This week, a storyline is revealed that is so big, Bruce Wayne was not even given any airtime at all – which is crazy when you think about it, because basically, this whole show is supposed to be about him. We finally get the reason behind Theo Galavan’s ruthless drive for the Mayorship of Gotham – apparently, this guy holds very long grudges. Let’s take a look at what went down in “Scarification.”
SPOILERS AHEAD
It’s funny, Gotham has always been able to make viewers feel sympathetic for the Penguin, even as he commits acts of brutality on a regular basis. This episode was another great example of that, as we open with Oswald being treated like a slave by Theo Galavan and his smirking sister, Tabitha. Seeing Penguin reduced to a sniveling (well, he’s always sniveling, but nevertheless…) servant in Galavan’s office, we can’t help but root for the poor guy to one day get his revenge on this arrogant jerk. But for now, he’s just a “tool” of Galavan, and he dutifully follows orders – as the episode opens, that order is to deliver Sid Bunderslaw in a box to Galavan. It turns out, they don’t actually need the whole Bunderslaw – just the one eye. Lovely.
But, as always, just when we are starting to feel for Old Penguin, he reminds us that he doesn’t need our pity – and beats an innocent messenger half to death with a fireplace poker. Yes, he is indeed a complicated man. Galavan rubs it in even further by sending Tabitha to inform Penguin that he has a new job for him – burn down a whole bunch of buildings. You have to wonder just how long Penguin can take such humiliation before striking back, but until he can get his Mama back safe and sound, he has no choice but to obey.
However, if history teaches us anything, Penguin is one not to be underestimated. He has shown himself to be a master of biding his time, knowing when to swallow his pride and wait for the perfect opportunity for revenge. Ask Fish – oh wait, you can’t, because SHE’S DEAD. Actually, I am not sure she is dead, but still, you get my point.
Over at Police HQ, the Good Fight goes on for Gordon and his new ally, Barnes (whom, for the record, I still have my doubts about). Hearing that Penguin’s crew is behind the new rash of arsons, they and the new Strike Force decide to raid one of his money-operations, taking a lot of his cash in the process. One of Penguin’s men fires a rocket-launcher at them, prompting them, which makes Barnes ask where they got this kind of firepower. Gordon reveals to Barnes that there is a place called “The Merc” that sells all kinds of weapons to bad guys and is getting away with it because City Council has been bought off. This Merc is hilarious – when we see it, it has aisles and signs just like some kind of Costco for illegal weapons – there is even a P.A. announcer. This was one of the funniest moments we’ve seen so far on Gotham, I think.
Getting back to the string of arsons, I have not mentioned yet another important plot point: Penguin sends Butch to recruit the Pyke brothers, who are notorious – and expert – arsonists, to do the job. We are introduced to their “sister” (actually just the daughter of a woman their father used to know), whom they treat like a slave – sort of a mirror of Penguin’s situation with Theo. Bridget, as she is named, is ordered to do all the dirty work, including getting burned setting up all the arsons. Selina tries to convince her to escape them, but she is hesitant at first.
During one of Bridget’s attempts to set another fire, the Strike Force surprises her and she sets one of them on fire. It is a tragic twist – this person whom we feel sorry for has now been labeled a “cop killer,” and flees with Selina. Barnes vows to find her using “all legal methods.” And Gordon is so shaken up, he backs Theo Galavan for Mayor. It seems that once again, the moral line between good and evil has been blurred on Gotham, and we can only wonder whether the truth will all come out for Bridget by the end of the season.
The object of all these fires, it turns out, becomes the focus of what looks to be the big story arc of this season: Galavan is really Duma (pronounced “doo-MAH”), a descendent of a family that was cruelly wronged and all but wiped-out by the Waynes hundreds of years ago. Galavan has been searching for a knife that was used to cut off the hand of one of his ancestors by a Wayne, and he is back to finish this blood-feud between the two families. His big play? To kill none other than Bruce Wayne. So let me get this straight: to get revenge for a wrong done hundreds of years ago, you kill a 10-year-old boy, now. Ok, that isn’t messed up at all. Perfectly logical.
And this is where Penguin sees his chance (you knew it was coming). He learns about the knife’s significance from a woman who knows all about Gotham’s history – Edwige. He gets an idea: he tells Butch to go to Galavan and pretend that he wants to join him. Then, Butch can infiltrate Galavan’s organization from the inside. Won’t Galavan easily see through this obvious plan, Butch quite rightfully asks? Penguin’s answer is to cut off Butch’s hand, I guess so that it will seem like he must be legit. Hmm, ok – I am not quite seeing the need for that move to make the plan work, but Penguin is a smart guy, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
Lastly, although we (strangely) don’t see anything of Bruce Wayne in this episode, we do get a scene with Edward Nygma. He somehow gets Gordon and Lee to agree to a double-date with him and Kristen. Things go surprisingly well, as Edward is channeling his “other,” cooler personality, and actually not being all that creepy. Kristen seems to be really warming up to Edward, and you have to wonder where this is going. Will she come to actually love him and even learn who he really is? Or will he just kill her at some point and chop her up into ex-girlfriend stew? It could go either way at this point, but I am really excited/terrified for Kristen as their relationship/stalking continues to grow/edge closer to tragedy.
So, everything is starting to coalesce this season around Galavan/Duma’s pursuit of revenge on Bruce and the Wayne family. All of the other plot points are now tying back to this one – Silver St Cloud and Bruce, Penguin and Galavan, Gordon and Barnes’s crusade to rid Gotham of evil, and Bridget’s fight for freedom. While many fans might have had a hard time sticking with the series after Jerome’s death, the show’s writers are certainly pulling out all the stops to keep us watching. Let’s see if that continues.