I guess it’s my lack of interest in Batman and Batman mythology overall, or maybe it’s not being moved by the Bruce character and his contemporaries and wanting more of what’s been unresolved about Gordon and his fractured persona and life. There are so many loose strings for him as pretty much a broken person with only his relationship with Harvey intact and the semi-questionable and contrived Bruce aspects that should take a backseat. I know I was watching the clock and waiting for something substantive and compelling as was the case in the prison series of episodes and the aftermath with such strong performances and depth. Gordon and Strange, or Ben McKenzie and B.D. Wong had me riveted in their showdowns before. I was bored and couldn’t stay focused with Strange and Bruce. Like the Mooney parts, it was too much and dragged on too long. Short and sweet would have been easier to swallow, but then I never wanted to endure any Fish again. That was one of the biggest pluses of the end of last season.

The whole doppelganger plot is such a departure from the strong, realistic storytelling that was so compelling. It was almost laughable. If it isn’t short-lived, it’s beating a dead horse with the whole retelling of how Jim is the supposed criminal, just amped up worse into the league of the real villains and completely immoral villains and monsters that everyone should really fear, not follow Barnes’ rush to judgment and convenient, lazy finger pointing as before. While an opportunity for Ben McKenzie to have the over-the-top that most of the others have had and I’m sure he’ll shine, if it’s drawn out beyond the finale, it’s laughable. If it’s resolved in less than one episode, it’s a lame plot device. Either way, not good unless merely as a platform to unleash a new kind of weapon and villain in the larger context, just not in the form of another Jim.