Gotham
Season 2 Episode 17: “Into The Woods”
Directed by Oz Scott
Written by Rebecca Perry Cutter
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, Chris Chalk, Michael Chiklis
FOX
Air Date: Monday, April 11th, 2016, 8pm

Last time on Gotham, Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) was the prisoner, set up by Nygma (Cory Michael Smith). The warden and the prisoners had it out for him, plotting his death. He had two friends in there – an idealistic yet doomed young man who stood up for him, and one of the guards. He escaped from prison in a body bag. How’d he escape? Ask Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue) and Falcone (guest John Doman). Penguin’s father died in his arms.

Warning! Spoilers below.

Lt. Barnes (Michael Chiklis) is onto Bullock, and Ed Nygma is less than thrilled his plan to get rid of Gordon for good has gone awry. Meanwhile, Bruce and Selina (David Mazouz and Camren Bicondova) are stealing from gangsters, and Bruce laughingly throwing the prize money away, much to the displeasure of Selina. After all he is gazillionaire. Watch for the “batman” moment.

“The people of Gotham can eat my socks”

Harvey is a great friend. He pledges to help Gordon figure out who set him up knowing his ass is on the line, but can’t stop himself from pleading with James to just go and run off to an island with Lee. They come up with one long shot idea. The anonymous tipster who called IA on him, may have been recorded on the phone and thus they have a lead… a lead that Harvey has to get down and dirty for (if you know what I mean).

Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) attends the funeral of his father, who was accidentally murdered by his wife and step-children. They were trying to kill Oswald to keep him out of the will. Oswald continues to portray a killer rehabilitated who just wants to be a part of any family, but we all know his meaner side will come out again; presumably after he discovers the truth. Speaking of crazy people in rehab, Barbara (Erin Richards) wakes from her coma and begins therapy with Doctor Strange (BD Wong) at Arkham. Strange has the “strange” idea of releasing insane people “back into the wild” as a “beautiful experiment.”

“$10,000… you should turn me in.”

Gordon wants to keep Harvey in the clear, so he goes and visits some of his old “friends”… Edward Nygma. They run the tape and engage in some quid pro quo, and it’s not long before the truth is revealed in a really cool scene as Cory Michael Smith just nails the Riddler character. Gordon manages to escape the trap, albeit with a gunshot wound and seeks refuge in one of the only places he has left – Selina’s pad where he promptly passes out. Alfred (Sean Pertwee) is called to help nurse him back to health. Gordon figures Nygma responsible for Ms. Kringle’s death and knows he must’ve buried the bodies in the woods when he first met Penguin.

As expected, once Oswald figured out his father was poisoned, he begins to snap back to his old self. His way of handling things is typically fantastic with a touch of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, and if you don’t get that reference, don’t worry.

Before Gordon can come back to work he needs to fulfill his promise to find Bruce’s parents’ real killer. Bruce parts ways with Selina after finding out Lucius Fox fixed his dads’s computer, and she doesn’t take well to that. And as expected, Gordon doesn’t go too long without getting a knock on the door from a certain old flame.

This season is so good!

Once again, Gotham juggles multiple arcs without it getting overly complicated, cleaning up storylines without having to wait forever for the payoff. I like the revolving Arkham door, and the “comic”-al way Strange keeps releasing the crazies, with no oversight or protest whatsoever. I’m just waiting for Theo Galavan (James Frain) to wake up as he is always the best villain on whatever show he’s on.

Gotham airs Monday nights at 8:00pm ET on FOX.

FOX’s synopsis:

“WRATH OF THE VILLAINS: INTO THE WOODS”
GORDON DISCOVERS A CLUE, WHILE PENGUIN HAS A CHANGE OF HEART ON AN ALL-NEW “GOTHAM” MONDAY, APRIL 11, ON FOX
MON APR 11 8/7c

In an attempt to clear his name, Gordon steals his case file and approaches Nygma for help. Meanwhile, Penguin discovers his step-family’s role in his father’s death, and awakens from his conditioning in the all-new “Wrath of the Villains: Into the Woods” episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, April 11 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Image Gallery

Videos

GOTHAM | Calling For Backup from “Wrath of the Villains: Into the Woods”

Gordon is spotted on the streets of Gotham.

GOTHAM | Keep Him Close from “Wrath of the Villains: Into the Woods”

Oswald is told he can stay at his father’s house but not as a guest but as the new maid.