Now I’ve used the phased before and it applies again this week as the episode pulls a, “Gotham classic”. That is its tendency for quickly ending or changing or a teased longer running story. While in many cases it’s a mark of disappointment there are some cases where it does actually benefit the show provided it milks enough entertainment in the process it keeps the show feeling well paced and efficient with its narrative. That is what happens this week as Jim Gordon learns the identity of his framer after merely half an episode of looking. While stringing on a sinister and mildly gloating Nigma could have been good the confrontation payoff it delivers between the pair is pretty darn great as this riddle gets answered.
Into the Woods – After being sprung from prison Jim Gordon sets about clearing his name and finding out who framed him, which puts Edward Nigma in some difficult situations. Rather than kicking him out, his inheriting step family make Penguin their new servant and plaything until learning the truth of his father’s murder awakens something deep within him.
So the main story of this episode takes Jim from being an against the ropes fugitive to restoring himself as the city’s white knight and it’s fascinating to see how that impacts on different characters. The most interesting case is Chief Barnes, especially in his interactions with Harvey. Barnes was cast as Jim’s executioner upon his framing, not hesitating to send him down, but here we see his true nature as a loyal friend behind his binds of duty to the law. He admits that he believes Jim is innocent and part of him probably still thought that even when the evidence pilled against Jim in the investigation but first and foremost he is bound by his conviction to uphold the law no matter what consequences; that nobody is above the law, least of all the police. There’s no doubt in Barnes mind that Harvey is helping Jim but still he lets him go by just about bringing himself to look the other way. The events also play well to Jim and Harvey’s super best friendship as Harvey “takes one for the team” to get Jim a lead and risks it all to help him in a way we wouldn’t have seen from the pair in early season 1. It’s a sad reminder that we just don’t see enough of them as buddy cops anymore and that is something to be missed.
The real juicy delights of this episode can only be Jim Vs Riddler round 2. Cory Michael Smith is firing all episode with his left, right combo of sinister and humour. He’s brilliant when getting a surprising request for help from Jim as has his own overly talkative mouth becomes his worst enemy, flaring out at the implications of being a psychopath. This is classic Riddler territory. He doesn’t just go to the trouble of elaborate setups and puzzles for his own amusement he wants you to he wants you to be left in awe and appreciation of their complexity; to be revered as a mastermind rather than just a criminal. Once the penny drops between the pair the scene becomes utterly electric as Ed levels up again to come out of the scheming shadows and get his hands dirty if required. The episode still wraps things up sooner than most would like for a confrontation this good but the middle section of the episode has moments of greatness to it and we can be sure this won’t be the last we’ve seen of Ed in his full glory.
Penguin has a similar restoration based character arc this episode. The comedy servant routine has its comedic moments but would have been more painful than letting Freddy Kruger remove your contact lenses if allowed to continue across multiple episodes. In fact Penguin’s whole family reunion affair was starting to show wavering signs akin to the Fish Mooney/Dollmaker story last year. Thankfully such fears are dispelled and instead it all compounds to the purpose of breaking Hugo Strange’s mental programming and giving us the real Penguin again once more. The scheming and gold digging Van Dhal step family do everything required to make us wish them a horrific fate and Penguin does not disappoint; ripping a page out of the Eric Cartman playbook. The only question that remains is what to do with him for the rest of the season? With merely 5 episodes remaining it’s likely he’ll finish out the season on a single story arc but will it be reclaiming is crime crown as the King of Gotham or will he set out for revenge against Strange for the brainwashing?
Speaking of Strange his area is the weakest point of the episode. Having Barbara Keane wake up from her coma was a great reveal but the show is rushing her back into the action too quickly rather than giving Barbara and Strange the proper time to interact and let us enjoy his take on her psychosis. In fact we’re way too long departed from the whole area of Strange and his experiments and desperately need to spend some meaningful time in Indian Hill sooner rather than later. Another gripe with the handling of Arkham is the seemingly “one in one out” treatment of resident characters. Let them overlap a little more even if just for some brief fun interactions.
The Bruce and Selina scenes make for a good footnote to the episode and although it finally gets things moving on Thomas Wayne’s mysterious computer (it’s taken nearly 7 months to come online... even Vista can beat that!) it’s a shame to see Bruce bidding goodbye to the streets as it breaks up the ever enjoyable Bruce/Selina pairing. David Mazouz really looks like he’s had a between episodes growth spurt with his unkempt hair making him feel more teenager than child.
Overall this is really one giant reshuffle of an episode that gets everyone into their positions for the final act of the season. Making so many big character changes in one week could have really gone badly but Into the Woods makes for very entertaining viewing. Ed’s remark to Jim about wanting all killers to be monsters for fear of his own demons is one of the sharpest points the show has ever delivered and even Harvey lands in a zinger with, “The people of Gotham can go eat my socks”. Gotham still feels like its lagging behind the other DC and Marvel comic adaptations at the moment but not without plenty of its own merit.