Gotham Season 3, Episode 5
It’s hard to care about characters when they don’t care about anything themselves beyond some abstract, selfish quest for power or justice. This is something that Gothamhas struggled with since its very beginning. It’s also why it’s always been so easy to care about Peguin. Even in his darkest days, he has cared. He cared endlessly about his mother. He cares about Fish. And, now, he cares about Ed. Like, a lot.
Penguin and Riddler are in love.
Guys, the relationship between Ed and Oswald blossomed into a full-on love story in “Anything For You.” The purpose of the episode was literally to prove that these two will do almost anything for one another. There was a brief moment when it was unclear if Ed was tricking Butch or if he would actually choose power over Oswald, and it was frustrating. Because pretty much everyone on this show always chooses power over people and it is not only nihilistic, but it’s redundant. Gotham‘s third season has moved on the spectrum a little bit — there’s still plenty of nihilism, but there is also love and devotion — and it’s made all of the difference. It’s made season three the best season of Gothamyet. But back to Ed and Oswald… because the episode opens with a montage of their love as Penguin’s previous boyfriend, Butch, scowls in the background. It should worry us that Penguin is the most competent mayor — nay leader, of any kind — in Gotham’s history, but it’s a pretty easy competition to win. He feeds the hungry, protects the weak, and even creates a statue of his immigrant mom, which is pretty sweet. When Butch gets the Red Hood Gang to destroy said statue in an elaborate plan to win back Penguin’s affections, it is a mild distraction from what has been a rather impressive first week or so (what is time even on Gotham?) as mayor. Before I move on to the rest of the romance in this episode, I want to take a moment to talk a little bit about that final scene between Ed and Oswald. Was anyone else expecting them to kiss? I really thought Gothamwas going to go for it and make the radical (but encouraging) choice to depict these two iconic DC villains as queer. It seemed awkward (and like some Hays Code-era contortion) that they didn’t makeout in that last scene, but also seemed like, regardless of any lip-touching, that Cory Michael Smith and Robin Lord Taylor were playing it that way. Also, given some of the future synopses, it seems like there is still room for the show to move in that direction, should it so choose. Is this how you read this Penguin/Riddler scene, too? Is Gothamjust trolling us? Discuss in the comments at the bottom of the page.
Bruce tells Selina how he feels…
Ed and Oswald weren’t the only characters expressing their undying love for one another (seriously, have I mentioned that this was the most romantic episode of Gothamever?). Bruce finally got up the courage to tell Selina that he likes her… as more than a friend. Bruce’s rooftop balcony scene managed to be simultaneously the most Bruce Wayne (i.e. as if he were in a board meeting) and most teen (i.e. fumbly and awkward) speech ever, which was pretty endearing. Selina’s own response — annoyance, making sure Bruce knows that he should never tell her what to do, and a kiss — was also completely in character. Again, this moment worked because we know these characters, we have seen their friendship evolve. We also know the complications. Bruce is right in saying that he and Selina have some things in common, but Selina is also right in making sure Bruce knows that he is a privileged idiot who has truly know what it’s like not to have a billion dollars to fall back on, if he should so choose.
Butch and Tabitha reunite…
The Bruce and Tabitha dynamic has gotten considerably less development than the other relationships we’ve discussed thus far, but we know enough about it to believe that Butch might try to kill Penguin to keep Tabitha safe (besides, as we know from Butch’s speech, he is also just angry with Penguin). And we know enough to believe that Tabitha would try to save Butch.
Jim woos Valerie Vale…
So far, Jim has been kind of adorably on the fence in his relationship with Valerie Vale. On the one hand, he is still hung up on Lee a little bit and Valerie seems cool keeping things casual. On the other hand, Jim Gordon doesn’t do casual. On advice from teenage billionaire Bruce Wayne, Jim decides to take the relationship plunge with Valerie, showing up on her informant date and wooing her with the promise of information on Alice Tetch’s blood for her story. For Valerie, this is better than flowers. I have to admit: these two make a lot of sense. As Valerie points out, both she and Jim have a hard time separating their job from the rest of their identity. With Lee, that eventually became a dealbreaker. Perhaps, with Valerie, Jim won’t have to change.
Barnes is in trouble…
Barnes should really tell someone that he stupidly got a drop of Alice Tetch’s blood in his eye. Will he? Of course not. Because this is the GCPD, an incompetent Gotham institution made even more incompetent by the toxic masculinity of most of its employees. For most of the episode, Barnes seems unaffected by the blood, but — as we learn from Lee (and some rat-based trials — Alice’s blood can take longer to affect some people than it does others. How long does it take to affect Barnes? Just about one episode’s length, judging by the way his eyes vamped out at the end of “Anything For You.” The infected rat chewed through 12 metal cages to eat its fellow infected rats. Who do we think Barnes will eat first?
The Mad Hatter sends Jim a message…
The Mad Hatter has gotten even madder since his sister’s untimely death, which is saying something. He has kidnapped a girl, dressed her up like his sister, and slit her throat. It is all some kind of calling card for Jim Gordon. Jervis even leaves a bloody note. Jim Gordon sure does have a knack for attracting criminals.
