This week’s Gotham, Red Hood, had it all. Surprise, nostalgia, humor, darkness and horror. If you would rather see this for yourself know there will be spoilers in this post. Whichever you decide, go with caution as things are about to get ugly.
I once asked my daughter to help seed cucumbers as we had a bumper crop of them that year and I was pickled out. Cucumber soup is as odd sounding as it is tasty and a cinch to make, once you’ve peeled, seeded and chopped your cukes. I handed her a spoon, the kind you eat cereal with, and showed her how to quickly slide it down the inside of a halved cucumber and remove the seeds. Easy peasy! I was standing right there and still have no idea how she managed to cut herself with that spoon. Why am I sharing a story about cucumbers? I’m not. This was a tale of the dangers of a spoon.
(And, for the record, no, I do not sharpen my spoons but I understand why you make think it.)
Since I started with a spoon story let’s jump right to Fish. I thought it was pure ego that led her to think she could run Falcone out of town and take over. I’m rethinking that theory as that woman has cahones made of mithril steel! She will not be intimidated and you will not get the upper hand with her. Ever. She’s taken over the basement and is upstairs to talk to the man in charge. When she finds she’s instead talking to his assistant she coolly tells the man she will retire to the basement and wait for the Doctor (Dollmaker) as per her request. Seeing a fiery spark in her eyes the manager appears to have a change of heart and offers her a shower and clean clothes, both of which she accepts. He’s no fool, he’s had her clean herself up for surgery to remove her eyes. Only, she’s no fool and will not allow this to happen. So she grabbed a spoon and gouged her own eye out.
AND THEN STOMPED IT TO SMITHEREENS!
I didn’t see that coming. It may have creeped me out just a tad, too. Fish is made of the stuff that fuels nightmares. No sugar there.
Now the Red Hood gang, there’s your cocky, your ego, your fools brigade. See where it got them, too. They’re all dead, though, if Robin Hood is your thing, there was the one guy who picked up the hood and tried it on after it was removed from the dead guy’s face. Again. Cree_pee! (in a totally different way) Gotham is full of crazy so what’s one more?
Speaking of crazy, Barbara wants Selina to be her shrew? If I came home to my glamorous apartment and found to filthy teenage squatters eating my chocoberry cereal I wouldn’t be offering to clean them up and dress them to the nines. Maybe I’m the crazy one but Barbara really needs to go to rehab. Or at least call Jim and tell him to come get his kids if the assumption is that she’s allowing them to stay thinking Jim set them up there.
Selina had the line of the night when she asked Barbara why her weapon good looks hadn’t gotten her anywhere. I’d have high-fived her for that if I could have.
Penguin is finding out the hard way that good connections are worth their weight in gold. The club is failing fast under Oswald’s leadership but, fear not, Butch is there to save the day. He proves as much by securing a shipment of liquor to refill Penguin’s empty coffers. Can’t run a bar without the booze! Butch appears to still be on his game but he’s been branded with a ‘V’ and is shaky when pouring a victory drink. I’m still not buying the ‘Fish got what she deserved’ act and hope Butch turns on Penguin FOR Fish soon(ish).
I don’t want anything too horrible to happen to Penguin, but I still want Butch loyal to Fish. If that makes sense.
Fish may have creeped me out tonight but Alfred and Bruce filled me with the warm fuzzies. Seeing Alfred with his old pal, Reggie, it was clear how uneasy he was around the guy. Knowing it couldn’t end well, it still felt nice to see them sharing a bottle or two of wine as they regaled Bruce with stories from the past, a ‘feel-good’ part of the story to break up the seriousness of Wayne Manor. Not knowing Reggie was working for Wayne Enterprises board, Alfred walked right into a trap. Reggie stabbing him surprised me but seeing Bruce find him and call for help, it hit me right in the feels! The kid that plays Bruce does a masterful job with these tough emotional scenes. Not the first time that kid has made me a bit misty-eyed!
Reggie was given his payoff for running recon on Bruce and getting Alfred out of the picture for a while so the board can make a move on Bruce before he turns them in. Reggie’s plea for Bruce, saying he was just a kid, a good kid, whatever. You just stabbed one of the men you fought with … you have no heart. Will we be seeing Jim and Bullocks investigate the murder of Reggie and, if so, will this get Gordon closer to the truth about the board?
I hope so.
What’d you think of Gotham this week? Has Barbara completely lost it now? How is Fish going to get out of this one? When will Penguin realize Butch is faking? Or, if he’s not faking, when will the effects of whatever Zsasz wear off? Inquiring minds want to know! Let me know in the comments!