BWW Recap: Electro-cutioner Zaps Fear into the City, Episode 12 GOTHAM
By: Jeffrey Walker Jan. 19, 2015
Tonight GOTHAM meets the "Electro-cutioner, " aka Jack Gruber, recent escapee from Arkham Asylum. Gruber, along with his handy-henchman Aaron, busted out of Arkham and plan on literally shocking the citizens of Gotham, while Det. Jim Gordon works to stop him.
After coming back from the first ten episodes, GOTHAM introduced Gordon's forced assignment working security at Arkham and - of course - it proved to be filled with intrigue. Gordon also had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Leslie Thompkins, adding a new fetching female to catch Jim's eye while Barbara has been on the outs with him.
I think the powers that be at GOTHAM are on the verge of reaching critical mass, if they do not slow down introducing new characters and subplots to the show. Up until now, the dynamics of Gotham police politics, the mystery of the Wayne murders, young Bruce Wayne's connection with Det. Gordon, and the city's volatile criminal underworld have been balanced. Now, the first major costumed villain is being introduced. Will this action set in motion a more chaotic and - dare I say? - comic book-type atmosphere on the show? Or will the more grounded police procedural be punctuated with the heightened characters for now but keep the gritty, earthy feel?
The evolution of GOTHAM will not only play out for the remainder of its freshman year but next year, too. FOX announced it has renewed the freshman show for next season. For now, let's see what's on tap for tonight.
Opening: Under the El train, Gruber and Aaron walk through the streets of Gotham and begin their path of electrical mayhem. They visit with an old friend who has some of Jack's "stuff." One presumes it's more advanced electrical equipment. In fact, his stuff is indeed, supplies and a large generator all hidden away in a dusty old warehouse. Gruber tests out his equipment on his friend.
Captain Essen briefs her squad and Gordon shows up saying the Gruber/Aaron situation is his case. Police Commissioner Loeb shows up too, and he and James start fireworks with each other. Jim insists he is trying to enforce the law and knows how to stop Gruber and promises to bring him in. The commissioner reinstates Jim as a full detective on the condition he has 24 hours to do what he says he will do. Gordon and his partner Bullock go to work.
NOTE: Captain Essen sure did turn on Jim quickly. She used to be on his side, or so it seemed. She must be more of a "yes man" to the corrupt powers that be than I thought.
8:11 pm EST: Don Falcone is out and about with his men taking care of the family business, i.e. having a young man shot. Falcone is also strolling with his young female protege, Liza - who also spies for Fish Mooney. Falcone wants to set up Liza to help her along but she says she likes being close to him.
Back at the GCPD building, Ed Nygma identifies Gruber as really being named Jack Patinski (spelling to be checked later), a career criminal who got himself transferred in to Arkham to work his electrical experiments on the patients. The police find the abandoned van Gruber and Aaron escaped in, which leads Bullock and Gordon to the hidden lab where Gruber's friend is now a vegetable. Elsewhere, Liza is abducted at gunpoint and taken to Fish's club. Mooney says she is ready to make her big move against Falcone by pretending to kidnap Liza. They call Falcone and peak his interest.
Question: Will Falcone go down quickly or with a big fight?
8:22 pm EST: The newspaper dubs Gruber the Electrocutioner. Nygma suggests they wear rubber galoshes when they are out in the field to help protect them. Dr. Thompkins visits the police station and brings a totem doll to show them that looks a lot like Don Marone. Moments later, at Marone's Oswald gets a call from Falcone about Liza and Marone lords over his minions. Penguin begs to be let go, pretending that his mother is sick. As he touched the door to leave, Cobblepot - now wearing an outfit that is beginning to look more characteristic, so to speak - gets zapped by the doorknob. Moments later Marone and all his men have been zapped by an electro-bomb. Gordon questions Marone to say Gruber was an old partner of his who robbed a bunch of banks years ago. Marone feigns ignorance, but he goes into protective custody anyway.
8:29 pm EST: Barbara visits her parents in their mansion, it seems after a long period of estrangement. She asks to stay for a few days and pretends to mom and dad she and Jim are happily still together.
Back at the station, Marone chews the fat with the cops. Oswald wakes up in a daze, knowing he is late going to Don Falcone. Marone won't let him go, suspecting their is something up. Fish calls Falcone, pretending to be the middle-man in negotiating to get Liza back. Falcone knows immediately Fish is behind the kidnapping. He also says he agrees to leave Gotham in order to save his gal pal. Butch is celebrating, Fish says she owes it to Falcone to help save him from being assassinated. Liza must go with Falcone, insists Fish, and Liza admits she kind of likes him. Falcone tells his henchman maybe it's time he stepped down. Victor wants to hit Fish and her people; Falcone insists he just protect him.
At the police station, Ed Nygma explains one of his riddles to Miss Kringle, who he obviously has a crush on. The nerdy guy also hears her talking about him to a cop. Meanwhile, under the station, Gruber is busily cutting a whole in the building and messes with the electricity, sending current throughout the entire building, injuring, maiming and knocking people unconscious.
8:43 pm EST: Gruber and Aaron enter the station walking through the incapacitated people, seeking Marone. Gordon somehow escaped getting zapped and holds a gun on the villains. His gun is zapped by Gruber's apparatus. Jim, in turn, throws cold water on Gruber's fancy electical suit and bam! Gordon is back as a hero. He threatens the Commissioner and he tells Bullock he is through being nice.
Falcone and Victor are still at his mansion and Oswald finally shows up to suck up. Penguin reveals that Liza was planted by Fish but Falcone insists he prove it and won't believe it. Fish calls to say he should meet at her place in an hour.
QUESTION: Will Oswald's juggling of three crime bosses backfire on him before things go his way? I would say affirmative. But will Falcone be convinced Liza is a plant?
8:51 pm EST: Fish is in her club and Falcone arrives to claim his lady friend. He needs to sign some papers, says Mooney, to relinquish all power. They bring Liza in to see him and he calmly asks her how long she has known Fish. Liza denies any knowledge. Victor and his hired guns arrive and Falcone apologizes to Liza that she got caught up in the mess. And then he strangles the life out of her, right in front of Fish and Butch. He orders Fish and Butch to be locked up. He says he feels alive for the first time in a long time. Oswald has played his cards well and is now on top with Falcone.
And back at the police station, in the men's locker room, Dr. Thompkins pops in to visit Jim. Clearly, the physician and the detective share a chemistry between each other. Jim takes the reigns and plants a kiss on the doctor that she returns in kind. Just as they enjoy their moment, a uniformed officer lets Gordon know there was a big shoot out at Fish Mooney's club.
LAST NOTES: James Gordon has returned to the Gotham police's good graces while Oswald "Penguin" Cobblepot is ascending in the criminal underworld. Will this week be the last of Fish Mooney and her trusted sidekick Butch? And what of the budding attraction between Gordon and Thompkins? Is he done with Barbara Kean that quickly?
Overall, a quick paced episode that succinctly tied up some of the subplots we've been following for a while. What do you think? Talk about the show in the comments below, or on Twitter @jeffwalker66. Be sure to follow @BWWTVWorld on Twitter and like us on Facebook for all the latest TV news, reviews and recaps.
Next Week: "Welcome Back, Jim Gordon," episode 13, follows Jim as he investigates a murder that may be an inside job - in the police department.
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