In Review: Gotham: A Dark Knight: To Our Deaths and Beyond

Synopsis: Gordon and Bullock try to figure out who the clever thief is behind the robberies of various bank branches in Gotham. Meanwhile, Barbara is put in danger, forcing Tabitha to recruit help.

Review: The story focus is tightened this week to the Barbara and Ra’s Alghul storyline as well as the Riddler team up with Lee Tompkins. Which effectively means that the Joker storyline, which concluded last weeks episode has been put on the back burner, but like most fans. I’d like to know for how long.

That said. This episode allowed for a lot of fun and interesting story narratives and payoffs and the relationship between Riddler and Lee Tompkins gets a bit of stress testing in this story as Riddler looks to be working with Penguin and Butch or should that be ‘The Artist formerly known as Solomon Grundy?’ Either way Penguin as ever thinks he can manipulate Riddler, but it would seem that Riddler is not as gullible as he used to be. Which is a way offers up a continuation of the intriguing relationship, which has been forming with Lee. The only difference being that Lee is now dealing more directly with the Riddler side of Nygma’s split personality.

On the Barbara and Ra’s storyline. It seems that Tabitha was used by Ra’s Al Ghul’s remaining loyalist as a means to bring the old boy back. In short, Tabitha calls Selina and Selina brings Bruce into the fray. Seemingly the loyalist needs a splash of Bruce’s blood in order to resurrect the rotting corpse of Ra’s Al Ghul. I for one welcome his return. For one, Alexander Siddig absolutely rocks in the role. And Two, Ra’s Al Ghul has been around for 1000’s of years. There was absolutely no way they were going to keep him dead. Three it has set up an interesting dynamic with some of Al Ghul’s former league members remaining loyal to Barbara, which is perhaps some foreshadowing for what is looking to be potentially an even bigger season finale than anyone suspected. If indeed Al Ghul’s little chat with Bruce for the episode’s epilogue is anything to go by. 

Overall. Despite no payout on the Joker just yet. This was a really strong episode, which looks to be setting some really big plot threads up for the finale. I continue to love the little dance between Riddler and Lee Tomkins. Both Cory Michael Smith and Morena Baccarin are pulling off some brilliant scenes here and I like Lee Tompkins far more as a bad girl than Gordon’s romantic interest. Though admittedly Baccarin’s portrayal of Lee as a villain feels like a much better fit than her being the hero’s girlfriend.

The only downside to this episode was that we didn’t really get a great deal of Gordon and Bullock, but hopefully, we’ll get to see more of that dysfunctional friendship as the season wraps up. I mean now that they have sort of reconciled their trust issues somewhat. That will need a bit of stress testing.