Gotham
Season 3 Episode 1: “Mad City: Better To Reign in Hell”
Directed by Danny Cannon
Written by John Stephens
Created by Bruno Heller
Starring Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Sean Pertwee, Robin Lord Taylor, David Mazouz, Camren Bicondova, Cory Michael Smith, Erin Richards, Chris Chalk, Michael Chiklis
FOX
Air Date: Monday, September 19th, 2016, 8pm

Last season, Gotham was besieged with villainy – and most were super crazy. Arkham Asylum was the drain we circled, with the psychotic Doctor Strange (the incredible BD Wong) experimenting with life and monstrous death. Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) got so much closer to the truth, and a glimpse of his future in the batlike Azrael (James Frain), who started out as only a madman on the inside, set on destroying the Wayne family. Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) was committed and freed, reunited with his dad at his mother’s grave (Tabitha killed mommy), but that happiness was fleeting. His stepfamily murdered his father, and Penguin returned in full force. Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) completely split apart after killing his girlfriend and framing Gordon for murder. He was caught and thrown into Arkham just in time to join the crazy party. The showdown at the end resulted in all the monsters going free, including season 1 resurrected baddie, Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett-Smith).

Spoilers below!

Gotham 3.1 “Mad City: Better To Reign in Hell” review: Jim goes a knockin’ on Lee’s door, but bows out when he spies her happy and kissing a guy. He does the good guy thing and fades away, returning to Gotham as a badass.

Something breaks into a pharmacy. Is that a crocodile or a rhino? Jim Gordon, bounty hunter, shows up, “Any chance you wanna come quietly?” They fight, but it’s so uneven.

Captain Barnes (Michael Chiklis) is not in a hospital! He gives a press conference on the monster status. Jamie Chung is ace reporter Valerie Vale asking the hard questions. “I don’t think Gotham is running out of monsters anytime soon.”

Bullock (Donal Logue) tries to get Jim to come back to the force. He prefers not to. Lucius Fox (Chris Chalk) is the resident expert of the GCPD now. He found out the Indian Hill escapees are hitting pharmacies. But for what? Penguin limps in with Butch (Drew Powell) to make the mayor and Barnes tell the truth. He says that Fish is leading them.

“I hear you’re quite the bounty hunter these days.” Penguin is insulted that Jim isn’t after him.

Penguin goes to offer protection services to Barbara (Erin Richards). Her partner, Tabitha (Jessica Lucas), arrives and Butch almost falls on the floor. That crush isn’t over, much to Penguin’s annoyance.

“I want Fish Mooney! And I will give a million dollars to whomever can give her to me.”

Cat (Camren Bicondova) slides up to Butch, who remarks she’s too young (at the same moment I remarked that aloud). She steals his wallet and meets Ivy, throwing a couple of dollars at the fake Bruce, not noticing what he looks like.

Alfred (Sean Pertwee) and Bruce return home. Bruce goes to see Selina, who wears her defensiveness like a cape. The fake Bruce watches.

Valerie Vale introduces herself to Jim Gordon and then grills him, also throwing in the news about the million dollar reward for Fish Mooney. He is suddenly more interested.

Penguin visits Nygma. He brings him the hardest puzzle ever, which he solves in 3 seconds. “It was a lovely thought.” He doesn’t know why Penguin is so nice to him, but we know. Penguin is desperate for a friend. Nygma gives him some wisdom. “Penguins eat fish.”

Fish and her sidekick Selina (plus mutant friends) hit a drug manufacturing warehouse, Jim close at their heels. Using her power drains her. One of her goons with long nails fights Jim then runs away.

Bruce meets with Wayne enterprises. He confronts the board and says he knows the group that hired Strange is in the room, and they have 24 hours to contact him. The secret boss puts a hit on him, as Bruce expected.

Someone tries to muscle Barbara. He hits her and dies for it.

Selina gives Valerie info. She goes to Jim, but he handcuffs her to her car. We know she is his next love interest.

Jim confronts Mrs. Peabody. He wants to know about Fish. She immediately figures out that she is being used as bait. The goonettes steal her, and she is killed by a monster that ages people. Ivy also has a run-in with that monster, but falls. However, we now know how Clare Foley turns into Maggie Geha.

Btw – Jim fought an actual Bat-man.

The assassin shows up at Wayne Manor. Alfred is a badass (pretty much the theme of the show), but Bruce gets taken anyway.

Solid start to what promises to be another exciting and twisted season. I don’t know how Gotham did it, but they managed to turn even darker. Reigning in Fish and the monsters, and Bruce in peril will make this season fly by in excitement. I’m looking forward to seeing what character surprises are in store for us.

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

Synopsis:

“MAD CITY: BETTER TO REIGN IN HELL…”
IT’S A MAD CITY ON THE ALL-NEW SEASON THREE PREMIERE OF “GOTHAM” MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, ON FOX
MON SEP 19 8/7c
Gordon (Ben McKenzie) works in a monster-ridden Gotham as a bounty hunter and seeks to find Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) for answers about the Indian Hill escapees – and why their powers appear to be killing them. Meanwhile, Bruce’s (David Mazouz) doppelganger roams the streets, and Barbara (Erin Richards) and Tabitha (Jessica Lucas) open a new nightclub called The Sirens in the all-new “Mad City: Better to Reign in Hell”¦” season premiere episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, Sept. 19 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Image Gallery

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