Gotham
Season 2 Episode 3: “Rise Of The Villains: The Last Laugh”
Directed by Eagle Egilsson
Written by John Stephens
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, James Frain, Jessica Lucas, Cameron Monaghan, Chris Chalk
FOX
Air Date: Monday, October 5th, 2015, 8pm

Last week on Gotham, Alfred (Sean Pertwee) freaks out and smashes the batcave electronics, in an attempt to keep Bruce (David Mazouz) safe. Bruce fires him, but relents in a tearful (for me) way. To make it up to him, Alfred seeks out Lucius Fox (Chris Chalk) for help. That was the normal part of the episode. The crazy bananas part started with the Maniax tossing people off a building to announce their arrival. Then they tried to barbecue some cheerleaders, but Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) saved the girls. The bloody icing on the death cake is what happened to the GCPD. Barbara (Erin Richards) lured Jim from the station. That’s when Jerome (Cameron Monoghan) et al., shot up the precinct, and killed Essen. Dr. Thompkins survived, and Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) threw himself on top of Ms. Kringle. She’s definitely gonna like him now. I hope she can hold his split personality at bay. I love him.

Spoilers below.

Gotham 2.3 “Rise Of The Villains: The Last Laugh” review: There’s a magician! That’s the running joke of the episode. The next steps of Theo’s (James Frain) plan go into effect at the Children’s Hospital gala. It’s a good plan. I just don’t know how everyone doesn’t see through his overdramatic soap opera acting. Keep an eye out how Barbara plays everyone. She just might be the smartest person in Gotham. I actually believe her prophecy that she will get back together with Jim. I’m a little afraid it will literally be over Lee’s dead body.

Jerome gets revenge and a patsy for the Arkham escape at the same time.

Two adorable things: Alfred trying to ask Dr. Thompkins out on a date, and his crestfallen face when he realizes she’s Jim’s girl. And Selena (Camren Bicondova – have not seen enough of her) and Bruce caring about each other. These two were best when they had scenes together. Future romance – set!

Bullock (Donal Logue) goes to visit Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), and immediately makes him start acting like Fish Mooney’s sniveling umbrella holder just by saying so.

Most of the episode is centered around the events at the gala. I can tell you that Jerome steps in for the magician, and Barbara as his gorgeous assistant. Wherever these two go, mayhem follows. And it did. “Gotham needs a hero.” Look to Bruce to really act like a hero to save someone, as Theo fakes it.

You know… I didn’t think Gotham could shock me as much as they did last week, but I was wrong. While the murder of Essen by Jerome was completely horrifying, the murder at the end of this episode was even more surprising (no, I’m not telling you who!). But there’s a bit of a twist. And what must be a future setup. The last couple of minutes of the episode are creepy as hell.

All I know now is… all bets are off.

Gotham airs Monday nights at 8pm ET on FOX.

FOX’s synopsis:

“RISE OF THE VILLAINS: THE LAST LAUGH”
ABRACADABRA, HOSTAGES! ON AN ALL-NEW “GOTHAM” MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, ON FOX
MON OCT 5 8/7c

Gordon and Bullock track down a nemesis from the past, leading to a standoff between Jerome (guest star Cameron Monaghan) and Gordon. Meanwhile, a magic show at the Gotham Children’s Hospital gala turns into a hostage situation in the all-new “Rise of the Villains: The Last Laugh” episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, Oct. 5 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Image Gallery

Videos

GOTHAM | Preview: “Rise of the Villains: The Last Laugh”

A crazy and twisted new episode of GOTHAM premieres this MON at 8/7c on FOX!

GOTHAM | The Silent Treatment from “Rise of the Villains: The Last Laugh”

Jerome pays one last visit to his dad.

GOTHAM | A Magician from “Rise of the Villains: The Last Laugh”

Bruce and Alfred arrive at the hospital and become acquainted with Leslie.