by Jen (aka The New Geek in Town)
I apologize for the delay in posting this review - having recently moved from Atlanta to Phoenix, I didn't realize that Gotham airs at 7pm here and so I inadvertently missed last night's episode and had to watch it online today.
I apologize for the delay in posting this review - having recently moved from Atlanta to Phoenix, I didn't realize that Gotham airs at 7pm here and so I inadvertently missed last night's episode and had to watch it online today.
Just when I think I can't possibly love Gotham any more than I already do, it gets under my skin again by opening the episode with a kick ass song by the late great Johnny Cash. You go, Bruno Heller!
The show opens with the Electrocutioner, the villain who escaped from Arkham in the last episode, going after his former acquaintances. It seems this case has gotten the attention of Gotham's ruling class, because the Police Commissioner makes a personal visit to GCPD to make sure everyone is on top of their game - and he's not pleased to find Jim Gordon there, trying valiantly to solve the city's latest problem.
Gordon states he has important information on the case, but won't fully commit helping until he's reinstated as Detective; in return, the Commissioner gives him 24 hours to solve the case, or he and Bullock will be spending the rest of their careers guarding Arkham. (You can imagine Bullock's enthusiasm at this prospect.)
Gordon states he has important information on the case, but won't fully commit helping until he's reinstated as Detective; in return, the Commissioner gives him 24 hours to solve the case, or he and Bullock will be spending the rest of their careers guarding Arkham. (You can imagine Bullock's enthusiasm at this prospect.)
Falcone makes a call to Penguin, who is dining with Don Maroni and excuses himself, purportedly to check on his ailing mother - when who should come to call but the Electrocutioner himself, who has it out for this don. Poor Penguin is caught in the crossfire, and both Maroni and Gordon hear him mutter about his important meeting with Falcone while he's fighting to regain consciousness.
Meanwhile, Fish Mooney "kidnaps" Don Falcone's love interest in the hopes of getting the don to step down peacefully - but of course, things rarely go according to plan when dealing with a mob boss, even one who appears to be ready to be put out to pasture.
Falcone calls Penguin, who is dining with Don Maroni but excuses himself, purportedly to check on his ailing mother; but before he exits the restaurant, one of the Electocutioner's minions comes to call, as that villain has it out for this don. Penguin is caught in the crossfire, and generates sparks of his own when both Maroni and Gordon hear him mumble about an important meeting with Falcone while he's fighting to regain consciousness.
This week's denouement is on two fronts: the first is Falcone's meeting with Fish, which takes an unexpected and very hands-on twist, and the second is the Electrocutioner's visit to GCPD, where Maroni is in "protective custody" (really a trap laid by Gordon).
In the end, the Commissioner gives Gordon his badge back for defeating the Electrocutioner (though I question why no one else thought of such a simple solution - apparently common sense is not, in fact, "common" in Gotham), and Gordon tells him the next person who tries to take away said badge will be eating it.
I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of havoc Gordon can wreak in Gotham now that he's not being careful!
