This week’s episode of Gotham
shows Ivy continue her path towards the city’s destruction, Bruce continuing
his journey, Sofia making a power move, and the ongoing Ed vs. Riddler saga. No
better time than the present to dive right in!
Ivy story arc – “I’m
giving your city back to the plants, starting with the people who have hurt me”:
Ivy’s first stop during this week’s Gotham is the bar that Harvey works at. Luckily for Harvey, he
isn’t there – but Ivy decides to leave him a message by killing all of the
people in the bar with her new super plant. Lucius investigates the crime scene
and realizes that Ivy used the Lazarus water to increase the potency of her
plants. Jim comes and tells Lucius that Harvey killed Ivy’s father and now it
is clear why she went to that bar in the first place. Jim warns Harvey about
this and invites him to work with the GCPD to find Ivy, but Harvey declines and
wants to keep rolling solo.
Ivy sends a recorded message to the Gotham news that they
play to the masses where she threatens anyone that has ever wronged her and
shows the body of someone who has been killed by her hyper potent plant. Jim
notices a sign behind Ivy in the video that clues him in to where she is, and
the GCPD break into her apartment looking for her while Harvey goes to question
his contacts in the narrows. In the apartment they find dozens of empty plant
pots showing that Ivy’s threat is real. She has used the Lazarus water to
create a ton of the high potent plants to help her take down the city. Jim notices that Ivy’s closet is full of nice gowns and starts to think that
she is planning on enacting her plan on a high class social event. Selina is
also at the apartment and tells him that her plan is to reason with Ivy, but
Jim does not think that is possible.
Harvey calls Jim and tells him that he has a lead on Ivy,
getting him to come to the cellar of a bar. It turns out that Ivy used her
perfume on Harvey to lure Jim to her so she could kill two birds with one
stone. Ivy orders Harvey to kill Jim and then shoot himself in the head. Jim
manages to pull a fast one on Harvey and knocks him out. When Harvey wakes up
he is no longer under Ivy’s influence. He tells Jim that he is tired of blaming
Jim for what happened and that the blame rests on his shoulders. Jim realizes
that the event Ivy is targeting is the annual dinner for the Thomas and Martha
Wayne Foundation – it is always nice when a lot of our characters are in the
same place at the same time… it tends to bring out the fun for everyone.
My thoughts:
Crazy Ivy is at it again. She really will stop at nothing
and is willing to kill anyone and everyone for her plants. This new Lazarus
water roided out plant is fantastic and brutal. I’m sure there will be many
more people added to her “garden” before the season is over. The scene in the
beer cellar was not only important for Jim and Harvey to begin to mend fences,
but it was just a great scene in general. Harvey taking responsibility for what
has transpired between him and Jim is a big step forward and hopefully it leads
to Harvey being back on the force. He is a great character and the show can
only benefit from having more Harvey on it.
Bruce story arc – “I
know who I am, I’ve seen what’s inside me”:
Bruce opens the case that houses his mask and suit and
throws the mask in the fire. He is clearly still conflicted on his purpose.
Alfred agrees to meet Bruce and Bruce quickly asks for Alfred’s help. Alfred
essentially tells Bruce to go kick rocks. Bruce tries to convince Alfred that
he has changed, but Alfred wants to see it – not just hear Bruce say it. Bruce
wants Alfred to come to the Wayne foundation event that evening, but Alfred
refuses.
Alfred changes his mind and decides to come to the event.
Bruce sees him walk in and changes his speech to make it an apology to Alfred.
After the speech, Bruce approaches Alfred thinking that this gesture was enough
for them to be able to put the past behind him. Alfred is not there yet and
tells Bruce he can’t truly help him until Bruce accepts who he really is. Bruce
has another hissy fit and storms out, moments before Ivy takes control of the
party and takes everyone hostage. The GCPD intervene and Bruce decides that he
can’t just stand by and watch. He takes a bullet proof vest and mask from one
of Ivy’s fallen henchmen and goes to rescue Alfred and take him to safety.
Alfred refuses to go and he tells Bruce that this is exactly who he is and he
needs to help those that need him, not just Alfred. Bruce heeds his advice and
goes to help the rest of the guests at the dinner. 
Bruce immediately takes down another thug, but Jim thinks
Bruce is one of Ivy’s men and shoots him – luckily for us, Bruce gets hit in the
bullet proof vest. Jim chases Bruce, but he manages to escape off the roof.
Back at the mansion, Bruce tells Alfred he wants to help people – even if he
has to accept every part of himself, good and bad. That’s good enough for
Alfred who tells Bruce he is finally home.
After the dinner, Ivy goes back to her apartment where
Selina is waiting for her. Ivy takes a vial containing the last of the Lazarus
water to make more plants, but Selina whips it out of her hand. Selina ends up
getting the vial and destroys it. Ivy lunges are her and grabs her around the
neck to scratch her, but Selina puts a knife to Ivy’s stomach and it seems like
they are at a stalemate. Selina drops the knife in a sign of friendship and Ivy
tells her not to get in her way again and storms out of the apartment.
My thoughts:
I wasn’t expecting this, I thought Bruce’s hallucinations
would put him back on track – but it seems like he will need more than a little
plant hallucination trip to be ready to get back on the Batman path. During
the meeting with Bruce, Alfred really stood his ground. It was great
that Alfred is not just hopping back at the opportunity to be at Bruce’s
side and pretend like nothing happened. It is important to teach him that his
actions have consequences and Alfred knows this. After the fundraiser, it is
looking like Bruce and Alfred have finally been able to get over the hump and
Bruce can get back to his Batman training. Party boy Bruce was fun, but after
we got that glimpse of the Bat during Bruce’s hallucinations – that’s all we really
want, right? It also seems like Ivy and Selina have used up the last of their
good graces that stemmed from their prior friendship. Selina may be a thief,
but she still knows right from wrong whereas Ivy is just a lunatic. I imagine
these two will be pitted against each other numerous times before this season
is done.
Sofia vs. Lee story
arc – “Since we’re family, I’m only going to do one hand”:
Sophia invites Lee over and they reminisce briefly about
Mario. Sofia tells Lee that the Falcone’s are all about family and that Lee is part
of theirs. Lee doesn’t buy that that is the only reason Sofia wanted her over
and asked what this meeting was really about. That’s when the true Sofia comes
out and she tells Lee that she wants the Lannisters (whoops!) the
narrows to "bend the knee." She wants a 30% tax from the narrows of any legal
and illegal income. Lee tells her this isn’t possible and most of the people of
the narrows need every single dime coming in to survive.
Ed takes a little break from yelling at the Riddler (or just
yelling at nothing to anyone else that sees him) to help Lee figure out what
Sofia’s motives are. They send some narrows kids out to find out what she might
be after. The kids report back that Jim and Sofia had a relationship and Lee
decides to use that information to her benefit and invites Sofia to the narrows
for a meeting. In the meantime, Ed is threatening to kill himself so the
Riddler doesn’t have the ability to take over and try to hurt Lee anymore. He gets a letter
from Penguin and he doesn’t really understand why. Riddler convinces Ed to
check himself into Arkham instead of killing himself, which will keep Lee safe
as well. Penguin greets Ed at Arkham and it turns out that his letter was a
secret message to the Riddler to convince Ed to go to Arkham, and it worked. Penguin
is able to coax the Riddler personality to take control of Ed so the Riddler is
back! 
Sofia comes to the narrows to meet with Lee and discuss
their arrangement. Instead of 30% of the narrows income, Lee offers Jim Gordon
to Sofia. She tells her that she knows of crimes he has committed that Sofia
can use to control Jim. Sofia instead decides a more targeted approach – her
men kill all of Lee’s men and Sofia puts Samson in charge of the narrows.
Before leaving she takes a hammer and crushes Lee’s hand. Jim gets a call that
Lee is in the hospital and rushes to see her. He knows that Sofia did this and
that enough is enough. Jim goes back to the precinct where Harvey is waiting. Jim
comes clean to Harvey that he screwed up and asks for his help to make it
right. He tells Harvey about Sofia hiring Pyg and that he knew about it and
covered it up. Jim pledges to take her down, and when Jim makes a pledge – it usually
comes to fruition.
My thoughts:
First off, as much as I liked the dumb Ed narrative, I was
ready for the Riddler to be back. Once the Riddler visions came back into play
and there was a lot of Ed yelling back and forth, it was time for one persona
to full take over. Secondly, Sofia is straight evil. Who doesn’t love Lee!? Her
poor hand! Jim is about to go ape shit on Sofia and her criminal enterprise and
it is going to be a sight to behold.
Next week on Gotham:
Selina visits Bruce and asks for help, most likely in
dealing with Ivy and her madness. It looks like Riddler and Penguin both escape
Arkham. It seems like next week there will also be gunshots galore with Jim and
Sofia pitted against each other. Somehow Jim gets shot and we see Sofia holding
him at gunpoint telling him to beg for his life. How the hell did all of THAT
happen!?!?
