Gotham Knights Season 1 Episode 5 Review: More Money, More Problems

Gotham Knights Season 1 Episode 5, “More Money, More Problems,” struggles with pacing but offers an intriguing development in Harvey Dent’s storyline that teases the introduction of Misha Collins’ full-fledged Two-Face villain.

The episode is divided into two main storylines, with one following Turner Hayes and the gang as they infiltrate the hideout of a notorious crime family and one that dives into Dent’s duality.

Unfortunately, the former storyline isn’t particularly intriguing.

Now that the organization behind Batman’s death has been revealed, the gang focuses on proving their innocence instead of solving a murder case. While this direction still has potential, there isn’t a sense of mystery or urgency.

It also still feels formulaic, as this installment follows the same pattern of previous episodes in which the gang breaks into some place, gets cornered, and makes a miraculous escape.

Each time they pull off this feat, it feels less impressive.

However, what makes this situation a bit interesting is that they throw the crime family’s laundered money into the streets of Gotham, leading to them officially being dubbed the “Gotham Knights” by those unaware that they’re the same group that is being framed for Batman’s murder.

Another exciting development is a slight change in Carrie Kelley’s origin story. In the comics, she is the daughter of two neglectful parents, which allows her to pursue her superhero career uninhibited.

However, this episode reveals that she’s the daughter of a very attentive but very busy single mother who works as a doctor.

It’s a minor change but intriguing in that it explores the difference between parents who choose to be neglectful and parents who still try to be present.

The episode is elevated when it brings Dent to the forefront.

Until “More Money, More Problems,” Dent is depicted strictly as Dent — the upstanding attorney general of Gotham and a friend of Batman. Unfortunately, the first few episodes made it challenging to decipher whether his alter ego would appear in the show.

However, it is confirmed that his alter ego, Two-Face, has been here all along. The show does especially well by diving into the psychology behind the iconic Batman villain.

In the comics, Two-Face’s obsession with duality and his inner conflict is explained by his dissociative identity disorder (DID) diagnosis. Fortunately, Gotham Knights remains very faithful to Dent’s comic book iteration.

On this episode, Dent reveals that he has been having blackouts and fears having DID like his abusive father. However, Meridian does not believe he can have the disorder as it typically surfaces during childhood.

Unfortunately, his blackouts and alternative personality are confirmed when he wakes up in Rebecca March’s house and has no recollection of going there or calling her.

The surprising development suggests that he has been hiding or suppressing his DID for an unknown time, leaving us to wonder just how much damage he has unknowingly done as his alternate identity.

It is especially compelling that his signs of DID are present even before he is physically disfigured.

This drives home the point of him being a victim of DID due to childhood abuse and genuinely not being aware of his actions.

Meanwhile, it also raises the question of whether Dent was involved in Batman’s murder, considering he may have murdered the mayor at the behest of the Court of Owls.

The episode could pick up its pace and intensity at some points. Still, it successfully brings Dent to the forefront as the show’s most complex villain and raises excitement for the reveal of his alternate identity.

—

What did you think of this episode of Gotham Knights? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Gotham Knights airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Riverdale and ‘Nancy Drew’ Set Final Season Premiere Dates on The CW