Gotham
Season 2 Episode 5: “Scarification”
Directed by Bill Eagles
Written by Jordan Harper
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 19th, 2015, 8pm

Last week on Gotham, there’s a new captain, and he won’t take any s***. His name is Captain Nathaniel Barnes (Michael Chiklis). He immediately fires a bunch of corrupt cops and forms a “Strike Force,” headed by Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie), made up of newbies. He wants to hit Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor). You know who also hits Penguin? Theo Galavan (James Frain). He kidnaps Mommy Cobblepott (Carol Kane), and forces Penguin to take out the mayoral competition, using the fake attempt on his life (also by Penguin) to declare his candidacy. Jim knows it’s Penguin, but they have that dirty little deed between them. Bruce (David Mazouz) meets Silver St. Cloud – his new love interest and also Theo’s niece. Alfred (Sean Pertwee) is cruel to Selina (Camren Bicondova), and actually hits her. Nygma and Ms. Kringle (Cory Michael Smith and Chelsea Spack) have dinner, and it’s a surprising and creepy success (the creepy is not the surprising part).

Spoiler alert!

Gotham 1.5 “Scarification” review: Theo still won’t give back Penguin’s mom. Is anyone surprised? The problem with being the King of Gotham is that there’s no place to go but down. He is a slave once more. I guess Bullock was right – he’ll always be an umbrella holder. Theo should watch his arrogance though and learn that same lesson.

The Strike Force hits two major crime hubs, but a tragedy results.

Funny moment – “The Merc,” a gun store, where criminals shop for weapons with wagons like it’s Costco.

The villain of the day is a bit more complicated than usual. Theo-Penguin-arsonists, but by the end, plays have been made that have forwarded Theo’s long-term agenda.

Selina scores one for feminism by helping a little Firefly.

Double fondue dinner date at Lee’s (Morenna Baccarin) place with Nygma and Kringle. Also creepy, but I heart Nygma. Even Lee finds him dorkily charming.

Penguin has gone bananas. He really loves him mom. He finds out the WHY that drives Theo (that is reinforced by the arrival of guest star Ron Rifkin), but is not unsure exactly how to proceed. What he does is super shocking, and proves he is a loon.

The end of the episode is so super crazy, I could not even believe it!

I loved last season too, but the darkness has gotten darker, and each episode is so connected to the overarching story. Even the ones that seem separate, like Bruce and Penguin, are connected. Truly successful shows learn from the feedback and criticisms of seasons prior, and I think that is what Gotham has done. They are still giving us potential villains, but are not bombarding us. We are savoring each revelation.

Gotham airs Monday Nights at 8pm ET on FOX.

FOX’s synopsis:

“RISE OF THE VILLAINS: SCARIFICATION”
FAMILY RIVALRIES WILL RESURFACE IN THE CITY ON AN ALL-NEW “GOTHAM” MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, ON FOX
MON OCT 19 8/7c

Galavan and Penguin join forces with a dangerous family in Gotham. Then, as the rivalry between the Waynes and the Galavans resurfaces, Gordon struggles to maintain order in the city in the all-new “Rise of the Villains: Scarification” episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, Oct. 19 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Image Gallery

Video

Gotham 2×05 Promo “Scarification”