Gotham is always good with the surprises but the writers outdid themselves in the mid-season finale. It was one shock after another and the episode left you speechless.
I probably won’t remember every single shock we had during this episode because there was just so many. Let’s first talk about the biggest revelation. Well, in some ways I don’t think it was that big of a revelation. I always had a feeling Sofia (Crystal Reed) was playing Jim (Ben McKenzie). She was playing Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) too well and why would this woman sleep with the man that killed her brother? It just never made sense to me. From the moment her father was shot I suspected her. I just had this feeling.
What I really didn’t see coming was Victor (Anthony Carrigan) betraying Penguin. I thought Victor was Oswald’s loyal assassin until the end. If I rated all of the shocks during this episode that would be up there. I loved that he chose a Falcone over Penguin. And I think Sofia is the baddest Falcone that lived. This is what happens when people, particularly men, underestimate you. Barbara (Erin Richards) and Tabby (Jessica Lucas) have tried to take over Gotham but they didn’t have what it takes to do it. Barbara got her wish, a woman is in charge of Gotham but it’s not her. It was great how Sofia played both men. She saw her opportunity and she seized. She’s definitely one of my favorite villains on Gotham now.
We didn’t know how right Harvey (Donal Logue) was. Jim was going to have to pay up big. He had to let go of everything he stands for because he brought Sofia to town. He had no idea who he was dealing with. Why did he think he would get any loyalty from the Falcone family?
One of the other big shockers was Bruce (David Mazouz) firing Alfred (Sean Pertwee). I was heartbroken watching him leave and Bruce partying it up yet again. Bruce is so lost. I keep thinking maybe Selena (Camren Bicondova) could get through to him. If Alfred can’t then it’s got to be Selena or Jim. Those are three people that are closest to him. In some ways, I like seeing Bruce go down this path but it’s only because it’s nice to see David stretch himself. As for the character himself, I’m heartbroken. I partly want to shake him and slap him and partly want to hug him. I’m not sure what he needs more.
Penguin being arrested and put back in Arkham wasn’t a big surprise but it will be interesting to see how he gets out again.
Now we have to wait until the spring to see what happens next. The writers left us off on a crazy roller coaster. It’s a lot to process and too long to get new episodes.
