Gotham - S3E7 - Mad City: Red Queen

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Previously on Gotham, “Follow the White Rabbit”

Gotham - S3E7 - “Mad City: Red Queen” | Starring:  Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Morena Baccarin, Sean Pertwee, Robin Lord Taylor, Erin Richards, Camren Bicondova, Cory Michael Smith, Jesica Lucas, Chris Chalk, Drew Powell, Michael Chiklis, Benedict Samuel, and Maggie Geha. 

This episode was something of a curiosity. Not sure what to think. Did I like the episode? Not particularly. Did I dislike the episode? Can’t say that I did. So what does that say about an episode with no real crazy scenes, even though you have a guy having psychotic hallucinations, or where blood is used to make the city mad? I have no idea. The episode was entertaining, but it felt like filler to get Gordon to a place in which he can say he wants his badge back. And spoiler, he gets his badge back. Oh, and Bruce is back this week.

We begin the episode in the “chosen one’s” hospital room where Gordon is apologizing and Vale is asking for whiskey. And Vale is on to his little psychological shell game where he chooses Thompkins over her. She knew that Gordon knew Tetch would shoot the opposite person he said to shoot, and she is not about being second so she’s cutting him loose.

Meanwhile, the Hatter is out making friends with apothecary men. He picks up a little something called the “Red Queen,” which will drive the person exposed to it mad… just like he likes the people he is seeking for revenge. He blames all of Gotham for taking his love away from him, and he has a plan for the whole city, which includes his dead sister’s blood - for some reason she has yet to have undergone an autopsy. On the way to creating his own funny farm, he stops by to give Gordon the gift of psychosis via the Red Queen.

Of course the first thing Gordon sees in his psychotic state is his psychotic ex. Have I said how much I love crazy Barbara? With all of his would haves, should haves, could haves, he finds himself right back with Barbara every time. Almost as if he is meant to be with her. Hmmm. Gordon faces who he really is and who he is not… and who he is not is his father.

Meanwhile, Nygma is getting his groove on with the new, improved, and thirsty Ms. Kringle, I mean Isabella. She seems to be all about Nygma, and he of course sees this as a second chance at love. Penguin is all kinds of broken up, but Penguin is not one to give up easily. First, he goes to pay Isabella a visit and spills all kinds of tea on Nygma. Then, he is off to the Founder’s Dinner where he runs into Tetch, who is up to no good as he spikes the wine with the tainted blood. Penguin then spills it all to Kathryn before he knows what he is doing. He asks who she is and she replies she is part of one of the oldest families in Gotham, and she and others have their eyes on him.  Just as Tetch comes in to break up the party and serve up his sister to the founding families, the GCPD does their job for the first time on the show and stops him.  And as the guys wearing the badges are doing their jobs, Nygma decides to tell Isabella everything, but she had already done her research and for her, love conquers all.

Best Scene:  Bullock finally puts Gordon in his place. He asks him why he is scared to come back to the GCPD, “either be a cop or don’t”.  Gordon scoffs at the idea of him being scared. Bullock tells him he is done aiding in his non-police police activities and that he needs to go to the hospital and be with Vale. Bullock ends with, “let those of us who want to wear the badge do their damn jobs!”  It is about time!

Most Ridiculous/Funny Scene: Penguin goes to see the competition. He tells her that Nygma just got out of Arkham Asylum. She says she had not heard about Nygma doing time. She says, “don’t people go to Arkham because of murder?” Penguin does not like to gossip but “YES…”

Honorable Mention: Nygma and Blonde Kringle, I mean Isabella, have spent all day and into the morning together just talking and getting to know each other. Isabella tells Nygma “these have been the happiest 12 hours of my life.” Aren’t we laying it on a little thick? Happiest of your life…really? I personally think something is not quite right with this happier version of Kringle.