Gotham
Season 3 Episode 9: “Mad City: Executioner”
Directed by John Behring
Written by Ken Woodruff
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, Morena Baccharin
FOX
Air Date: Monday, November 14th, 2016, 8pm

Last week on Gotham, Lee’s (Morena Baccharin) engagement party ended how every single party in Gotham ends – in bloodshed. This time, it was the GCPD that was to blame. Captain Barnes (Michael Chiklis) did catch a sleazy doctor who cut off people’s faces for money, but managed to control himself and turn him in. Of course the guy was released, and that sent Barnes off, causing him to beat up and toss the guy out the window. The doctor named Barnes as the killer to Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) before he died. Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) had Isabella (Chelsea Spack) killed, when he failed to break her and Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) up by scaring her off.

Spoilers for tonight’s episode below.

Gotham 3.9 “Mad City: Executioner” review: Jim is super suspicious of Barnes – he accidentally lets Lee see his suspicions, and purposefully goes to Bullock (Donal Logue) to help him suss it out.

“Symon was a psychopath, who gave face transplants for the mob using stolen faces.” Ah Bullock… you certainly tell it like it is. You are wrong in this particular case, but I appreciate your blunt talk.

Barnes is totally off the reservation. He’s hanging criminals, spouting what sounds like scripture or a satanic ritual or something.

“Tonight I am the law!”

Ivy (Maggie Geha) has the floor tonight, as she demonstrates how she earned her poison moniker. She lures men, gives them a whiff of her pleasantly noxious fumes, and gets them to open vaults. Very good writing/acting combo, as Geha makes you see the adolescent inside. She goes to visit Selina (Camren Bicondova), who immediately calls Bruce (David Mazouz). Some weirdos in masks with weapons show up. Ivy doesn’t want to give it back, so Bruce offers to buy it to keep them safe. He will put it back. So gallant. When they get there, the man is dead by the same weapon as those masked guys. The necklace is hiding a key, and some scary people are hot on their trail for it.

Nygma is getting worried about Isabella, and with good reason. He gets to comfort his crush, but he should be worried. Ed will find out the truth soon enough. He goes to the place of her death to try and say goodbye, and a blind bum said he heard her screaming. Ed is definitely on the case, and reveals who he thinks the killer is…

Barnes’s prints are all over the Symon scene. Jim gets caught rifling through his things. Barnes takes him on a little car ride. But they are hiding behind the thinly veiled truth they both know.

“The city’s at a crossroads Gordon. Question is… will good men fight for it? Will they do what’s necessary?” They go to a perp’s place, and Barnes thinks the guy is innocent of that particular crime, but not innocent and blows him away in front of Jim. The virus comes out soon enough. But Barnes wants him to join him or be framed. What does Jim choose? One man gets shot and one man walks away free. You have to watch the episode to find out who.

This episode was a crossroads for Barnes, and Chiklis played it perfectly. The end was quite unexpected. I definitely said a few curse words in shocked disbelief. This show consistently delivers. I do like the little budding tough girl/sensitive boy romance between Bruce and Selina. How will Batman and Catwoman not end up married?

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

FOX’s synopsis:

“MAD CITY: EXECUTIONER”
GUILTY! ON AN ALL-NEW “GOTHAM” MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, ON FOX
MON NOV 14 8/7c
Gordon and Bullock become suspicious of Barnes, and comb through evidence of the murder at Lee and Mario’s engagement party. Nygma goes to Penguin when he hasn’t heard from Isabella (guest star Chelsea Spack). Meanwhile, Ivy reveals her identity to Selina and Bruce, but quickly leads them to trouble in the all-new “Mad City: The Executioner” episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, Nov. 14 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Image Gallery

Videos

Barnes Has Become The Executioner | Season 3 Ep. 9 | GOTHAM

Barnes becomes infected with Alice’s virus and he becomes mad.

Ivy Uses Her Perfume To Manipulate A Victim | Season 3 Ep. 9 | GOTHAM

Ivy gets her way with a man.

Gordon Shares His Concern For Barnes | Season 3 Ep. 9 | GOTHAM

Gordon asks for Harvey’s help looking into Barnes after his odd behavior.