Gotham
Season 3 Episode 7: “Mad City: Red Queen”
Directed by Scott White
Written by Megan Mostyn-Brown
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, Jessica Lucas, Drew Powell
FOX
Air Date: Monday, October 31st, 2016, 8pm

Last week on Gotham, after playing a random “death choice” game, Jim (Ben McKenzie) was faced with an even worse choice, as the Mad Hatter (Benedict Samuel) kidnapped both Lee and Valerie Vale (Morena Baccharin and Jamie Chung), forcing him to choose one to die. Jim’s choice was tricky and telling. Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) tried to work up the courage to confess his growing feelings for Ed (Cory Michael Smith, but didn’t manage it. Then Nygma met his soul mate – who is the spitting image of Kringle (Chelsea Spack). The effects of Alice Tetch’s blood on Captain Barnes (Michael Chiklis) grew stronger.

Warning! Spoilers for tonight’s episode of Gotham below!

Gotham 3.7 “Mad City: Red Queen” review: Jim is by Valerie’s bedside. “You get a girl shot, and you don’t even bring her booze?” Really, Jim! Have some etiquette! Jim lies to her, but she calls him on it. “You wanted to save Lee.” Do I even need to say that she broke up with him?

Tetch is shopping for drugs, for his #1 nemesis and the city he loves. Jim Gordon is in for a trip!

Nygma is in love. He spent 12 hours with Kringle’s doppelgänger, Isabella (Chelsea Spack). Penguin is not happy, and tries his damnedest to sabotage it. Ed better not find out about this betrayal.

Bruce (David Mazouz) is cooking for Selina (Camren Bicondova). Alfred (Sean Pertwee) is trying really hard not to disapprove. He will give him his privacy, “Within earshot. With the lights on.” That is just good parenting, Alfred. She is super late. “This. Me and you. It’s weird for me,” says Selina. That makes Bruce smile.

Tetch steals Alice’s body to drain her of blood. Jim shows up for info. “So I take it you’re rejoining the force,” Barnes remarks, before kicking Jim out of the morgue. Even Harvey (Donal Logue) is annoyed with him.

Penguin is readying for a prestigious event. Nygma has a date so won’t be going. Penguin visits Isabella, and tries to manipulate love.

Tetch makes Jim chase him, and then blows the psychedelic powder in his face. Barbara (Erin Richards) is his host – “Welcome to your hallucination.”

Such fun! Bruce appears and warns him he is out of time. He is then in a battle with Penguin spouting more cryptic messages. One vision that hits him really hard is one of family life with Lee and his 2 imaginary children. He doesn’t want to leave that. “It’s not easy to face who you are. I should know.” The last stop is a ride with his dad. His dad mentions the code (Dexter?), and then leaves him. I understand Jim. I wish I could go on one last car ride with my dad too. Ours would be filled with cigarette smoke and good tunes and bittersweet laughs.

The society makes themselves known to Penguin. Tetch arrives and nearly makes everyone drink the poison. But Barnes and the GCPD save the day. Barnes goes a little crazy, using Tetch as a punching bag, who sees the virus in him, and laughs and laughs.

Nygma confesses to murder, but Isabella still came – “Love isn’t logical.” Penguin walks in shocked at seeing her there.

“While we breathe, we shall defend,” are the words on his father’s ring. Jim is saved by Mario (James Carpinello), and goes to Barnes and the GCPD, who welcomes him back immediately. Tetch and the Dums are locked up in Arkham, which means they will escape easily in 5 minutes.

We see Kathryn talking to a new player with a ring… Dad?

I really dug the music tonight more than usual. The accompaniment to Tetch’s plan was as menacing as he was. Hallucinations, dreams, visions, time-traveling – all are on my list of favorite episode types ever, and this one was no slouch either. I loved that Barbara was the guide – that is also very telling in Jim’s psyche. Good times.

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

FOX’s synopsis:

“MAD CITY: RED QUEEN”
LET’S TAKE A TRIP! ON AN ALL-NEW “GOTHAM” MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, ON FOX
CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS FYC
After coming in contact with a substance by the hand of Mad Hatter, Jim Gordon gets led on a psychedelic trip and must confront his past, present and future. Meanwhile, Penguin struggles with Nygma’s new relationship in the all-new “Mad City: Red Queen” episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, Oct. 31 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Image Gallery

Videos

Jervis Tetch Recovers The Body Of His Sister | Season 3 Ep. 7 | GOTHAM

Jervis Tetch has plans for Gotham.

Nathaniel Barnes Has Gordon Removed From The Crime Scene | Season 3 Ep. 7 | GOTHAM

Gordon shows up at the morgue where Alice’s body was taken.