TV Review: Gotham - "The Balloonman"

Gotham - "The Balloonman" (1x03) FOX, Mondays, 8 p.m.

Now in its third episode, "Gotham" seems to have found its rhythm as far as balancing its cases of the week with its ongoing story arcs without feeling the need to tie them all together.

While the ongoing mystery of the Waynes' murder, Oswald's continuing criminal career rebirth and the cat-and-mouse play amongst the mobsters all get their screen time, this episode is about Gotham's newest vigilante. No, it's not Batman, but his name does begin with a B.

The titular Balloonman is targeting criminals, something Gotham has an ample supply of, sending them into the atmosphere as punishment for their crimes. As usual, Gordon is more interested in actually catching the perp than his partner Harvey, but when one of the Balloonman's targets hits too close to home, the entire police force is mobilized.

Meanwhile, Gordon tries to validate Selina's story that she witnessed the Waynes' murder and Oswald makes his long-awaited (an entire episode!) return to Gotham.

TV Review: Person of Interest - "Nautilus"

Person of Interest - "Nautilus" (4x01) CBS, Tuesdays, 10 p.m.

"Person of Interest" returns with the second number of the new season, Claire Mahoney (Quinn Shephard), a young college student taking part in some kind of high-level mathematical game, one which has inspired her to carry a gun.

Like last week, Harold is reluctant to get involved and risk their collective covers, the only things keeping them safe from Samaritan. Also like last week, John could care less, and pursues this latest number after tricking Harold into helping.

But as they delve deeper into the game, there are more questions than answers, including who is the mastermind behind it all.

While "Panopticon" set the new ground rules after the show's seismic upheaval in the season three finale, this is the first episode to get to play fully within them. John has settled into his new alias as a cop, partnered with Fusco. Harold seems to have his college professor role down as well, ignoring his students and doing whatever he wants with his time. And Shaw, having given up her prized position as a perfume saleswoman, is now a dedicated wheel woman for a group of bank robbers.

Meanwhile, Root is mysterious as always, playing games within games for the Machine, which is in turn trying to claw its way back into the fight against Samaritan.

TV Review: Agents of SHIELD - "Shadows" & "Heavy is the Head"

Agents of SHIELD - "Shadows" (2x01) & "Heavy is the Head" (2x02) ABC, Tuesdays, 8 p.m.

 I didn't get a chance to review the season two premier of "Agents of SHIELD" last week, and it works out, since "Shadows" and this week's "Heavy is the Head" is essentially a two-parter, establishing the show's new normal.

With the dismantling of SHIELD in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and the subsequent episodes of "Agents of SHIELD," Coulson now finds himself as the new director, with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) apparently out of the picture until next summer's "Avengers: Age of Ultron."

As the second episode's title implies, being in charge comes with a lot of responsibility for Coulson, especially when SHIELD is down to a handful of agents, one secret base and a few mercenaries.

With Grant Ward locked up and Fitz still trying to recover from a near-death experience which left him with brain damage, the team is a bit short on members, with Melinda May, Skye and Triplett the only ones still capable of field duty. Enter Izzy Hartley (Lucy Lawless) and her band of mercenaries, including Lance Hunter (Nick Blood).

Unfortunately the stakes are quite high, as Hydra and its agents are still in play, as is Brigadier General Glenn Talbot (Adrian Pasdar), who has made it his mission to root out the remaining members of SHIELD. In his mind, both it and Hydra are one and the same.