It’s finally time for our The Riddler (Cory Michael Smith), ED-ition of Gotham. For weeks Ed has been experiencing schizophrenic episodes which has been an ongoing story for most of the show’s run. Quite frankly, I was tired of it, but I should have been paying attention. After some clever detective work by Nigma, it turns out that he is being controlled by somebody via a chip implanted by our old friend Dr. Hugo Strange (B.D. Wong). Pretty crazy stuff but right on par with our Gotham villains!
As Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) tells Jim (Ben McKenzie) “Nigma’s a patsy. He’s not a mass murderer. Puzzles. Games. Perhaps the odd killing here and there. But not hundreds of people. You know this.” We know it too.
Everyone wants The Riddler’s head including Jim’s old army buddy, Eduardo Dorrance (Shane West). Great to see the government finally assist the city in some way, but let’s do the math: an old friend of Jim’s comes to town to help with strict orders from above? There’s no doubt in my mind there’s going to be a conflict of interest at the end. It seems I was on the right track, but the big twist is that Eduardo is the one controlling Nigma by following orders from above. This means Ed was controlled to blow up the Haven all along by the government. (?) Things are getting crazy, and Jim and his old pal are at odds. “I guess I saved your life one too many times” Jim states. What a line. Jim escapes gunpoint from his old pal, but Eduardo sends his radio controlled Riddler after Jim. To be continued, but next week’s trailer teases that Eduardo will be the BANE of Jim’s existence.
Camren Bicondova has completely transformed the Selina character and has really shined these past few episodes. Bruce tracks her down to the Syrens’ part of town to seek out what good is left in her. Bruce is starting to realize the pursuit is futile. Even though they care for each other, the differences between the two characters are becoming obvious. Again Gotham captures what makes both of these characters tick. As Selina puts it, “That night that your parents were murdered, I was in that alley on the fire escape. I watched that guy shoot your father and shoot your mother. And through it all I did nothing. I didn’t call for help, I didn’t scream for the guy to stop. We’re not the same Bruce. I didn’t do anything because I wasn’t willing to risk my neck for someone else, because I didn’t care. That’s who I was and that’s who I am.”
Bruce is devastated at the realization and starts to lose hope. This makes for one of my favorite scenes between the young Dark Knight and Bullock. Harvey generally cares and provides some much needed advice. “The little things matter. Act by act. Deed by deed. It means something. Even if no one notices or cares.” Bruce thanks Harvey and of course pulls the classic Batman disappearing act. Love it.
Elsewhere, Jeremiah is NOT dead (again) Let’s be honest, we all kind of called it because we’ve had multiple Jokers and multiple deaths. (I’m honestly starting to lose track) I have no complains because Cameron Monaghan absolutely kills it. He faked his death after getting stabbed by Selina. Without missing a beat, he is immediately up to no good again. It seems as though Jeremiah has created what we can only assume to be Thomas and Martha Wayne doppelgangers. “I love family reunions” he states as he cackles. Only in Gotham.
Rating: 8 out of 10
