GOTHAM: Home to Mommy’s Little Monster
Episode 207 “Mommy’s Little Monster”
[photos: Fox]
Butch gives Gordon a hand with his case against Theo, Nygma searches for the meaning of life after death, and we see the most creative use for an army of penguins ever seen on TV.
Penguin follows Butch’s lead, heading to the seedy docks of Gotham in search of his mother. He is woefully unprepared, blinded by his pursuit to free her. While he finds her locked in a cell, Theo and Tabitha are waiting. Butch runs afoul of his diminutive master, revealing that his programming has been lifted. Penguin whimpers and convinces Theo to release his mother. In an expected move the duo kill Gertrude Cobblepot with a knife in the back. As she dies in his arms, Penguin goads Theo into executing him personally. Affording him the opportunity to wound the soon-to-be mayor and make a dramatic escape into the harbor.
Nygma awakes hoping the previous night and his violent confrontation with Kristen is just a dream. His mental counterpart, that I prefer to call pre-Riddler, has turned it into a nightmare by hiding her body and leaving Nygma clues. Quite a twisted situation when he tricks himself, the man who will become Gotham’s greatest puzzler.
Silver St. Cloud continues to weave her spell on Bruce. She takes it in stride when Selina arrives unannounced and privately delivers a menacing message about her intent to be the only one in Bruce’s life. Clearly she underestimates Selina’s commitment to her friends. She attempts to appear cold and distant, but she is anything but. Silver is in for a serious fight.
Gordon and Bullock pursue leads after Theo reports that the Penguin made an attempt on his life. They track down Butch just in time for Zazz to arrive intent on retribution for his betrayal. Neither Gordon nor Bullock are going down without a fight, co-opting the fleeing gang’s weapons for defense. Butch escapes capture, but not before he plants the seeds of doubt in Gordon’s mind about Theo.
Despite the department’s cautions Theo goes ahead with his inauguration party after his successful election as Gotham’s mayor. Gordon and the strike force keep a watchful eye as the social elite celebrate. Nygma closes in on Kristen’s body and has a tense encounter with Lee in the morgue. Penguin executes a clever plan and dresses his supporters in matching attire and attacks the party.
The meat grinder continues to collect names as another member of Barnes’ strike force falls. This time Martinez heels to the murderous Tabitha Galavan. Another tense standoff occurs as Penguin swoops in with Theo in his sights. Gordon and Harvey try to plea with him to surrender. Burdened with sorrow, he will not relent. Bullock shoots him in the shoulder, but he escapes with Theo’s limo.
As the episode closes, Theo is at the center of yet another massacre and Gordon makes his declaration to bring him down. A new war is about to begin. Back at the GCPD Nygma transforms, his minds merging a he gruesomely disposed of Kringle’s body.
Wasted actors, over the top comic characterizations and fast forwarded plots are making the season break for this show look very appealing.
