Gotham: “Unleashed” — May 9, 2016
The unholy angel of death is leaving a bloody wake in Gotham and this week he finds out who his true target is. Read more in Special Contributor Ralph S. latest recap. – David F.
The net seems to be closing on Hugo Strange. Jim Gordon knows that Strange has been bringing criminals back from the dead so he and Harvey Bullock show up at Arkham with a search warrant. The ‘good’ doctor is one step ahead; his files have been shredded, and since the warrant only gives Bullock the right to search Strange’s office there’s a standoff. Gordon and Bullock exit stage right, disgruntled but hardly defeated. Strange, meanwhile, is concerned that Azrael/Theo Galavan hasn’t returned to Arkham. At that moment Azrael is in church praying. When a priest confronts him about breaking into the church Azrael politely asks him for a weapon so that he can continue his ‘crusade’. When the priest states that he has no weapons Azrael politely snaps his neck. Interesting way to start the episode ain’t it?
Capt. Barnes in a coma in hospital, so back at the station, Bullock tells his fellow cops to make hunting down Azrael their number one priority. He and Jimbo start by visiting Theo’s sister Tabitha. She explains the history of her family and the part that Azrael played in it. She tells them that someone planted the idea of Azrael in Theo’s head. She also mentions that she knows that the sword Azrael was using was fake, but can find the real one. It’s buried with her grandfather and she agrees to take them to his crypt.
Bruce goes back to the city to find Selina in order to get her to help him break into Arkham to find evidence against Hugo Strange. Selina’s not very receptive to the idea until Bruce mentions that he believes her friend Bridgit Pike is there and is probably part of Strange’s experiments. Selina agrees to go to Arkham to rescue her friend but only if she goes alone. After a short discussion Bruce agrees and Selina is off on a mission.
Tabby, Jimbo and Bullock arrive at the Galavan family crypt and find the sword. Obviously Azrael shows up next and during the ensuing battle gains the upper hand and possession of the blade. He throws Gordon out of the crypt like a rag doll and Tabby stops him, managing to jog his memory. Azrael realizes that he is really Theo Galavan and that his real mission is to kill Bruce Wayne. He also remembers that Tabitha left him hanging after his failed attempt to kill young Bruce, so he stabs her and goes after Bruce. When Gordon comes back inside the seriously wounded Tabby tells him what happened and he immediately heads for stately Wayne manor, trying to call the house while on the way. When Alfred finally picks up the phone Gordon fills him in on what’s happened. Alfred tells Jimbo that Bruce is in the city. Gordon says he’ll look for Bruce and tells Alfred to stay put in case Bruce comes home. Alfred hangs up and, speak of the devil, he turns around to find Bruce literally behind him. He tells the boy about the latest developments and they go about securing the house.
Having accidentally found the entrance to Arkham’s Indian Hill facility while searching for an escape route, Edward Nygma decides it’s better just to return to his cell and make a new plan. It doesn’t take him long once he notices the vent in the ceiling above his bunk. While crawling through the ventilation shafts trying to get out, who should he encounter but Selina trying to get in. “Forensic guy!” She exclaims when she sees him.
“Street trash girl,” he replies. After exchanging pleasantries they get down to the reason why each of them is crawling around in the shafts. Selina promises to tell Ed how to get out if he’ll give her the dirt on how to get to the Indian Hill facility where they figure Bridgit is being held. Once the info is shared each is off on their way.
A very distraught Butch is in the hospital at the unconscious Tabitha’s bedside. While expressing his true feelings for her he’s interrupted by none other than Penguin. Oswald’s there to enlist Butch’s help to hunt down and destroy Theo. After making Penguin promise not to hurt Tabby — she did stab his dear, insufferable mother after all– Butch agrees to the team up.
While securing the house, Bruce finds one of the windows broken and that can mean only one thing – a guest of the unwanted kind. Theo surprises Alfred in the study before Bruce can warn him. They square off. Alfred gives Theo a proper ass-whipping but things end with Theo tossing him out a window. Theo’s now alone with his prey. Bruce, however, has no intention of going quietly into that good night. Theo tracks the boy into the garage where he is quickly run over by the boy who’s fired up one of the cars. Once outside, however, Theo is nowhere to be seen. He captures the boy and pulls his sword. As he’s about to deal the deadly blow, Gordon shows up and empties his gun into Theo’s back dropping the big goon like a bad habit. Alfred then arrives on the scene and they make sure that Bruce is alright. Then, just like a bad habit, Theo pops back up. Gordon points his gun again and pulls the trigger but, click, no ammunition. What’s a poor boy to do? Enter Penguin, umbrella and all. He has a bit of a tip for Jimbo, one he would do well to remember. “Always bring the right tools for the job.” After wishing Theo a safe trip to Hades Penguin steps aside. Butch appears with a bazooka. He takes aim and pulls the trigger. Theo explodes in a ball of flame. Well boys and girls, if any of you out there are big Theo Galavan supporters I’ve got some bad news for ya, Theo’s all done, there ain’t no coming back from this one.
In Arkham Selina more than lives up to her street name of ‘Cat’. She manages to get past all the guards and find her way to the secret Indian Hill entrance. Once inside, she begins searching for Bridgit. Selina just manages to find a hiding place before Strange and Miss Perkins show up. She overhears them discussing Theo and the fact that Strange set him on the path to kill Gordon. After taking a moment to process this info, Selina continues with her search. She quickly comes upon the charred remains of what appeared to once be an inmate. Somewhat shaken Selina then encounters a figure with a flame thrower. Selina realizes who it is and calls the girl by her name – Bridgit. The girl doesn’t recognize that name and informs Selina that she’s now called Firefly. While Strange and Miss Perkins watch from another room Firefly starts to light up.
As the late Purple One once wrote in his song ‘Vicki Waiting’, “All is well in Gotham City. The sound of terror is all you hear.” How true.
Oh yeah, Nygma did make it out of the ventilation shaft to the outside of the building – right into the waiting arms of the guards. At least he tried.
