by Jen
Tonight's episode began with a circus brawl - and a healthy dose of foreshadowing.

This circus is not just the scene of a clown-vs.-acrobat brawl over the affections of an snake lady; it's also the backstory for both a future villain (who we meet in this episode) and a future sidekick. But we begin with Jim Gordon and Lee Tompkins on a date.
Meanwhile, Fish Mooney wants more than to be the leader of her dark, strange prison; she wants to get out. She rallies the imprisoned masses and convinces them of her plan, and by the end of the episode she gets what she wants - a meeting with the "Manager", whoever is the mastermind behind what she correctly assumes is some sort of organ farm.
Poor Jim Gordon - not even his love life can proceed smoothly in Gotham. Nothing like finding a body and arresting almost an entire circus to slow down the pace of romance!
Back in Gotham, Penguin is making a mess of his new club. He lets his mother perform, and is merciless when a member of the audience dares to boo. Don Falcone is unhappy with his management, and sends him a present via Victor Zsasz - a reprogrammed Butch, who has experience running a successful club and is guaranteed to do whatever Penguin says. I can hardly wait to see how this plays out!

Young Master Bruce is busy too - he's making notes in preparation for his meeting with the board of Wayne Enterprises. Alfred tries to dissuade him from attending the meeting, but he will not be moved. He presents his concerns in a straightforward and serious manner, and of course they don't take him seriously for even a second - but one or two board members are alarmed when he says he will present his concerns at the next shareholder meeting and prepare legal action. Say safe, young Bruce - your future sidekick is about to be conceived!
Barbara arrives back at the apartment she once shared with Jim, and finds Selena Kyle and Ivy there. Selena tells her Jim dropped off his keys a week ago, and she immediately begins searching for the perfect outfit to make an impression on him. Unfortunately for her, she arrives at the station just in time to see him share a passionate kiss with Lee. She makes a hasty exit before they notice her.
But of course the moment we've all been waiting for is the introduction of the Joker. It is truly creepy watching Jerome, the supposedly hapless and innocent son of the sideshow's snake lady, transform into the cackling madman who killed his mother. We can only assume he's going to spend the next decade or so of his life in Arkham, continuing his development as a serious (and seriously frightening) villain.
Five episodes left until the season finale! What darkness awaits in the future of Gotham?