemies and Bosses Explained Video

    8 Minutes of New Atomic Heart Gameplay

    Chance to make money with valorant?

    Valorant, CS: GO, Dota 2 – Just Online Games or an Opportunity to Make Money on Bets?

    Amazon Luna Games Coming in February

    Trending Tags

    • Top Stories
    • PlayStation
    • Xbox
    • Nintendo
    • Retro Games
    • Mobile Games
    • Indie Games
    • Square Enix
    • Sony
    • Microsoft
    • PAX
    • EGX
    • Gamescom
    • Rockstar Games
    • Electronic Arts
    • Activision Blizzard
    • E3 Expo
  • Reviews
    • All
    • Flash Game Reviews
    • Google Stadia
    • Indie Game Reviews
    • Mobile Game Reviews
    • Nintendo 3DS Reviews
    • Nintendo Switch Reviews
    • PC Reviews
    • PS Vita Reviews
    • PS3 Reviews
    • PS4 Reviews
    • PS5 Reviews
    • Retro Game Reviews
    • Reviews RoundUP
    • Xbox 360 Reviews
    • Xbox One Reviews

    Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly Nintendo Switch Review

    Atelier Ryza 3

    Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key Nintendo Switch Review

    No More Heroes 3 PS4 Review

    Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters PS4 Review

    Wanted: Dead Review

    The Legend of Heroes Trails From Zero

    The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero PC Review

    Amnesia: Memories + Later x Crowd Review

    Dusk Diver 2 PS5 Review

    Yurukill: The Culmination Games

    Yurukill: The Calumniation Games Nintendo Switch Review

    Trending Tags

    • Resident Evil
    • Call of Duty
    • Final Fantasy
    • Destiny
    • Borderlands
    • Halo
    • The Elder Scrolls
    • Fortnite
    • PUBG
    • Bioshock
    • The Witcher
  • Opinion
    • All
    • Second Opinion
    7 Tips to Game in a Shared Space

    7 Tips to Game in a Shared Space (Without Irritating Each Other!)

    explore a new world of esports - bet successfully on valorant matches!

    Explore a New Era of eSports: Bet Successfully on Valorant Matches

    betting on video games - 5 tops picks

    Betting on Video Games: 5 top picks

    esports betting featured image

    5 Secrets of Bankroll Management That You Don’t Know

    Popular games featured image

    The increasing popularity of online casinos

    Manga Review: Summertime Rendering Volumes 2 & 3

    buying, szelling, and trading csgo skins

    What To Expect When Buying, Selling, & Trading CS: GO Skins

    What Are the Best Ways to Gear Up in Retail WOW?

    Chance to make money with valorant?

    Valorant, CS: GO, Dota 2 – Just Online Games or an Opportunity to Make Money on Bets?

    Trending Tags

    • Is It A Classic?
    • Remember When
    • Do We Even Care Anymore?
    • Humpday Haikus
    • Top Series
    • Thirsty Thursday
    • Aging Gamer
    • On The Way To E3
  • Podcasts
    • All
    • The BagoCast
    • TSR BagoCast

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – The Future of Game Journalism

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Social Media & Esports

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Politics in Video Games Games

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Content Creators vs Game Journalist 2

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Titan Fall and Apex: Legends Hacked

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Content Creators vs Game Journalist

    BagoCast EP: 12 – Code Vein and the DLC

    Debate/Discussion: Bad Video Games That We Love

    Discussion/Debate: Is Bioware Gone?

    Trending Tags

    • Film Fallout
    • 8Bit Proof
    • Gaming Historia
    • Bago Anime Cast
    • Gamers In Beta
    • Gamers Unscripted
  • Videos

    So, You Wanna Play Junker Queen?

    Matchpoint Tennis Championships Live Review

    Void Slayer – Review

    The IDEAL Spider-Man VR Game

    Crunchyroll Panel Full Video @ Anime Frontier

    BPM: Bullets Per Minute – Shooting to The Beat (Review)

    She Will Punish Them – Warning: Mature Content (Early Access Review)

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – The Future of Game Journalism

    Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – Social Media & Esports

  • Geek Culture
    • All
    • Anime and Manga
    • Anime/Manga Review
    • Collectibles
    • Comic Books
    • Cosplay
    • Movies
    • Tech
    • TV Shows

    RiotPWR Gaming Controller RP1950 Is Future Proof

    Manga Review: Summertime Rendering Volumes 2 & 3

    Pwnage Releases New Info On Stormbreaker, The Magnesium Alloy Gaming Mouse

    Eminence in Shadow Mobile RPG Gets New Trailer, Available Now

    Crunchyroll Announces Anime Frontier Panels and Premieres

    Crunchyroll Announces Hell’s Paradise, The Ancient Magus’ Bride S2, and More Upcoming Anime

    The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie Gets New Key Visual, Tickets Now on Sale

    Crunchyroll Rich Presence Now Available on Discord

    Udon Entertainment Announces Persona 4 Arena & Ultimax Manga Coming 2023

    Trending Tags

    • Movie Reviews
    • Movie News
    • TV News
    • TV Episode Review
    • Episode Guide
    • Competitive Gaming
    • Tech News
    • Tech Review
    • Anime and Manga News
    • Anime and Manga Review
    • Comic Book News
    • Comic Book Review
  • Forum
No Result
View All Result
BagoGames
No Result
View All Result

BagoGames > Articles > Geek Culture > TV Shows > Hot Air | Gotham Episode 3 ‘Balloon Man’ Review

Hot Air | Gotham Episode 3 ‘Balloon Man’ Review

Tim Gruver by Tim Gruver
9 years ago
in Geek Culture, TV Shows
Reading Time: 5 mins read
2
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

After decidedly less of its eponymous heroine than “Selina Kyle“ would imply last week, Gotham returned with “The Balloonman” with more spooks than grit. A rather broad-stroked mess more liable to wink at its far-flung future than look it dead in the eye, Gotham’s third round made for a preciously raucous time in its infancy while seemingly stunting its own growth. We know winged vigilantes  flying over Gotham City will be all the rage in roughly a decade, but as it turns out, Gotham will be the last to know, what with all the weather balloons blocking their view.

In Gotham, there are two people: the cops and the mobsters. Then there’s apparently this guy: a masked vigilante tying people, “bad” people, to weather balloons to die at 30,000 feet. In what can only be described as conceptually terrifying and outrageously cartoonish mustache-twirling, our very own “balloon man” sets out to destroy the mob alone as Jim Gordon and partner Harvey Bullock keep up their fruitless investigation of the infamous Wayne murders. And everywhere in between we have David Zayas debuting on the mob scene as Sal Maroni, Jim’s wife wandering around her apartment, and the Oswald Cobblepot getting his grimy hands even dirtier.

Gotham Fish Mooney BagoGames

RelatedStories

RiotPWR Gaming Controller RP1950 Is Future Proof

Manga Review: Summertime Rendering Volumes 2 & 3

Gotham‘s cops won’t clean up the mess as far as the city’s Harvey Bullocks are unconcerned. Donal Logue continues to sell Harvey Bullock as his sleazy self, sweet-talking hookers, beating snitches, and eating free street cart food, is virtually everything we loathe from the GCPD’s scummiest. Even a simple murder can’t be bothered with when it’s a crooked businessman in the fray, but a cheese danish can. As Bullock stands in for and more of the majority, it’s not hard to wonder why Gotham has a police force at all the minute they shrug a shoulder at beating homeless children.

At least Gordon has the decency to tell us, and his evidently ditzy fiancé Barbara, about just how bad things are. But this isn’t even bad so much as terrible. It’s just detectives Montoya and Allen that lazily allude to the few cops who keep their noses clean. “Everyone has to matter or nobody matters,” Gordon tells us, because “Otherwise people lose faith. That’s when you get vigilantes.” It looks like Gotham lost that faith a long time ago, and there’s hardly any suspense in it.

The real war brewing is as it always has between two mobs, Falcone’s and Maroni’s, but it’s excitement’s seemed to cool for now as far as Jada Pinkett Smith’s Fish Moony is concerned. A bit more collected this week, there’s not much more to her routine than ordering the death of Falcone’s main squeeze amidst her smoke filled rooms, though you can’t help but wonder how long her devilish smile will hide the real action behind the scenes. And apparently Fish’s decorating is living up to her name all of a sudden.

Gotham BalloonMan Selina Gordon BagoGames

Falcone preaches balance, but it’s difficult seeing any yet. It’d probably be in Falcone, Fish, and Maroni’s best interests if the police gave somewhat of a crap about their jobs, right? Because right now the worst criminal element in Gotham are the cops in what’s the cartoon land of crooks that Cobblepot steps off the bus from. Beyond words, Gotham’s “bad areas” don’t seem uniquely so, nor are its “good areas” any more than Wiley Coyotte making off with sacks of cash from an Acme bank. Carmen Bicondova’s Catwoman may remain the only smart crook left, stealing everything but the show in what precious glimpses the show purloins from us.

To Gotham, what crime it has is an even worse contrast between saturday morning cartoons and the grim stock imagery we see from every dark alley. It’s hard to think how many times Cobblepot’s knifing no-names will numb us to it as much as he is, either for squashing snitches or dressing for a job interview. There are roughly, err, a million alley people living in Gotham, and Cobblepot’s bent on killing at least half of them. For vigilantes, there’s more motive behind the stardom (or moral right) to change things for arguably better. The fact that we’re already witnessing a Gotham so bloodthirsty for justice that they idolize a guy who outright murders people in the air, though, paints a nasty picture of the normal citizenry too.

Gotham Balloonman BagoGames

A string of comedy beats hit their irreverent, if not infrequent stride, like Harvey getting tossed around an apartment by a woman he probably figured he could easily overpower and then one of the Balloon Man’s victims crashing down to the ground–splattering an old woman in the process. Also, there seemed to be a few Easter Eggs hidden about–like a mask echoing Professor Pyg and a guy named Lamont killing a guy named Cranston, DC Comics’ “Shadow,” who the killer also seemed to dress up like when he “ballooned” Cranston. And Barbara’s apartment is looking strangely like a clock tower all of a sudden, maybe for the baby bump her fiancé seems to be implying?

So, as per the show, our Balloon Man was the first guy, pre-Batman, to take the law into his own hands and dish out “justice.” And because the series can’t let anything sit and resonate on its own, we had to hear the killer say the line “There will be more like me, Detective.” Then an actual news reporter saying, on TV, “Now that the Balloonman is gone who will defend the people of Gotham?,” which young Bruce, naturally, took heed of alongside Sean Pertwee’s rather rude Alfred. Not that the Balloon killer was actually defending Gothamites, but rather murdering wrongdoers after the fact. Perhaps the show’s promised Harvey Dent’s what’s needed to present some semblance of law and order…and someone other than Gordon who realizes how sick the city really is.

“The Balloonman” is just about as two-sided as Two-Face’s future coin. It might very well prove why villains may be the beating heart of the show just as much as heroes are providing little pulse. All Gordon can do right now is nag and then try to solve cases no one wants solved. And even if we’re teased a show we’ll never get, it’s fascinating to think about how a man dressed as a bat will seem like no big deal to a city full of balloon men. This city’s reserving a seat in the mad house sooner rather than later.

[divider]

Gotham airs Monday nights at 8/7c on Fox. Catch all the latest episodes on FOX.com, FOX Now, or FOX on Demand and Hulu.

Gotham Episode 3 'Balloon Man'

Gotham Episode 3 'Balloon Man'
4

Score

4.0/10

Pros

  • Harvey Bullock Continues to Entertain
  • A Seedier Look at Gotham's Cops

Cons

  • Abrupt Tonal Shifts
  • Waiting Around for This Gang "War"
  • What's up with Penguin?

Tags: BatmanDC ComicsFOXTV Episode Review
ShareTweetShare


Previous Post

Minecraft For PS Vita Has Launch Date Set for Europe

Next Post

The Wolf Among Us headed to PS4 and Xbox One

Subscribe
Connect with
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
guest
The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us to keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser cookies for the next time I comment.

I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
guest
The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us to keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser cookies for the next time I comment.

2 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
trackback
Bad Joke | Gotham: 'The Blind Fortune Teller' Review
8 years ago

[…] Gordon’s felt like this season. Since when did you snort at fortune tellers when you’ve seen killer balloon men, […]

0
0
Reply
trackback
Gotham Gets a Full Season on FOX
8 years ago

[…] Hot Air | Gotham Episode 3 'Balloon Man' Review […]

0
0
Reply
wpdiscuz   wpDiscuz

BAGOGAMES WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Get this week's top news, reviews, guides, videos and opinion for your favorite games, movies, TV and tech in your email every Friday.

Don't worry, we don't spam.

NEW ON BAGOGAMES

esports tournament dates 2023
Esports

Don’t Miss These Major Esports Tournaments Coming in 2023!

by Trevor Kincaid
2 weeks ago
7 Tips to Game in a Shared Space
Opinion

7 Tips to Game in a Shared Space (Without Irritating Each Other!)

by Trevor Kincaid
3 weeks ago
explore a new world of esports - bet successfully on valorant matches!
Esports

Explore a New Era of eSports: Bet Successfully on Valorant Matches

by Trevor Kincaid
3 weeks ago

LATEST PODCASTS & VIDEOS

Currently Playing

Void Slayer – Review

Void Slayer – Review

Game Reviews

The IDEAL Spider-Man VR Game

Opinion

BPM: Bullets Per Minute – Shooting to The Beat (Review)

Game Reviews

She Will Punish Them – Warning: Mature Content (Early Access Review)

Game Reviews

Bagocast: Interview with Upper Echelon Gamers – The Future of Game Journalism

Opinion

FOLLOW US

BagoGames

BagoGames.com © 2023 BagoGames LLC. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Staff Directory
  • Join Our Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter
  • RSS Feeds
  • Discord Server
  • BG Store
  • OpenCritic
  • green man gaming
  • Logitech G
  • GAMIVO.com
  • ASTRO Gaming
  • Logitech
  • Namecheap Hosting
  • Nord VPN
  • Best Buy
  • Blue Mic
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Guides

Follow Us

  • Login
  • Sign Up
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Geek Culture
  • Previews
  • Guides
  • Short Videos
  • Forum
  • Site Info
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Join Our Team
    • Staff Directory
    • Privacy Policy
    • Newsletter
    • RSS Feeds

BagoGames.com © 2023 BagoGames LLC. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
wpDiscuz