This is the episode of Gotham we have all been waiting for. Up till this point, the show has admittedly been hit or miss (seriously, we get it, she grows up to be Catwoman. Stop it with the cat mannerisms and rooftop hopping). This episode managed to combine the drama, action, and intrigue you would expect from a show based on the Batman Universe.
At the end of the last episode Penguin revealed himself to still be alive in kicking. As you could imagine this caused serious conflict between Bullock and Gordon. Bullock spends the first two minutes of the episode pointing his gun at Gordon. Bullock’s actions are seemingly a surprise to Gordon, but they really shouldn’t be. Gordon’s act of kindness (letting Penguin live) will presumably cost both Gordon and Bullock their lives. The relationship between Bullock and Gordon has always been contentious but to this point we have had no indication of how far Bullock would be willing to go if it came down to his life or Gordon’s.
Fish Mooney was incensed once she was informed Penguin was in fact alive. Penguin knows way too much and has very loose lips. One of the few bright spots since Gotham’s premiere has been Jada Pinkett Smith’s portrayal of Fish. At times, its almost as if she is doing an homage to Eartha Kitt, who famously portrayed Catwoman in the original Batman TV series during the 60’s. After voicing her concerns to Falcone and being turned brushed off Fish remarks that Falcone is way to calm and must know something everyone else doesn’t. More on that bit of foreshadowing later.
One of this writer’s knocks on the show is the inclusion of unnecessary villains. For example tying in Poison Ivy into Batman’s origin was a lazy bit of story telling that only served the writers trying to prove they could force as many square pegs into bat symbol shaped holes. This week’s cameo fit the progression of the story as well as introduced someone who fits the overall theme of the show. If this is a crime drama, then having a serial killer like Victor Zsasz in the mix fits perfectly. Zsasz is Falcone’s hired gun and is sent after Gordon.
Up till this point we have been constantly reminded that Gotham’s police force is corrupt. It wasn’t until this episode that we see exactly how far it reaches. Zsasz walks right into the police station and orders the 50 plus officers to leave while they take Gordon to certain death. Without hesitation the officers comply. After a shoot out, Montoya and Allen, who finally realize they have been wrong about Gordon all along, rescue Gordon from Zsasz and his leather clad female companions. It’s worth noting that After Gordon gets away, Zsasz takes his frustration out on a police officer. After he kills her, he pulls out a box cutter and marks himself, adding another body to his kill total. Nice touch by the writers. It would have been a shame to see Zsasz without his trademark body count scars.
Penguin’s character has been slowly building to this moment. Throughout the episode we see Penguin moving pieces Gotham as if it was a Batman themed chessboard. He goads Maroni into using force to strike back at Falcone for hijacking his truck, he is responsible for the death of Fish’s secret lover/fellow Benedict Arnold Nikola, and then he kills the one person in Maroni’s organization that realized he was manipulating Maroni. Not a bad day’s work for someone who used to hold and umbrella for a living.
Gordon and Bullock both figure if they are going to go out they are going to go out with a bang. They decide to arrest the Mayor and use him to gain access to Falcone’s compound to arrest him as well. Everything is going their way until Falcone tells Gordon he has Barbara and will have Zsasz kill her if they don’t let him go. Falcone refuses to prove he has her. He tells Gordon he has to just take his word for it. Much to the dismay of Bullock, Gordon does. In what seems to be the most illogical move in the history of television, Falcone decided to let them go. When Gordon asks what’s the catch, Falcone responded, “The catch is someday soon you will see I’m right. “
As the show is ending, Falcone is outside his compound. Penguin walks up behind him and they embrace. Penguin has been working for Falcone all along. Gordon was given the order to kill Penguin because Penguin asked Falcone to make him do it. All in the hopes he would be able to convince Gordon not to. Penguin planned to return to Gotham and infiltrate Maroni’s organization. Penguin told Falcone that Fish and Nikola are planning to over throw him.
Penguin masterminded everything that has happened up to this point. Falcone has his mole in Maroni’s camp and Fish has been weakened due to the loss of Nikola.
At times, even with Penguin being one of the more interesting characters on the show it was hard to determine why he was so hell bent on involving himself with Gordon and being accepted into the Maroni inner circle. Shifting motivation aside, Robin Lord Taylor’s performance as Penguin has been nothing short of amazing. Taylor has manages to pull you in and make you feel for the Penguin’s plight. As soon as you are lulled into a false sense of security, wham, Penguin commits a double murder and you are brought back the reality that Penguin is in deed the bad guy. It will be interesting to see how the newly discovered relationship between Falcone and Penguin plays out. Is Penguin really looking out for Falcone’s best interest? Or does Oswald Cobblepot have yet another play up his sleeve?