Gotham
Season 2 Episode 1: “Damned If You Do…”
Directed by Danny Cannon
Written and created by Bruno Heller
Starring Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Sean Pertwee, Robin Lord Taylor, David Mazouz, Camren Bicondova, Morena Baccarin, Cory Michael Smith, Erin Richards, Zabryna Guevara, James Frain, Jessica Lucas, Cameron Monaghan
FOX
Air Date: Monday, September 21st, 2015, 8pm

Gotham premieres tonight, and this Batman prequel was a roaring success last season. This series is the tale of Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and the special residents of Gotham, before little Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) grew up to be Batman. The season began with the murder of the Waynes in front of their son, which spurs an investigation and a vow to find the killer, by both Gordon and Bruce. We were introduced to future (but kinda current villains) of Penguin, Riddler, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Joker, The Dollmaker, Two-Face, The Ogre (Robin Lord Taylor, Cory Michael Smith, Camren Bicondova, Claire Foley, Charlie Tahan, Cameron Monaghan, Colm Feore, Nicholas D’Agosto, Milo Ventimiglia), and one not in the comics – Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett-Smith).

A recap of the end of last season, and bit of spoilers for tonight’s episode of Gotham lie ahead. Do not proceed if you are not ready… or worthy!

The end of last season was an all out mob war. Fish escaped The Dollmaker’s island and breezed back into town with an entourage, bent on bringing down Falcone (John Doman). Trussing up Jim, Penguin, and Falcone, she hand them over to Don Maroni (she has a thing for Bullock so lets him go). Maroni (David Zayas) is a chauvenistic pig, so she kills him, and a shootout ensues. They all escape, but Falcone, Jim, and Bullock are recaptured by Fish’s people. Not for long. Penguin shows up with a machine gun, and they scatter again. Her and Penguin end up on the roof with brainwashed Butch, and Penguin tosses her off. “I’m the King of Gotham!” Nygma has a complete mental breakdown, when Ms. Kringle discovers the “coincidence” of the note’s first letters spelling out Nygma’s name. Bruce and Alfred (Sean Pertwee) discover the entrance to the batcave. The password isn’t password. Lee (Morena Baccharin) reluctantly agrees to counsel Barbara after her traumatic experience with The Ogre. The tables are turned when Barbara reveals her crazy. She killed her parents, and what proceeds is a comedic girl fight, that Jim walks into. After that is sorted out, Falcone walks away from Gotham, leaving Jim with his father’s knife.

Gotham 2.1 “Damned If You Do…” review: It’s one month after the discovery of the entrance to the batcave by Bruce and Alfred, and Bruce is obsessed with getting in. The rest of Gotham seems topsy-turvy. Bullock is a bartender, Penguin is The Godfather, and Jim Gordon is stripped of his badge, because of Loeb’s petty spite.

Barbara is in her element at Arkham, making “friends.” This is my favorite version of Barbara. Could the rumors be true? Are they setting her up to be Harley Quinn? Whatever they are doing, Erin Richards and Cameron Monaghan as Jerome are magnetically psychotic. A extra-strange crazy emits a blue gas, that knocks out 6 Arkhamites, including those 2, and they all wake up strapped to handtrucks, and given an offer by… Theo Galavan (James Frain). He calls them powerful, and allows his sister Tabitha (Jessica Lucas) to demonstrate just how vicious they can be, should their offer not be accepted. It seems as though the Galavans will be the Big Bad this season, with all the other villains circling around their gravity. I can’t wait to see what happens when they butt heads with Penguin. He always seems the less powerful against all of the bigwigs he is up against, yet he somehow comes out on top.

Nygma is literally split in two, and trying to hide it from everyone. Jim shows concern, and my sweet Nygma is the one who answers him. But the crazed killer inside him (and in the mirror) won’t leave him alone.

Jim goes a-visiting…

First, he goes to visit Penguin, for a favor. As is all his dealings with Penguin, he comes away feeling conflicted and dirty. Penguin reacquaints him with his pet Cat. He already knows what Jim wants. But what he wants in return is completely criminal. Is it worth it?

Next, he visits Bullock (Donal Logue), who gives him some Bullock-y advice. Their bromance is sweet and stronger than ever before.

Last, he visits Bruce, who is more self-possessed than ever, who questions his decision about Penguin’s deal, to Alfred’s chagrin. Jim seems to take his advice into account, giving a glimpse of their future, more equal relationship.

Do you think Jim made the right choice?

When they called this season “Rise of the Villains,” they were talking about Jim Gordon too.

Gotham premieres tonight at 8pm ET on FOX.

FOX’s synopsis:

“DAMNED IF YOU DO,…”
THE VILLAINS WILL RISE ON THE SEASON PREMIERE OF “GOTHAM” MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, ON FOX
MON SEP 21 8/7c

Penguin is King of Gotham and after a shakeup at the GCPD, Detective James Gordon’s moral compass wavers, as he seeks help from Penguin. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne continues to explore the secrets from his father’s office, while GOTHAM newcomers Theo Galavan (James Frain) and his sister, Tabitha (Jessica Lucas), make friends with some unlikely allies, a group of dangerous inmates from Arkham in the all-new “Rise of the Villains: Damned If You Do,”¦” Season Two premiere episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, Sept. 21 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Image Gallery

Video

GOTHAM | Welcome To The Rise Of The Villains

GOTHAM is a city riddled with fear. Season Premiere MON SEPT 21 on FOX!