Gotham, Episode 12 “What the Little Bird Told Him” Broadcast on January 19, 2015
Written by Ben Edlund
Directed by Eagle Egilsson
“Previously on Gotham” leads into a shot of the city as Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” plays. Jack Gruber is walking along with his minion in tow, who’s carrying two large suitcase-like items covered in wires. They’re going into Irwin’s Electronics, where an employee receives a lethal dose of electricity as he opens the door for them. “Hi, Irwin,” says Gruber. “Where’s my stuff?” At Gotham Police Headquarters, Captain Essen is giving a briefing on the two Arkham Asylum escapees. Gordon crashes the proceedings, stating that finding the men is his case. Essen says he’s out of his jurisdiction. Bullock tries to get his former partner to leave before the Commissioner arrives, but he’s too late, and Gordon is seen. James doesn’t go easy on the man. “This is the first time I’ve seen you with the rank and file. You must be desperate.” Back at Irwin’s, the poor store owner begs for mercy as a device is put on his head as Gruber powers up a powerful looking and sounding machine. Meanwhile, Gordon’s self-righteous attitude infuriates Commissioner Loeb who says he’ll give the disgraced detective what he wants, full restatement, if he can catch the pair in 24 hours, or he and Bullock “will spend the rest of your miserable careers in Arkham.” Cue opening title sequence and first commercial break.
No Bruce Wayne, no Alfred, and no Selina in this episode as the focus is on the dealings between the two mobs and their members. There’s a very clever relationship between Gruber and one of the mobsters that justifies how his tale and the gangsters’ intertwines. Carmine Falcone and Fish Mooney’s relationship changes greatly–I just hope Fish can be killed. I’m done with that character. Cobblepot is in a small piece of this episode, but spends most of it knocked out. Sal Maroni has a big chunk of the story and watching him in his new surroundings is entertaining. I knew there would be a confrontation between Gordon and Gruber, but I didn’t think the solution to their battle would be so telegraphed–it’s perfectly logical, just very anticlimactic. Edward Nygma has two scenes, with the last possibly being the spark that sends him into wackyland. This story pushes the mob storyline forward, but I’m finding myself just not caring for Falcone, Mooney, and Maroni since they’re not around when the Caped Crusader appears.
The good: The story for moving events forward, John Dorman gets an excellent closing scene, Robin Lord Taylor stealing scenes, Donal Logue for being funny and honest as Bullock, and Gordon finds someone else to be interested since he and Barbara are on the ropes. And Peter Scolari as Commissioner Loeb–Cool to see him doing evil!
Fun lines: “I hate you!”, “Catchy!”, “Mr. M,” You’re mine now,” “Sir, let me go to work,” “He is so weird,” and “I’m done with being careful.”
The bad: Sad, that one setting will no longer be another character’s job–I was looking forward to staying there for some time. The mobster story is fairly predictable where it goes, as is this episode’s ending, and there’s no punch, no razors, no knives when someone is allowed to say good-bye?!?! I was incredibly disappointed at this. A moment was given for a character to give some payback and it was passed on. I don’t believe it. That individual would have taken some kind of physical retribution upon that character for all that’s been done to them. Plus, it would have reestablished that character as more than a joke.
The final line: Watchable, but you can predict what’s about to happen. Overall grade: B-
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