Gotham 1.20The Wayne charity gala attracts a very mixed group, as Penguin and Ed Nygma take steps against their enemies…

A rather stronger episode this week – helped, it has to be said, by a total lack of time dedicated to a plotline that really feels as if the writers don’t know where to go with it (i.e. the one with a character who’s been removed from the entire ensemble!). Loads of characters cross paths, with Bruce, Selina, the Ogre and Barbara all attending the Wayne charity gala with their own agendas. Bruce and Selina have a chance to air their grievances at each other over what happened to Alfred’s friend and although there was an element of “look at this foreshadowing – aren’t we clever” about the scene, David Mazouz and Camren Bicondova pulled it off well (and both looked good in their evening wear!).

For the first time in ages, Barbara has felt like a proper character in this: the scene between her and the Ogre when she reveals the real reasons behind her inviting him back is nicely played, and you can see how she intrigues him enough to arrange a chance for a second meeting. But was that a smile on her face beginning when she sees what the Ogre has in store for her at his place?

Meanwhile Jim’s pursuit of the Ogre plays out without the Commissioner doing anything about the arrant insubordination demonstrated at the end of last week’s episode, and while the plastic surgery angle was a bit obvious, at least they were back doing some detecting.

Both the Penguin and the future Riddler are off in their own little homicidal worlds: the former is furious over Maroni disrespecting his mother (and isn’t that a weird coincidence given the release of Daredevil and the importance of that facet of Fisk’s relationship to that story!), while the latter’s love pushes him into something which clearly he’s rather good at…

Verdict: With just two episodes left, this had to push things forward into the endgame, and it achieves that well. 8/10

Paul Simpson

 

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