Gotham: “Mad Grey Day” — March 21, 2016
Photo: FOX
It’s a bad, bad day for Jim Gordon, a fortuitous one for Penguin and a rather invigorating one for young Bruce Wayne on Gotham. Let’s see how it all rolls along on Special Contributor Ralph S.’s latest recap. – David F.
Well it looks like Edward Nygma has finally let his paranoia run away with him. Believing that Jim Gordon is hot on his trail for the disappearance of Kristen Kringle, Ed has hatched a grand master plan to get the perceived threat off his back. And, as things turn out, it ain’t a half-bad plan. He starts out in a way that will forever become his trademark as the Riddler, by leaving clues to his crimes in the form of riddles. The clues are found and solved by his prey, Gordon. Ed manages not only to steal a painting from the Gotham Museum but also to deface two others as well. Using the titles of the paintings in question Gordon figures out the culprit’s next move, bombing the train station. Now mind you, during all this Ed also manages to keep the fact that he’s committing these crimes well hidden from everyone. Upon arriving at the station Gordon, Bullock and their men fan out in search of the bomb. Jimbo manages to locate it in a set of wall lockers and using a crowbar he gets the bomb out and gets rid of it without any casualties.
Afterward, instead of being hailed as a hero, Jimbo’s informed by Capt. Barnes that internal affairs has reopened the case against him in Theo Galavan’s murder. It seems this time an eyewitness has come forward. Gonna be a bad day for Jimbo — and how! When acting on an anonymous tip leading him to what was supposedly the phone used to set off the bomb, Gordon stumbles into the apartment of a freshly murdered GCPD officer and before he can turn around he finds Barnes there with his gun drawn. Barnes accuses Gordon of the crime and Jimbo can’t find a way out of it. The cop was beaten to death with a crowbar that has Gordon’s fingerprints on it. Nygma’s left nothing to chance with this one. He’s the one who killed the cop with the crowbar that he took from the bomb scene, the crowbar Gordon used to open the locker where the bomb was located. It appears that Ed also set up the murdered cop to look like the Galavan case eyewitness. Seems Penguin told Ed about the goings-on involved in Galavan’s untimely demise. Nygma is not one to be crossed.
Speaking of Penguin, Oswald’s now out scot free with a certificate from Arkham proving that he’s completely sane. He starts his new life by visiting his old friend Butch, now real cozy with Galavan’s sister Tabitha. Needless to say they are not real happy to see him. Tabby even suggests that they put Oswald down for the dirt nap. Oswald claims that he’s come to make amends and that he’s harmless — he is cured after all. Butch decides to let bygones be bygones and they let Oswald go, just a bit worse for wear. Ah, but things appear to be looking up for our little bird boy. While visiting the grave of his dearly departed mother Oswald meets someone he did not expect. Elijah Van Dahl (Paul Reubens) is paying a visit to the grave of his girlfriend from long ago. He meets Oswald and a conversation ensues in which the two discover that they are father and son. Oh happy day for Oswald! Not only has he found a long-lost parent but a long lost parent who’s rich and can put him up in a nice mansion. He also has a whole new family to share his joy with. It seems that Pops grew up got married and sired some half-siblings who’ll welcome Oswald into the family. Yeah, right. While the siblings initially seem happy to meet him I couldn’t miss Penguin’s new step mom giving him the stink eye. The party here is only just beginning.
Living life on the streets with Selina, Bruce is learning to adapt to his new environment. Today’s lesson involves a bit of robbery. The two visit their pal Ivy who’s currently hard at work growing hallucinogenic mushrooms for a gang run by Butch’s nephew. It’s this gang that Selina means to rob — she and Ivy are in cahoots. Bruce has no problem going along because they are robbing crooks after all. Ivy’s fed the gang mushrooms to knock them out and all Bruce and Selina have to do is relieve them of the can full of cash while they sleep. Just as they’re about to abscond with the money, Sonny, Butch’s nephew, strolls in to catch them. Alas, there’s always a hitch, isn’t there? Having caught them in the act Sonny now has to make an example of them. While Sonny is debating what to do Bruce mouths off. It seems that Sonny was about to do Selina a bit of bodily harm and Bruce couldn’t have that. Sonny then takes out his wrath on Bruce by giving the boy a rather proper ass whipping. The beating only seems to strengthen young Bruce’s resolve and allow his trying to kick in. He bounces back and deals the larger Sonny a much more impressive ass whipping. He and Selina, who kicked some ass herself, then exit stage left with the cash. Later, Bruce tells Selina that the battle left him feeling more alive and invigorated then ever before.
The wheels of justice spin swiftly for our man Gordon. He is quickly tried, convicted and sentenced, after being expertly framed, for the murder of the cop. He’s going inside for 40 years. In a poignant scene with his pregnant fiancee, Leslie Thompkins, Gordon tells her to forget about him and move on with her life. During the ride to the big house, Bullock, who’s apparently along to keep Jimbo company, swears that he’ll find whoever is responsible for framing Gordon. I don’t doubt this but it’ll be interesting to see how he does it.
In the hospital wing at Arkham the news of Gordon’s plight is playing on the news on TV. Lying in a bed on the ward Barbara Kean now comes out of her coma. I expect things will really liven up now.
