They really got this Joker character right. To be fair, it’s been evolving for many seasons now, but his scheme this season is absolutely diabolical. Having created doppelgangers of Bruce’s Parents, hypnotizing Alfred, and taking over Wayne Manor, Jeremiah is recreating the day of the Wayne family murders while Bruce is his prisoner. Without missing a beat Jeremiah monologues in true villain fashion and even blows up Wayne Manor! Like I’ve been saying, this is the last season and crazy stuff is happening left and right. I absolutely love it!
Earlier in the episode, bodies with Z’s carved into them are discovered by the GCPD. Lee Tomkins and Jim investigate while dancing around the elephant in the room — Barbara Kean being pregnant. This comes full circle when Jeremiah takes over the theater and stars in the showing of “The Mark of Zorro” to mess with Bruce even further. Jeremiah blames Bruce for being scared and wanting to leave the movie early, insisting that is why his parents were killed. The-not-yet-Joker has Jarvis Tetch (The Mad Hatter) hypnotize the baited Jim and Lee into playing the role of Bruce’s parents. Jeremiah is about to murder them right in front of Bruce, but Selina makes the save with the whip!
Now, since we’re in Gotham, of course Jeremiah has a truck full of toxic fireworks on a timer ready to go off. Jim makes the save by driving the truck into the water, but the water turns bright green. This will play into next week’s episode. The shot of Jim driving the truck with the green and black striped fireworks was shot perfectly, as it reminded me of a ’60s Batman episode. I love the attention to detail in this show.
Meanwhile at Ace Chemicals, Bruce and Jeremiah play out a classic scene from the first Batman movie where Joker falls into the chemical vat. The scene was really great, but Jeremiah essentially fell into the vat on a missed punch which was kind of weak. The more I think about it, you can’t have Bruce throw him in, so it was the right call. But as ALWAYS on this show, Jeremiah survived and is now a burnt, bandaged, and a brain dead shell of himself. Or so we’re told. The Joker origin story continues.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention an encounter with Selina, Penguin, and Alfred about halfway through the episode.
Selina is about to slit Oswald’s throat to avenge Tabitha when Alfred talks her down. I said, “Wow, he saved Penguin.” Without missing a beat my wife chimes in with a, “No. he saved her.” She was right. With a knife to Penguin’s throat Selina spares Penguin before she leaves. Alfred asks Penguin to return the favor by guiding him to the Green Zone to which Penguin responds, “It’s that Way!” and leaves. Hilarious.
As always the characters are all on point, and growing each episode. To my delight The Riddler, Penguin, and Kean actually team up to build a SUBMARINE to escape Gotham! For those who know Batman this is a nod to the old Adam West Movie, and I popped big for this. I absolutely love it. Seal this episode with a big I hate you, but I love you kiss from Lee to Jim, and I’m ready for next week!
Another fantastic episode during a fantastic final season.
Rating: 9 out of 10
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