BWW Recap: Penguin's Plot Thickens While Gordon Takes A Hit on GOTHAM

James Gordon still cannot shake the consequences of sparing Oswald "Penguin" Cobblepot's life, especially now that Fish Mooney and Don Falcone know he's still alive. They send the ruthless Victor Zsasz to send a serious message to Gordon. The criminal elements continue to clash as tensions between Gotham's crime families, the Falcones and Maroni's, move to a boiling point. GOTHAM Episode 7, "Penguin's Umbrella," also reveals just how crafty Cobblepot is in his desire to become a major player in the dark city's underworld.

Once everyone realizes Oswald is still alive, the proverbial poop hits the fan. Bullock goes off on Gordon, Mooney wants his butt dragged in front of her, and Falcone is ready to blow a gasket. Falcone's goons find Barbara - the only person glad Jim did not kill Cobblepot - but Gordon arrives just as things were getting icky. Plus, Jim goes into action, dispatching the goons and speedily puts Barbara on an outgoing bus to protect her. His plan is to stay in Gotham and set things right.

Mooney insists to Don Falcone they kill Gordon, Bullock and "Penguin." Falcone urges restraint, but decides to send one of his most psychotic enforcers, Victor Zsasz, to retrieve Jim. The police station gets tense when Gordon arrives looking for blank warrants. Captain Essen wonders why Jim is trying to work and why he is not hiding. Due to the corruption from top to bottom, Capt.Essen says it's too dangerous. Apparently she's right, because the bald and wild-eyed Victor busts into the station to pick up Gordon to take him in alive. The other cops scatter, leaving Gordon to engage in a gun battle with Zsasz and his assistants. Gordon is wounded and flees to the police parking lot, where more gunfire is exchanged. In the nick of time for Gordon, Allen and Montoya drive in to the lot and help Jim escape the scene. We also learn that Victor uses a box cutter to mark his kills on his arm as he carves a 28 in his arm after finishing off a cop caught in the cross fire.

Montoya and Allen take Jim to a dissection lab at the university to get patched up. Across town, Mooney bargains with Don Maroni to get Oswald back. Maroni asks "Penguin" to sincerely apologize to Mooney, which she takes as an insult and a reason to begin an underworld battle and exact her revenge on Oswald. Mooney and Falcone's response is swift: they block any of Maroni's trucks from crossing bridges.

In the woods outside Wayne Manor, Montoya apologizes to Jim for not believing in him. Gordon brings Montoya and Allen to meet Bruce, since they can be trusted. Jim tells Bruce if something happens to him, the partnered detectives will continue to investigate his parents' death. Bruce gets the message about the amount of danger Jim is in, and the stalwart police detective insists he must strike out on his own against the corruption.

Don Maroni takes Oswald's advice about how to hit their rivals back. Cobblepot leads Maroni's men into one of Falcone's hideouts which they bomb and shoot up royally. Carbone, Maroni's lieutenant, sees through Oswald's snitch plan and decides to take him out. But "Penguin" has another plot twist up his sleeve and has offered Carbone's henchman more money to turn against his boss. This leads to Oswald stabbing Carbone to death and acquiring his loyal enforcers.

Falcone and Maroni meet after the death of their trusted lieutenants and the older Don says the Maroni's can keep Cobblepot. All Falcone wants is a piece of real estate and Maroni offers a section from the Arkham property, a toxic dump. Falcone says any property can have value and accepts the offer.

At Jim's place, Bullock shows up with a lady friend, but claims he will back up Gordon no matter what. Gordon's plan is to arrest Mayor James and Carmine Falcone in the morning. Bullock laughs at him, figures he's doomed anyway, and says he's in on the plan. The next morning, the determined detectives find Mayor James and drive him to Falcone's estate in order to take them both into custody. Falcone claims crazy Victor has Barbara in his clutches and Jim gives in and puts down his gun. Falcone, a man of his word, was telling the truth, and has Barbara brought out of the kitchen. The Mafioso was planning to have them all killed, then changes his mind and lets them go. (Victor is bummed out that he didn't get to carve more notches in his arm.) The catch is, Falcone urges, Jim will one day see he's right about Gotham and the need for men like Gordon and men like him.

Back at their apartment, Barbara apologizes for coming back and going to Falcone to try to help Jim. Falcone is at home with Charmagne, now working for the mafia leader, learning to cook and take care of him, without hanky-panky. Falcone steps outside to his chicken coops only to find Oswald Cobblepot approaching. The scene flashes back to the night Falcone met Oswald. Cobblepot told the don he should assign Gordon kill him, since Jim has a conscience and will likely let him live. Falcone reluctantly agreed on the plan so that Oswald could end up coming back and insinuating himself into the Maroni family so he can snitch for Falcone. (And who said he didn't have the makings of a super-villain?) His life spared, Oswald reveals a monumental secret to Carmine: Fish and Nickolai were lovers conspiring against Falcone. This means Falcone has known (since the first episode) Mooney's plan to take over. Falcone expresses his doubts at letting Gordon live but Cobblepot begged the don to spare the detective's life.

It appears "Penguin's" criminal intentions are pretty far reaching, playing two underworld figures against each other and keeping Gordon in the loop as well.

Let me know what you think in the comments below, and follow me on twitter @jeffwalker66.

See you next week: Same Gotham time, same BWW-TV World location!

Here's a brief rundown for GOTHAM episode 8, "The Mask": Only in Gotham would a deadly fight club be used as part of a job interview for an unlikely employer. Leave it to Bullock and Gordon to investigate. At the same time, young Bruce Wayne goes back to school.

Before you go, check out a preview for next week's episode:

PHOTO CREDIT: Fox

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