Warning: Spoiler Alert
If a TV show compels me to repeatedly yell to a character to keep their mouth shut, it automatically passes my litmus-test. That actually occurred several times while watching the latest episode of the FOX series “Gotham,” much to my wife and our dogs’ consternation. That sub-plot was one of many that kept this viewer glued to my seat throughout the evening, indicating that in an era when the industry’s embracing comic-book shows, Gotham just maybe a cut above the rest. A war’s taking place in Gotham City and there are wolves masquerading as sheep, while others get pushed into situations they originally wanted no part of.
The blood-feud that’s developed between Theo and Tabitha Lucas and Oswald Cobblepot’s keeps boiling as the Penguin attempts to get Butch Gilzean deep within the Galavan organization. Cobblepot whacked off Butch’s hand with a meat-cleaver near the end of the previous chapter, this week opens with Gilzean telling Theo, Tabitha and Barbara Kean that Penguin’s lost his mind.
Butch tells the trio that Penguin blamed him for the bust at his counting-house and accused Gilzean of plotting behind his back and being a traitor. Butch told them that Oswald then grabbed the cleaver and chopped his hand off, he said that Penguin tried to hit him again but he slipped on the blood and Gilzean escaped and then woke up in a hospital. He then asks Theo for a job, but Galavan doesn’t think it’s a good match.
Butch says he’s got brains and nobody knows Gotham better than he does. Theo asks the women their opinion and Tabitha says she thinks he’s cute and reminds of a sad bear. Kean says that they had an incident last year as Gilzean held her prisoner in her own apartment. Butch says that’s true and he apologizes, Tabitha suddenly gets animated and says them can put a hammer or a knife on his stump. Kean suggests a mini chainsaw and both women giggle which convinces Galavan to welcome Butch aboard.
We watch a guy running as fast as he can through a seedy Gotham City neighborhood with Jim Gordon in hot pursuit. The suspect knocks over a homeless man trying to slow Gordon but he sidesteps him. He reaches the end of the alley and two members of the Strike-Force take him down. Gordon slugs the guy and says he’s looking for a firebug, and he knows the guy’s one. The dude says he’s been out of arson for years.
Gordon says he’s looking for a girl who wears a costume and uses a flamethrower, the guy responds he doesn’t know any female firebugs, he says they’re Mad-Rare like unicorns. Gordon punches the guy in the gut and leaves him sprawled among the garbage in the alley. The male Strike-Force member says to Gordon that Captain Barnes’ demanded that any breaking of policy must be reported even if committed by a superior officer. Gordon barks back you do that and stomps away.
Bridget Pike’s staying with Selina and while Kyle’s sleeping she starts cleaning up the condemned apartment. Selina wakes up and asks what she’s doing and Pike replies she can’t sleep she just killed a cop and she’s unwelcome at home. She says she can’t go to the police and asks Kyle what she should do, Selina responds she needs to leave town. Bridget responds she’s got no money and Kyle smiles wickedly and says she knows a way to solve that problem, they’ll pull a heist. Pike’s against the idea but admits it’s her only option.
Just how depraved is Gotham City? How about holding what appears to be a nightly auction where the clientele bids for sex-slaves held against their will? Selina tells Pike this is the place they’re robbing and tells the teen to go in through the back door but to remain hidden until Kyle makes her move.
Both girls enter the building and Selina gets the crowd’s attention by shooting her gun towards the ceiling. She says that the crowd’s getting robbed and some of the folks start to laugh until Bridget shoots a flame into the audience. Pike wants to free the women who are caged but Selina says they don’t have the time. They gather the money and run out of the place after Bridget shoots another burst fire from her flamethrower to keep anyone from following them.
Back at the precinct Barnes’ reads the riot-act to Gordon telling him we don’t ever beat suspects. He then shows security-cam footage to Jim of the girls entering the auction house, Barnes identifies one of the teens as the firebug but says he’s got no idea whom the other girl is. Gordon realizing it’s Selena says he knows her.
Alfred’s continuing Bruce’s boxing lessons in the cave under the library and he keeps telling Wayne he needs to focus that distractions will lead to his death. He tells Bruce to throw a left at him but it’s a tap and he gets Wayne in a headlock as Bruce struggles to get free. Alfred tells him he needs to fight dirtier than that and his ward bites down hard on his hand making Alfred pull back his arm and Bruce gets free. After complaining about the pain he smiles and tells Bruce good job.
The two resume sparring and Wayne says to Alfred he’s ready to take on the board of Wayne Industries. Pennyworth tells Bruce that Silver St. Cloud called and invited Bruce to the Galavan’s for dinner. The teen drops his hands and stands flat-footed as he processes the news and Alfred knocks him to the ground as he hits him flush in the nose. Pennyworth smiles and says you’re far from ready and extends a hand to help Wayne up.
Kristin Kringle and Lee Thompkins stand in the station engaging in some girl-talk, specifically Kristin saying how sweet and gentle Ed’s been to her. She says she kind of wishes he’d be a little less gentle, says she likes a little fire in a man. Ed’s been standing in the adjoining hallway listening and at that point walks in and invites Kringle over for dinner that night.
Harvey Bullock’s an old-school detective and that’s what makes him so valuable on the Strike-Force. While everybody else runs around like their hair’s on fire, Bullock relies on the same things he’s always done working leads and interviewing people with connections to others. Harvey’s got Ivy Pepper sitting at his desk as he tries to track down Selina Kyle and asks Ivy where she’s living. Ivy looks back at him blank-faced having never heard of Selina Kyle and she’s surprised that’s her friend Cat’s real name. Harvey says if she doesn’t tell him he’ll have child-services take her away, but if she tells him he just might grab a candy-bar and forget she’s at his desk.
Bullock’s chewing on a candy-bar when he finds Gordon and tells him Uncle Harvey knows where Selina lives and gives Jim the address. Gordon says he knows the place thanks his partner and takes off to find her on his own. Bullock advises he take back-up but Jim says with Kyle the quiet way’s more effective.
Selina’s taken her cut of their bounty, leaving Pike with enough money to leave Gotham and start a new life. Kyle says to her when she gets to the bus station to take the first bus heading south and ride it to the end of the line. Bridget asks what she does then and Selina says she’s got plenty of money so she can do what ever she pleases. Suddenly a van drives up to them with Bridget’s brothers inside, the oldest one Joe grabs Bridget and shoves her in the van. Selina tries fighting the younger brother and though she wrests his rifle away, they take off with their sister.
Kyle goes back to her place for more weapons and ammo and Gordon busts down her door holding his pistol aimed at Kyle but she’s holding a twin-barreled shotgun. He tells her to lower her weapon and she gives him a look like get real. Jim says she’s running with a really dangerous girl who could get her killed and Kyle says she doesn’t know who Gordon’s referring to. He says he saw the two of them together on surveillance footage and then says she torched six buildings and killed a cop. Selina says that Bridget didn’t want any involvement but her brothers forced her to, she says they’ve physically abused her and have kept her in chains for years.
Jim holsters his pistol and says to Selina then let him help her. He gives his word that he’ll do everything he can to keep her safe. Selina puts down the shotgun and gives Gordon Bridget’s name and address. He reassures Kyle that he’ll handle everything and save her friend.
Bridget’s in handcuffs as her brother’s count her take from the robbery and it’s six grand and Bridget says they can keep it. Joe says he’s going to keep it but what he’s upset about is she was about to leave them. As he berates her he starts chucking firecrackers at her which she manages to dodge. Joe then comes right up to her and asks if she wants to be part of the family again then lights an M-80 and holds it under her chin and she screams yes.
Joe releases her from the handcuffs and tells her if she ever tries it again he’ll kill her and her fiend Cat as well. He asks if she understands and she says yes. Then he shoves her and tells her to fix their dinner. Bridget’s seething washes her hands and then goes into another room.
Butch pays Penguin a visit with a mallet attached to his stump. Penguin says well at least it’s useful and Butch tells him not to start. Penguin then asks how things are going and Gilzean says he’s in and he’s got Galavan’s trust. Cobblepot asks if he’s located his mother and Gilzean says not yet it takes time. He says if he pushes too fast and too hard he’ll blow his cover. Penguin then starts controlling Butch via the brain-washing process that Victor Zsasz put him through last year. He asks Gilzean if he’s his lord and master and Butch responds he is and then he agrees when Penguin says he has to follow every order Cobblepot gives him. Penguin then spits out for Gilzean to locate Oswald’s mother or he’ll cut off Butch’s other hand.
Bridget comes out of the other room wearing her costume and carrying the flamethrower. Joe asks if she intends to kill them with a sneer on his face and Bridget says yes then turns on the flamethrower and barbecues them both. She then grabs her money and takes off.
Minutes later Gordon and Bullock walk into the apartment and sees the two bodies on the floor. As Harvey goes over to examine the remains one of the brother’s sits up and grabs Harvey by the ankle and starts talking. Harvey’s scared out of his mind and kicks the guy until he lets go. Gordon then feels for a pulse and he’s dead, Jim says nice going Harvey. Bullock looks at Gordon like he’s insane and says oh my kicking him killed him? Perhaps it was getting roasted extra-crispy style that ended his life.
Ed and Kristen are just finishing dinner at his apartment and she says he’s got to stop spoiling her. He says he intends to spoil her for the rest of his life. They start kissing and she asks if that’s his bedroom, they both smile and head in there.
Gordon and Bullock head back to the precinct and Barnes’ tells Jim he wants that girl and he wants her now. Gordon tries to explain to Barnes that Pike’s brothers forced her to commit the crimes and they abused her and held her prisoner for years. Barnes basically says he lacks any pity for her and she’s going down.
Butch heads back to Galavan’s office and while he’s alone in there he turns on a monitor and sees Mrs. Cobblepot. Galavan walks in and greets Butch, he quickly shuts off the TV. Theo says that Gilzean’s hard-working and the most loyal man he’s ever met, then says it’s too bad that it’s Penguin that Gilzean’s loyal to. He asks Butch why he allowed Oswald to cut off his hand and Gilzean says that Penguin’s his lord and master.
Tabitha enters the room and Theo says we might be able to do something about that. He tells Tabitha that Penguin brain-washed Gilzean and asks her if she can reverse the process and she says she thinks she can. She wraps her whip around Gilzean’s neck until he passes out. Theo reminds his sister that dinner’s in an hour.
Theo, Silver and Bruce sit at the table in the Galavan’s dining room when Tabitha enters and apologizes for running late. She has a spot of blood on her cheek and Theo motions to her to wipe it off. He then proposes a toast to family for in the end that’s all we’ve got.
Kyle goes to Bridget’s building and finds her friend on the roof next to her pigeon-coop. Selina tells Pike she’s got to run, but Bridget says she’s not afraid anymore. She’s going vigilante and she pledges to rid Gotham City of all the scum and pervs that came after them. Selina says nobody ever came after her and once again says she needs to run, Bridget says it’s nice realizing somebody cares. Kyle says she doesn’t care she just thinks Pike’s stupid and starts to walk away but then rushes back to Bridget and hugs her telling her to be careful. Selina then calls Jim and says she thinks she knows where her friends going.
Pike returns to the auction house and after she burns one of the employees to death, she opens the cage and frees all the women. They all run out to the street just as the Strike-Force arrives, when Bridget walks out of the building Gordon tells the other officers to hold their fire and then starts to walk over to Pike with his hands up.
He tells the teen he’s aware that she got forced by her brothers to pull the heists and to kill Officer Garrett. He says if she puts down the flamethrower and comes with him they’ll work things out. Bridget says she’s not going to jail and Gordon says she’s a minor and there’s other options. She gets scared and turns on the flamethrower just enough to push Gordon back, but a uniform fires a shot hitting one of her tanks and soaking her costume with the accelerant.
Barnes’ repeats the hold your fire command but the shot put Bridget over the top and she starts incinerating a cruiser. Gordon calls out to her to stop, but the cruiser explodes and the fire ignites her suit and she bursts into a ball of flame.
Back at Galavan’s mansion Theo and Bruce have a private conversation and Galavan asks Bruce if he knows a Wayne Enterprises executive named Sid Bunderslaw. Bruce responds that he does and Theo tells him that he’s missing and presumed dead. He then says he’s done extensive research on Wayne Enterprises and he discovered Bruce’s father was a very good man but Wayne Enterprises has a lot of sketchy deals under their control. He tells Bruce he realizes how mature he is and says when he becomes Mayor he’d like to help Bruce clean up his family’s company. Bruce thanks him and they shake hands.
Butch arrives at Penguin’s with his face cut-up, he tells Cobblepot that he’s found Oswald’s mother but they realized he’s a plant and Tabitha tortured him. However he says he escaped and they can save Penguin’s mother if they move now. Penguin says Butch’s loyalty will get rewarded and to sit down while everybody gets armed. Has Gilzean really returned to lead Penguin into a trap.
Gordon tells Selina he tried his best but Bridget didn’t make it. She immediately blames him but Jim says it seemed like she wanted to die and then asks Kyle again who ordered the Pike’s to set the fires? Selina says like you’re going to do something about your little friend? Jim looks shocked and asks why Penguin hired them. Selina advises Gordon to talk to Cobblepot as she’ll never speak with the detective again.
Ed and Kristin are basking in the afterglow when she shows concern, Ed asks her what’s wrong and she says she’s afraid her former boyfriend Officer Dougherty’s going to come back and kill her. Ed smiles and says she’s got no reason to worry. Kringle says that’s sweet but Ed’s too gentle to take on Dougherty and then Ed blows it all by telling Kristin he killed Dougherty. Kringle’s immediately repulsed and gathers her clothes so she can get dressed and leave, she says he’s psychotic and he’s going to prison where terrible things will happen to him.
Nygma pleads with her not to talk like that and attempts to calm her down and he puts one hand over her mouth and the other grips her neck. He says he fell in love with her at first sight and she just wanted to protect her. He says Dougherty beat her and he wanted him to stop, so Ed stopped him. Suddenly he realizes she’s not breathing, he accidentally killed her and starts crying cradling her corpse. Looks like the Riddler’s on his way.
We watch two orderlies pushing a gurney with a heavily bandaged body on it. The talkative one says she’s not dead, they said the suit melted onto her skin. She’s fireproof now, that’s right she can’t burn. That’s why we brought her down here with the rest of the monsters so they can perform tests on her. Bridget opens her eyes and sees that every room contains a heavily guarded “patient’ within.
The Story Continues Next Monday Night at 8:00 pm on FOX.
