Gotham: “The Son of Gotham” — Nov. 23, 2015
Photo courtesy of FOX
Just how crazy is Gotham? Special Contributor Ralph S. tells us about the madness and deceit in his most recent recap. – David F.
While quite a number of your favorite shows may be taking time off this week the hard-working folks on Gotham certainly ain’t. In fact, not only are they not taking a break they are going all full-tilt gonzo to ratchet up the drama. Of course the fact that next week’s episode will be the last one airing until next year probably has something to do with this but hey, there’s no need to split hairs. Anyway there were quite a few major developments that popped up in this episode so, shall we…
Last week’s episode ended with Eduardo Flamingo’s murder of a rookie police officer and some mysterious monks showing up in the city, presumably to aid Theo Galavan. This week we start out with the monks attacking two-bit thugs doing two-bit crimes. Once said thugs are captured, the monks waste little time in ceremonially executing them. Talk about a strong sense of law and order; of course ya know there’s much more to it than that.
Next we find young Bruce Wayne scheming to try to get the info about his parents’ murder out of Silver St. Cloud. Her Uncle Theo told Bruce in an earlier episode that he had this info lying around but — ooops, Theo got thrown in the pokey and left Bruce hanging. Since Alfred told Bruce he wasn’t savvy enough to get that info out of Silver, Bruce went and got help from someone with those skills — Selina. Bruce sits down with Silver and offers to pay for Theo’s trial defense in return for Theo giving up the info on the Wayne murders. He pleads with her and wins her over by whispering sweet nothings in her ear and sealing the deal with a kiss. As Bruce walks to school afterward he’s watched by some shifty looking gomers in a panel van. One of these guys, who sports some impressive facial scars, looks at his companion and simply says, “Not yet.”
Galavan’s due in court in 24 hours and Gordon is still trying to dig up more evidence on him, even though the former mayor is going to testify against Galavan for abducting him. Bullock comes across information that leads them to an old church that was used as a massage parlor; Galavan tried to buy the building but failed. When they get there to check it out they run right into the monks who are looking for their next sacrificial lamb. A big to-do ensues resulting in Gordon covering one of the monks who promptly walks out in front of a speeding truck. DAAYUM! That’s some code of silence these guys have. Before going splat the monk reels off some mumbo jumbo about a day of reckoning and the blood of nine. Back at the precinct Gordon figures out that the monks are part of the Order of St. Dumas. They participate in the practice of purification by pain or, in other words, they beat their own asses. Self flagellation anyone? Oh yeah, he knows they are also connected to Theo.
Gordon also realizes that the attacks are part of a ritual that will involve nine victims. He needs to catch one of the monks and get him to spill about what they’re up to — no small feat. During the monk’s autopsy Lee shows Gordon the scars on the body and that helps to fill in the blanks about the killing rituals. Bullock shows up with info on more monk murders which bring the number up to eight. They figure out the monks are using the sewers to get around the city unseen, so away they go into the funk. In the sewers, screams lead them to the latest murder and they manage to snag themselves a live monk. Gordon tricks the monk into giving up a small amount of info, that they’re interested in killing the son of Gotham.
School’s out and Silver phones Bruce to let him know that she talked to Theo and he’s agreed to Bruce’s offer. While Alfred waits by the car to take young Master Wayne home, Bruce sneaks off to meet Silver. A panel van shows up, the door slides open to reveal a bound and gagged Silver, who’s looking truly distressed. The previously seen guy with the impressive scars tells Bruce to get in and he does. They end up in an abandoned warehouse facing one Tom the Knife (Tommy Flanagan) who, of course, tells them that here no one will hear them scream. After slapping Bruce around a couple of times, Tommy tells the two tykes that he’s been hired to find out what Theo told Bruce about the Wayne murders. What a coincidence. Tommy threatens to start cutting off digits if nobody talks and he starts with Bruce. As he’s being dragged off to another room Bruce implores Silver to spill what she knows about Theo’s info. She claims no to know anything. Bruce is dragged into the next room amid much more screaming. Dirty deeds await. After a few minutes Tom comes out saying that Bruce didn’t know jack, and now he’ll quiz little Silver. It then degenerates into a competition of threats. “Touch me and my uncle will have you gutted,” Silver replies in a voice that’s not so prim and proper after Tom’s initial threats. Now the real show starts as things heat up for real. Tom takes his knife and goes after her fingers. She quickly gives up the name — M. Malone. She claims that’s the name of the Waynes’ killer. Anybody who knows the mythology knows that’s not the killer’s real name (it’s actually an alias used by the Batman) but for now it seems to satisfy those involved. “Are we good?” Tom calls out and from the other room Bruce and Selina stroll out looking quite pleased. The look of surprise on Silver’s face after realizing that she’s been had — PRICELESS! Bruce pays Tom his well-earned fee and then he and Selina explain things to Silver. She tells Bruce she believed the sweet nothings he whispered to her and then says that once Uncle Theo finds out the things she told he’ll kill her. Though she now looks truly distressed Bruce and Selina show Silver no pity and leave her there in the warehouse. I liked Selina from the beginning and now Bruce is starting to grow on me. They make a nice little couple.
Apparently Alfred got tired of waiting around for young Bruce and figured out that the lad had gone off with Silver to try and get the info. He makes his way to Theo’s apartment looking for the boy and runs into Tabitha. Words are exchanged and then they have quite the little tussle. Guns, knives, whips and fisticuffs are involved. Alfred seems to get the better hand in this little tete-a-tete. He even manages to catch Tabby’s whip as she tries to strike him. Ultimately, Tabs knifes him in the back but he does manage to escape.
The government makes quick work of Theo’s hearing. During the proceedings Gordon fills Barnes in on what has gone down with the monks. During that conversation they miss the former mayor’s statement and the judge has him repeat himself for the record. Former Mayor James declares that it wasn’t Theo who kidnapped him but the Penguin. The judge frees Theo on the spot and this sends Jimbo into a rage. When Theo extends his hand in a false offer of cooperation Gordon slugs him. Gordon gets dragged out by Theo’s cops and once outside they tape him up. It looks like Theo’s planning to settle his debts now.
Upon returning to stately Wayne manor Bruce thanks Selina again for her help in dealing with Silver. “I was just glad to see the two-faced bitch get served,” Selina tells him. Ah, young love — ain’t it cute? However Selina does ask Bruce about the sweet nothings he whispered to Silver. “I told her that I trusted her with my life and felt tied to her in a way that I couldn’t explain but wouldn’t change,” he tells her with ‘that’ look in his eye. Bruce tells Selina that what he said was true, it just wasn’t about Silver. That leaves Selina blushing and speechless. She quickly exits stage left.
Theo shows up at the location where Gordon is being held and tells Jim about the monks and his family, the Dumas’, and explains some of the family history. He then leads Gordon to figuring out who the son of Gotham is. For the hell of it Theo then has his corrupt cops cut Gordon loose so they can go at it. In what has to be one of the most extraordinary ass-whippings that I’ve seen on this show to date, Theo lays Gordon out and then tells the cops to kill him. Then Theo goes off to visit Bruce.
The cops commence to beating on Gordon like…, well you figure it out, when all of a sudden from outta nowhere they get shot.
While convalescing in Edward Nygma’s apartment Penguin gets the news that Theo got off scott-free. Remember that Theo is the one who had Penguin’s mommy whacked. Penguin’s now out gunning for Theo and he wants Gordon to tell him where the Brill-cream wearing bastard is.
Fox is billing next week’s episode as the show’s fall finale and it doesn’t appear that it will disappoint either. Until then…
Gotham airs Mondays at 8/9c on Fox.
