Gotham
Season 3 Episode 18: “Heroes Rise: Light The Wick”
Directed by Mark Tonderai
Written by Tze Chun
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, Jessica Lucas, Drew Powell, Morena Baccharin
FOX
Air Date: Monday, May 15th, 2017, 8pm

Last week on Gotham, Penguin and Ivy (Robin Lord Taylor, Maggie Geha) recruited some freaks. Bruce 2 (David Mazouz) confessed to Selina (Camren Bicondova) who he really was. She threatened to go to Alfred (Sean Pertwee), so he pushed her out a window. Kathryn (Leslie Hendrix) told Jim (Ben McKenzie) to deliver Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), who threatened to out the Court of Owls. He delivered. Jim was inducted into the Court of Owls.

Spoilers below.

Gotham 3.18 “Light The Wick” review: Barnes (Michael Chiklis) is being led away by Arhkam orderlies, as the Mad Hatter (Benedict Samuel) narrates in rhyme. Barnes kills one and goes for more when the Court of Owls ninja comes and drugs him. Barnes almost gets the best of the ninja, but he passes out and is brought to Kathryn. She needs his “judgment” on a larger scale – in walks Dr. Strange (BD Wong) with a giant needle. Dr. Strange made the Tetch virus transmittable through the air – it is weaponized.

Lee (Morena Baccharin) labels Frank Gordon’s death a homicide and demands Bullock (Donal Logue) open an investigation and question Jim. Harvey already knows that the uncle killed himself, but he has to pretend to know nothing.

Ivy went to the club looking for Selina. Tabitha (Jessica Lucas) tells her to check the hospital. She visits and the doctor says there is nothing they can do. Ivy vows to heal her. She brings a very special plant, and Selina wakes up ready to get revenge on Bruce 2. I am so glad. I was worried she would remember nothing, or would think the real Bruce hurt her.

After the Court of Owls meeting, Jim sneaks back in and lifts fingerprints off of Kathryn’s mask. He gets caught but smooths it over. The list is for loved ones to be spared. Bullock gets all of her info for Jim, who is going to break into her house. Bullock fills him in on Lee’s actions and that Barnes is missing.

Bruce trains with the promise of freedom for victory. He did not win. “Your rage, Bruce. It blinds you… Gotham needs a protector and you need a purpose.” He visits another memory – his parent’s wake. He puts metaphorical cufflinks in his brain safe. He fights again and wins. Bruce wants to stay and train. We find out this shaman is a fake. Ugh!

Penguin surprises Jim (with Bridgit – Michelle Veintimilla) asking about The Court and demanding a meeting. I loved this scene. McKenzie gave the perfect amount of surprise (considering how many people come back to life in Gotham), and Penguin’s smugness was spot on. They really are old friends.

Jim breaks in and finds an access card. When he is caught by Kathryn, he tells her the Penguin news to throw her off, plus demands to know the weapon. She gives him a clue. Jim is a detective, so he knows. Brainstorming with Lucius Fox (Chris Chalk) and Bullock, they know how they will do it and where they are. When they get there, they are attacked, but Strange saves Jim’s life. He also gives them his research (playing both sides). They run the stuff to Fox while Jim goes to meet Kathryn. She’s ready to bring him into the light. The test is a test for both the weapon and Jim. Will he stand idly by and watch a room full of people die? They took his phone, but he still had Penguin’s. Jim dials him and lets him hear the plan. With 3 minutes to spare, he starts fighting Talon. Bridgit and Penguin show up just in time. Everyone is saved, but the Court captures Penguin soon after. He comes face to face with Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), both of them in cages.

Kathryn sets Barnes after Jim, “Jim Gordon is guilty and I will be his executioner.”

Wow! What an episode! One of the best things about Gotham are its quick actions and resolutions. There is nothing dragged out. The scenes hit us just like comic panels. Look, Gordon was in The Court of Owls for the equivalent of about 1 full episode. You must pay attention to keep up. Selina is back to life with a literal vengeance.

Ivy is becoming one of my favorite characters. She’s just so nice and evil at the same time, like a naughty child. And I’m just so happy that Michael Chiklis is back in play. Any time he is on screen is mesmerizing.

Some thoughts:

– Sweet moment between Ivy and unconscious Selina.

– BARNES!

– Also happy to see Benedict Samuel. He plays one of the most interesting villains ever on Gotham. One of my favorite scenes to date was when Jim tricked him with rhyme.

– Lee left the GCPD, but is it the end? I wonder…

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

FOX’s synopsis:

“HEROES RISE: LIGHT THE WICK”
GORDON DISCOVERS THE COURT OF OWLS’ SECRET WEAPON ON AN ALL-NEW “GOTHAM” MONDAY MAY 15, ON FOX
MON MAY 15 8/9c
Gordon discovers the weapon the Court of Owls will use to destroy Gotham, which leads him on a dangerous path as he tracks it down. Meanwhile, Kathryn (guest star Leslie Hendrix) and Temple Shaman (guest star Raymond J. Barry) reveal their next move to Bruce, and Ivy comes to Selina’s aid in the all-new “Heroes Rise: Light The Wick” episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, May 15 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Image Gallery

Videos

Hugo Strange Has Come For Captain Barnes | Season 3 Ep. 18 | GOTHAM

Captain Barnes is told that the virus inside of him is needed and that Hugo will be the one to remove it.

Penguin Pays Gordon A Visit | Season 3 Ep. 18 | GOTHAM

Penguin goes to Gordon’s home looking for Nygma.

Follow me on Twitter.