Knight Moves: Gotham Episode 420, "That Old Corpse"

FTC Statement: Reviewers are frequently provided by the publisher/production company with a copy of the material being reviewed.The opinions published are solely those of the respective reviewers and may not reflect the opinions of CriticalBlast.com or its management.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. (This is a legal requirement, as apparently some sites advertise for Amazon for free. Yes, that's sarcasm.)

Gotham That Old Corpse

Jerome was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.

Well, sorry, Mr. Dickens, but there does indeed seem to be a doubt, at least in the mind of Jerome's twin brother, Jeremiah Valeska (CAMERON MONAGHAN). True, Jerome fell from a building, was pronounced dead when brought into the coroner's office and was even more dead after he was autopsied. But that doesn't stop Jeremiah from severe anxiety as he shows off his new free-energy invention to Bruce Wayne (DAVID MAZOUZ). Bruce does hs best to convince Jeremiah that Jerome is truly gone, and suggests they go see his grave to confirm it to Jeremiah, to beat the insanity gas Jeremiah was subjected to at the end of last episode.

The kicker is that Jerome isn't in his grave. He's been dug up by his followers, at seemingly Jerome's command -- a command delivered by a very dour-faced harlequin The maniacs then follow through on their last command -- take seige of Gotham City Police Department and cause chaos.

At the GCPD, Captain James Gordon (BEN MCKENZIE) wrestles with having to arrest Lee Thompkins (MORENA BACCARIN) for the robbery of a crooked bank. His partner, Harvey Bullock (DONAL LOGUE) is willing to look the other way and let her walk, but Gordon has to see justice done. However, when Jerome's followers force their way in, Gordon suggests a strategic withdrawal to let them in, then surround the GCPD with all the cops and have them penned.

The chaos, however, does interfere just a little bit with Riddler (CORY MICHAEL SMITH) being able to break Lee out of the jail, but it's not insurmountable. The scenes between them here seem to further cement their relationship, to the point I'm almost shipping them favorably. 

The incident also brings out The Penguin (ROBIN LORD TAYLOR) and Grundy (DREW POWELL), who are always looking for opportunities in misfortune. They capture one of Jerome's goons to find out who they're really working for, because even Penguin knows that Jerome is not only merely dead, he's really most sincerely dead.


No Joke. Is this our introduction to Harley Quinn on GOTHAM? James Gordon (BEN MCKENZIE) may not live to find out.

The GCPD isn't the only place under attack. Alfred Pennyworth (SEAN PERTWEE) is seemingly overpowered at Wayne Manor, and Jeremiah's bunker is also a likely target as that is where Bruce Wayne is supposed to be. With Gordon, Jeremiah, and Bruce all former targets of Jerome, Gordon assumes he should rush to the bunker and protect them both, not knowing they are at the cemetary. In the bunker, he's forced at gunpoint by the same harlequin we saw earlier to watch a recorded message -- from Jerome.

Only it's not from Jerome. It's from Jeremiah, who is simultaneously revealing himself to Bruce Wayne, even as he reveals that his free-energy generators are also, if modified, very powerful bombs.

Cue the explosion at the bunker, where Jim Gordon is trapped.

Jeremiah explains that he plans to outdo every one of Jerome's goals -- but he wants to prove he can do it sanely. If the previews of the next episode are any indication, Jeremiah's version of the Joker is going to be a very serious take, with a very serious "Harley Quinn" at his side -- the harlequin in this case being his right-hand woman, Ecco (FRANCESCA ROOT-DODSON).

The Joker has finally come to Gotham. Will there be a Batman coming to save it?

Grade: 
4.5 / 5.0