‘Gotham’ winter finale recap: ‘Mad City: The Gentle Art of Making Enemies’

This episode begins with Gotham in total chaos. The entire city is covered in darkness and GCPD is filled with Jerome followers that have been captured. The followers all keep screaming that tonight Gotham will be "awakened." Looting and rioting is occurring all over the city and Jim tells Bullock they must find Jerome. Jim goes to see Leslie and this is probably one of the less awkward conversations they have had. She tells Jim the last thing Jerome said to her was going to kill Bruce Wayne. This episode is starting off with a bang tonight. I’m enjoying the episodes since Jerome has returned. It seems he has given a new energy to the show.

Oswald has arrived at Kane Chemicals looking for Edward. His night is about to take a turn for the worst. He finds Edward and is relieved. Edward kills Oswald’s guards and it seems that he is slowly figuring out Edward’s plan. Edward accuses him of killing Isabella. Edward then ties Oswald to Isabella’s wrecked car. Oswald finally admits to having Isabella killed. He continues to beg Edward for his life. We see that Edward has a tub of acid hanging over the car. Edward then walks away, hoping that is the last time he will see Oswald. The Oswald/Edward drama has also really picked up. I’m curious how the former BFF’s relationship will stand after tonight’s episode.

Bruce and Alfred are preparing to hold down Wayne Manor when they get some uninvited guests. Jerome and some of his crew have arrived. Jerome’s goal is simple…he wants to kill Bruce. Jerome then has a better idea. He wants to take Bruce somewhere more public to kill him. He orders his boys to kill Alfred and then leaves with Bruce. They are moments away from doing so when Jim arrives and saves the day. Jim Gordon is the master of arriving at the right place at the right time.

Bruce’s eyes are covered and when the bag is finally taken off his head he realizes he is at the Gotham Carnival. This is ironic since Jerome was raised at a circus. Bruce looks around at the madness at Jerome continues tormenting him. He even paints Bruce up with some clown makeup. Alfred is informing Jim about how Jerome wants to publicly kill Bruce. Bullock lists a bunch of places and they all agree that the carnival would be the prime spot of choice for Jerome.      

Oswald’s night continues to get worse. He narrowly escapes his death from Edward’s acid trap. He goes back to his house where Tabitha and Butch are waiting for him. They want to know where Edward is. They tell him he is finished in Gotham and they knock out Oswald and decide he should come with. Oswald finally meets with Barbara and the entire plan has come full circle. Barbara tells him that he must tell them where Edward is, or he will die. Oswald’s love for Edward proves strong as he will not give up his friend. He knows that love is sacrifice. Oswald is not even heartbroken to realize that Edward, Barbara, Tabitha and Btuch were all in on this plan. Edward looks confused that his plan to completely break Oswald doesn’t appear to have worked. This Edward/Oswald love/friendship situation has been interesting. I’m still wondering what the final act of this story will be.

Jerome has placed Bruce at the center stage of the carnival as the “main event.” Jerome and Bruce argue about the people of Gotham. Jerome thinks they want mayhem, while Bruce thinks that they have good people and heroes. He then ties up Bruce and places a cannon right in front of him. Jim, Alfred, Bullock and the GCPD strike force burst in and a wild brawl breaks out. Bruce is able to break out before the cannon blows him up. Bruce is able to escape into the house of mirrors with Jerome in pursuit. Jerome continues to chase Bruce around the house of mirrors and this eventually leads to an epic fight between the two. Bruce starts beating down Jerome and is moments away from killing him but Bruce can’t bring himself to kill him. Jerome’s evil laughing during that scene was perfect. You could really see the struggle of Bruce trying hard not to kill Jerome.          

The madness seems to have calmed down as Bruce is happily reunited with Alfred. Jerome makes his final lunge at Bruce but is cut off by Jim. Jim literally hits him so hard it knocks Jerome’s stapled face off. A solid right hook from Jim. Jerome has been arrested and will soon be moved to Arkham. Jim gives a look to Leslie as she leaves GCPD. The drama never ends for Jim as he is later at home and surprised to receive a visit from his Uncle Frank. The Jim/Leslie drama will probably never end. I’m curious what the arrival of Uncle Frank will mean for Jim Gordon.

Alfred is patching up Bruce after his fight. Bruce tells Alfred that he was torn about whether or not to kill Jerome. Alfred tells him that there is a very fine line between justice and vengeance. Alfred asks Bruce what all this training is for and that Bruce needs to create some rules that he won’t break. His first rule…he will not kill. I’m really enjoying these small foreshadowing scenes they are giving us about Bruce’s future. Also, Bruce pays a visit to The Court of Owls. They appear to be working on a deal to save Gotham? And Jim’s Uncle Frank was there. This is a situation that needs to be cleared up. 

Edward is standing at the docks with a gun pointed at Oswald. Oswald continues to tell Edward he loves him and begging Edward for his life. Oswald tells Edward he helped create the man he is today. Edward just can’t get past the fact that Oswald killed Isabella, the woman he loved. He shoots Oswald in the stomach then pushes him into the water. Edward looks down at the water, where we see a bleeding Oswald slowly sinking …    

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