Welcome Back, Jim Gordon was the latest episode of Gotham shown and if you haven’t seen it, spoilers abound! I’m going to talk openly about the episode here so keep that in mind because I will spoil it for you. If you’re crunched for time and just want to hear what happened, listen, you need to find the time to catch the episode. Fish and Penguin were worth their weight in gold on this one!
And that’s something that just can’t come across in text. Gotta see them in action! Enough spoiler space? Good, let’s get right to it then, shall we?
What a tangled web he weaves
with deft he knows just how to cleave
that, which people want the most,
bringing enemies ever close
as slippery as a slimy eel
one step, two steps, in for the kill
brandishing that which makes you heel
Penguin, information, the weapon he wields.-Origins Unknown
You know, if that’d been an amazing little diddy I’d take the credit but as it is, it’s not so I’m pleading the fifth.
Ahem.
Gordon was on fire tonight! When the witness he asked to come to the station was killed, in his house, allegedly by his fellow policeman, oh boy did he have a wrong to right! Motivation is a strong point with Gordon, especially when it comes to his badge representing what he feels it should. A murderer in house? That’s a big red flag that the corruption that keeps the house running smoothly has gone too far. How far do you go to correct that?
You make a deal with the devil, that’s how far.
Penguin didn’t just do the favor for Gordon, he went out of his way to emphasis their friendship. Gordon was right to question consequence but his zeal for righting this horrible wrong won out and he looked the other way. He became, in essence, exactly that which he’s bound and determined to rid the department of … corrupted. Is it okay when it’s for the greater good, though? I’d wager there are scores within the GCPD that would not only agree but swear that’s what they were doing. At one time, anyway.
I hope we see a resulting struggle with Gordon questioning his own motives and ethics, one that isn’t neatly wrapped up in just 40 minutes.
Bruce and Selina, oh how I felt for Bruce. But … is he really just upset because Selina can’t help bring his parents killer to justice or was he crying over his (perceived?) loss of a friendship? I don’t see him as the type to “buy” favor. Am I wrong in this? I think he sees Selina as a friend. A cool, hip, amazing friend. Maybe a little crushing going on as well? He didn’t want Ivy to give Selina the snow globe, he wanted to do that himself. That means there’s feeling there, to me.
Fish Mooney! She’s so much more than ‘tough’. As much as I wanted to see her get what’s coming, I was rooting for Butch to save her. She’s a very polarizing character, one that I feel that I shouldn’t ever root for but I can’t help it. She’s demeaning, angry, arrogant, selfish in the most singular of ways but … I like her. I like what she brings to Gotham, though, notable not near as much as she thinks she brings. I love the Falcone/Fish dynamic, too. She’s hot for out-doing the master and he treats her as entertainment … like your niece doing magic tricks for the family at a cookout. Sorta.
Jim calling Bullocks out on his ‘feelings’ for Fish was funny! Seeing Harvey concerned about Fish at the end of the show was touching. She appeared vulnerable to him. That I didn’t see coming.
Penguin’s mother is a hoot! My daughter had me pause the show so she could ask what was wrong with his mom. I think she thought I’d tell her of some horrible ailment or childhood disease that’s left her … I dunno, off her rocker? Crazy how a scarf and a little bubbly can bring out the wilder side of his mom! When she said she’d be back to the club I half expected to see Penguin visibly wince. I would have.
So what’d you think? Where is this thing with Penguin having the goods on everyone heading? I remember an old episode of Batman (Adam West) that had both the Joker and Penguin in it, possibly working together. Think they will? I’d love to say the Joker is coming soon as he’d make a most spectacular season finale cliff-hanger, but I don’t have a clue. I want to see him yesterday!