Episode 7: "Penguin's Umbrella"
Synopsis: As violence between Maroni and Falcone continues to escalate, Penguin reveals a new component of his manipulative strategy, forcing Gordon to deal with the consequences of his decision to spare Penguin's life.
Recap: Criticism of GOTHAM has been brutal and fair even as recent episodes have begun to improve in quality. Still,the series suffers from a bad desire to reference what the characters will become even as it tries to set itself apart from the Batman of the comic books. So far,the sole successes of the series has been Robin Lord Taylor's inspired turn as Oswald Cobblepot and Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock. This week, both get to shine.
After Cobblepot revealed to all that he was not dead, Gordon became the target of both Fish Mooney's anger and Bullock's disdain. After a locker room face-off, Gordon encountered Mooney's thugs in his home, threatening Barbara. Knocking them out, Gordon takes Barbara to the bus station, possibly the most cliche getaway method of all time. Does Gotham really not have an airport or car service? Even through their emotional separation at the start of this week's episode, it dawned on me that their relationship has felt anything but significant in this series.
There has also been the brewing conflict between Moroni and Falcone, the mob bosses who pre-date the Rogue's Galler of Batman's era. Where GOTHAM has been good is the balanced introduction to these elements, not the forced references to riddles we have gotten with Edward Nygma. Take, for instance, the introduction of Victor Zsasz. Here he is presented as one of Carmine Falcone's henchmen, but still carries the menace and trademarks of his comic book counterpart. Gordon's defiance to his summons from Falcone is a powerful moment as Zsasz tells the precinct full of cops to leave the room and every single one departs. The criminal underbelly in this Gotham City is pervasive and a gold mine for a show with more ambition than this.
Getting shot in the side during the firefight with Zsasz and his henchwomen makes for a thrilling little sequence and one capped by Gordon finding his new kindred spirits in the fight to save Gotham: Renee Montoya and Crispus Allen. Montoya apologizes to Gordon for not believing him before they arrive at Wayne Manor. Remember that promise Gordon made to Bruce about finding his parents' killer? Well he doesn't think he can keep it. Bruce throws a minor tantrum and demands to know the truth and Gordon simply says everything is connected and turns the Wayne case over to Montoya and Allen before shaking Bruce's hand and instead getting a hug from the young man.
The war over Penguin kicks into gear as Fish Mooney orchestrates the take down of a Moroni gun shipment while Cobblepot gives his new boss a plan to retaliate against Falcone: take out Nikolai, Fish's lover and a Falcone lieutenant. Cobblepot also dispatches Carbone, a Moroni accomplice who doesn't trust him. The vicious killing by Penguin is one of the most chilling moments we have seen from the villain thus far and showcases in a single monologue more development of an iconic character than in two entire seasons each of BATES' MOTEL and HANNIBAL.
Moroni and Falcone's meet brings to a head the disputes between the two, but they work out an accord: Moroni keeps Penguin and in return he gives Falcone real estate in Arkham called Indian Hill, a toxic waste dump over an old Indian burial ground. The deal is sealed with an embrace which shifts the focus back to finding Gordon. Hiding out in Barbara's loft, Gordon preps a series of weapons when a drunken Bullock shows up. Bullock says he has nothing to lose and will back Gordon's plan which he learns is to arrest Falcone and the Mayor based on his knowledge of their crimes.
The two go to work, Untouchables-style, and arrest the Mayor as planned and lead him to a meet with Carmine Falcone. Gordon says they will bring them in on charges of conspiracy to pervent the course of justice but Falcone seems unphased. He threatens the life of Barbara saying that Zsasz has her captive when she came back to try and help Gordon. Demanding proof, Falcone refuses saying he has to believe him. Gordon concedes and Falcone repeats his speech that Gotham needs men like Gordon and Bullock. Saying that anarchy is the enemy, not him, Falcone says that Gordon believing him about Barbara is a good first step and lets them go free. Gordon asks what the catch is and Falcone says he wants Gordon to think and understand the truth about Gotham and that someday he will know that Falcone is right about Gotham.
Gordon and Barbara embrace and we see Falcone eating a muffin made by Fish's girl. Falcone goes out to his coop to see his chickens and Penguin arrives, umbrella in hand, They embrace and we see a flashback to the pilot episode where Cobblepot reveals the plan to have Gordon "kill" him and then work his way into the Moroni family and serve as a snitch for Falcone. In return, Penguin reveals Nikolai and Fish's plan to take over from Falcone. Falcone tells Penguin in current day he thinks it is a mistake to let Gordon live, but Penguin is convinced that one day he will see the light.
Verdict: 9/10 Gotham PD Badges
Wonders may never cease as GOTHAM finally delivers a top notch episode for the first time this season. I referred to the series previously as DC Comics meets THE WIRE and this episode finally showed that potential. We had no overt references to Batman's villains outside of the continuing development of Penguin as well as the excellent use of Victor Zsasz. Gordon and Bullock were good this week as they were pushed somewhat to the background, the focus squarely on the crime families at play. The writing was consistently good despite a couple of cliche moments, but if GOTHAM were like this week in and week out, it would be one of the most lauded shows on television. Here's hoping the villain of the week format goes by the wayside and the focus becomes the underworld of Gotham.
Next Episode: "The Mask" airs November 10th. Gordon and Bullock investigate a Gothamite who runs a deadly fight club for candidates applying for a job at his financial firm. Meanwhile, Bruce returns to school and gets a visit from a new friend