‘Gotham’ recap: ‘Heroes Rise: How the Riddler Got His Name’

Edward Nygma is a man on a mission right now. He wants to reintroduce himself to Gotham. We last saw Edward shoot and presumably kill Oswald at the docks. Edward is on a new mission to find his new self. He has been killing the intellectuals of Gotham and has been taking pills to cause hallucinations, mainly of Oswald. He is trying to find someone who can solve his riddles. He is obsessed with becoming this new persona and he knows to become a villain he needs what every villain needs … an enemy. This is going to be a Riddler-heavy episode and I’m okay with that. I like that we might finally get the full transformation of Edward into the Riddler.

Bullock and Lucius are investigating the series of intellectual murders that have been taking place. Jim is absent and taking some much needed time off. They receive a telegram of a riddle which leads them to Edward’s next game. He is overseeing a chess tournament and has rigged the chess board with electrical shock charges. He continues to argue with “Oswald” as GCPD arrive and Edward clicks on the charges. 

The chess tournament also provides Lucius and Bullock with a clue as they find a phone number on the button of the chess pieces. This is another clue that leads them to pick up a pawn shop worker who was working for someone with the last name Therion, which also means beast. Bullock and Lucius give an interesting and hilarious interrogation of this suspect.

The Court of Owls were also very present in this episode. They have taken 514A and given him the knowledge he will need to pass off as Bruce Wayne. Kathryn calls Frank and says they are ready. Bruce has been distracted with his training since his fallout with Selina. Alfred suggests that he should go talk to her since Selina left him a note. Bruce goes to see Selina and it doesn’t go well. She gives him a cold shoulder and tells him not to come around anymore. Bruce then fights with Sonny and some thieves. This won’t be the end of Selina and Bruce but it seems like they might have a strained relationship for the time being.

Bullock is preparing to give a speech to graduating cadets at the police academy so it is up to Lucius Fox to catch the “chess killer.” Lucius goes to visit Leslie who finds Bullock’s badge inside the dead body and Lucius realizes that Bullock is Edward’s next target. Edward starts to give a graduation speech to the cadets then throws nerve gas into the crowd, knocking them all unconscious. Lucius arrives and finds Edward with Bullock. He has Bullock tied up and wants to play the three riddle game he played before. I like that Lucius is getting so much time in this episode. He is one of my favorite characters.

Edward tells Lucius three different riddles and Lucius is trying his best to reason and talk with Edward. Edward is seriously losing it. Lucius keeps trying to get Edward to confess to killing Penguin while he keeps cutting the ropes. Lucius gets the final riddle right but the ropes break and Bullock is falling but Lucius is able to catch him.

Jim is taking some time off from GCPD to reconnect with his uncle. Frank wants Jim to trust him and tells Jim he has made terrible choices. He wants to make things right with Jim. Frank tells him that The Court of Owls are the secret society that has controlled Gotham and him and Peter were members. The Court wants Jim to join them. Jim is hesitant to trust his uncle and Frank tells him that The Court was behind his father’s death. Frank wants Jim to join The Court and they can work together to destroy it from the inside. I’m with Jim about being sketched out by his uncle. It seems that Frank is playing Jim but with this show, you never really know what the final plan will be.

Bruce is wandering through the alley after his rough afternoon when he gets an unexpected visit from 514A. Bruce figures out he sent the note to him, not Selina and he injects Bruce with a powerful drug that knocks him out. 514A returns to Wayne Manor later and sits down to eat with Alfred, who has no idea what has happened.       

GCPD raids Penguin’s mansion with no sign of him or Edward. They find Penguin’s picture with a green ? on it. Meanwhile, Lucius is leaving work when Edward surprises him in the back of his car. Lucius continues to try and reason with Edward but it seems that Edward has finally figured out who he is…without Penguin. The transformation is complete. “I’m the riddler!” Edward exclaims as he knocks out Lucius. I’m glad that Edward has finally transitioned into The Riddler, who is one of my favorite villains.

Edward visits the docks where he killed Penguin and knows that GCPD is now hunting him. He dumps the pills into the water and says “goodbye Oswald.” Moments later we find out that Penguin is still alive and was rescued by Ivy Pepper from the river. Penguin seems focused on revenge.

Jim returns to Frank’s cabin and finds a picture of himself, his father and his uncle. Jim still seems hesitant. We see Frank and Kathryn having a meeting about their plan and Kathryn tells Frank that they have Bruce Wayne. Bruce wakes up and is being held captive in what appears to be a prison cell. He looks outside. It is snowing and he sees mountains. Where have they taken Bruce??

This was a great episode to pick back up season 3. I’m glad we saw the complete transformation of Edward into The Riddler. The Court of Owls are obviously going to be a major part of the second half of season 3. I’m liking the direction that the show is currently heading.

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