Gotham
Season 1 Episode 8: “The Mask”
Written by Bruno Heller
Starring Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sean Pertwee, Robin Lord Taylor, David Mazouz, Camren Bicondova, Erin Richards, Zabryna Guevara, Andrew Stewart-Jones, David Zayas, John Doman, and Victoria Cartegena
FOX
Air Date: Monday, November 10, 2014, 8pm

Spoiler alert! Turn away now if you don’t want to read the Gotham 1.7 “Penguin’s Umbrella” recap or the Gotham 1.8 “The Mask” review that follows!

Poor Jim! Everybody wants him dead or jailed. Penguin’s (Robin Lord Taylor) waddle into the station revealed that Jim (Ben McKenzie) morally lied about killing Penguin. Now, Harvey (Donal Logue) wants to kill him (but comes around). Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) wants Penguin dead and Jim brought in. Falcone (John Doman) is gunning for him, and Montoya and Allen (Victoria Cartagena and Andrew Stewart-Jones) find themselves on the wrong end, but redeem themselves. Seems they just discovered that perfect hostage Barbara (Erin Richards) was right all along about Jim. But we knew that already.

This episode did not have a villain of the week, but pushed the overarching storyline in gasp-y, just-in-the-nick-of-time ways. Despite the spoiler alert, I’m not going to give the surprise end reveal…it’s too good. May I just say I’m enjoying David Zayas (Dexter) as Maroni, and loved Anthony Carrigan as Victor Zsasz (fresh off his “Mist”-y guest spot on The Flash) this episode.

Gotham 1.8 “The Mask” review: Woohoohoo! That’s my very professional review of this episode. Fighting and loneliness are the pervasive themes. Jim is truly alone after everyone, including the captain, left him to Victor’s mercy…everyone that is, except Harvey. He is mirrored by Bruce’s (David Mazouz) loneliness as Bruce reluctantly going back to school and a bully. Alfred (Sean Pertwee) comes through for him. We do have an episodic villain this week. “What happens at Sionis Investments stays at Scionis Investments.” It’s a real-life fight club that Harvey and Jim need to stop. There’s no musical montage (darn it), but there is an inspirational Harvey speech. We learn more about enigma Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), and get to visit the very sane Cobblepot family home.

And check out The Gotham Chronicle for the latest news stories straight from this crooked city!

Gotham 1.8 “The Mask” trailer: