Gotham
Season 2 Episode 4: “Strike Force”
Directed by TJ Scott
Written by Danny Cannon
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, Chris Chalk, Michael Chiklis
FOX
Air Date: Monday, October 12th, 2015, 8pm

Many spoilers ahead for last week’s Gotham, and a couple for tonight’s episode. Beware!

Last week on Gotham, it was villains betraying villains, and future villains helping future heroes, and future partners working together. How did this all come about? Theo Galavan (James Frain) sets his plan’s next phase into motion at the Children’s Hospital gala run by Lee (Morena Baccarin). It’s a wonder that any rich people go to any event in Gotham, since they always seem to be hit up. There, Jerome and Barbara (Cameron Monaghan and Erin Richards) replace the scheduled magician and assistant, to replace laughter with terror. Selina (Camren Bicondova) and Bruce (David Mazouz) make their escape, but Bruce goes back in to save Alfred (Sean Pertwee), only stopped for a moment by Jim (Ben McKenzie), who realizes they must work together to handle this. They needn’t have worried. Theo kills Jerome (ultimate villain betrayal) – “Enter the hero,” in a moment that belonged on Days of our Lives. Gotham needs a hero. And Theo plans on being one (of course causing the messes himself to stage the heroism). Adorable – Selina coming back to make sure Bruce is okay. Creepy – dead Jerome’s laugh is contagious.

Gotham 2.4 “Strike Force” review: This episode is chock full of everything. Squabbling everywhere! Penguin’s people amongst themselves. The cops amongst themselves. It mirrors the chaos in Gotham.

In one of the most highly anticipated castings, Michael Chiklis steps in as new head of the GCPD, Captain Nathaniel Barnes. He’s quite inspiring to Jim, spouting all the ideals Jim felt when he first joined the precinct. He puts together a task force run by Jim, made of uncorrupted police cadets.

Barnes: “A crime unpunished is a crime unto itself.”

Barnes will either be corrupt himself, will die, or will have his hopes dashed, because this city does that to you. It did to Jim.

Penguin is not happy with the criminal events transpiring, because it causes chaos and hurts business. Theo summons him, revealing his true colors to the “King of Gotham.” He has an unappealing proposition for him, that he may have no choice to follow. Butch (Drew Powell) is actually the closest thing Penguin has for a real friend, despite the fact he has to do everything Penguin says. Jim is stuck. He wants to be the true cop Barnes expects, but he has so much dirty laundry now, especially tied to Penguin.

Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) and Ms. Kringle (Chelsea Spack) have dinner and it is as creepy and adorable as you can imagine. I love Nygma, but Ms. Kringle really has bad instincts when it comes to men. And leave it to Nygma to make cooking look more disgusting than lab work.

Not cool what Alfred did to Selina. I was really mad at Alfred. You’ll see.

Silver St. Cloud (Natalie Alyn Lind from The Goldbergs) is introduced as Theo’s niece, and obviously Bruce’s new love interest. I can’t get a read (too soon) on if she’s evil or not. This will be an interesting triangle with Selina, anyway.

This episode kept me riveted. I liked that I felt sorry for Penguin, which is a testament to Robin Lord Taylor’s multi-faceted portrayal. I’m looking forward to how Theo continues to infiltrate the city. I can’t help but think that Barbara will be his ultimate downfall.

Gotham airs Monday nights at 8pm ET on FOX.

FOX’s synopsis:

“RISE OF THE VILLAINS: STRIKE FORCE”
A NEW CAPTAIN IS CALLED TO ACTION ON AN ALL-NEW “GOTHAM” MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, ON FOX
MON OCT 12 9/7c

Captain Barnes (Michael Chiklis) is called to duty to create a law-abiding task force, with the help of Gordon. Meanwhile, Penguin gets caught up in a favor for Galavan, and Nygma asks Kringle out on a date in the all-new “Rise of the Villains: Strike Force” episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, Oct. 12 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

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GOTHAM | Preview: “Rise of the Villains: Strike Force”

The new boss has arrived in an all-new episode of GOTHAM this MON at 8/7c on FOX!