BWW Recap: GOTHAM is Dented and Bombed While the Cat Sleeps Over at Wayne Manor

By: Nov. 17, 2014
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GOTHAM added a new major player into the mix this week: Harvey Dent. For the unwashed masses, future district attorney Harvey Dent meets with a "scarry" accident and takes on the mantel of Two-Face who always gives crime a 50-50 chance when he flips a partially mutilated coin. As he is introduced to viewers and detective James Gordon, however, he is a singularly handsome, coin-flipping, do-gooder and he joins forces with Gordon to investigate the Wayne murder case. Oswald's beak finds Mooney's secret weapon against Carmine Falcone, Liza. Young Bruce Wayne also begins his heavy duty training with his British Special Forces veteran butler, Alfred Pennyworth. And, surprisingly, Bruce and Alfred take on a new house guest.

Here's the rundown on another jam-packed episode in the naked city of Gotham. Spoilers are likely, so tread lightly, Bat-fans.

Jim brings Selina to Barbara's apartment for safekeeping and finds the "Dear Jim" note that she needs some time to think and not be scared of Gotham. He brings in a police artist to work with Selina on a sketch of the Wayne shooter. Gordon also goes to Wayne Manor to ask Alfred and Bruce if Selina can stay at the manor for her safety. Alfred protests mightily, but Master Bruce agrees to let her stay. Selina and Bruce strike up their uneasy acquaintance, eyeing each other with a mixture of glee and more glee.

During a prison transport, a dangerous bomber, Ian Hargrove, is sprung from the truck by Russian mobsters. Color him surprised.

Gordon, Montoya and Allen keep digging into the Wayne murder case now that they have a sketch of the prime suspect. They meet with a young, eager Assistant District Attorney, Harvey Dent (new cast member Nicholas D'Agosto ) for assistance. Dent, with his handy habit of flipping a lucky two-headed coin, joins right in the investigation and even has theories of his own. Dent suspects corrupt business tycoon Dick Lovecraft, who had a long feud with Thomas Wayne, may have been involved in the murder.

Bruce and Alfred work out together as Selina watches them spar at boxing. Based on her own experience, she points out people in Gotham don't fight with gloves on. Alfred smells trouble, calls Selina a minx, and picks on Bruce for fancying her.

The crafty Cobblepot breaks into Liza's apartment, investigating her relationship with Carmine Falcone. Oswald goes sniffing around her apartment. And I do mean sniffing, when he picks up the familiar scent of lilacs. Liza returns to her apartment and she senses something is wrong. (From all indications, she might have smelled Oswald's pungent aroma, hinted at in other episodes.)

Bullock and Gordon investigate Hargrove's escape and interviews Ian's brother. Brother says Ian only blew up munitions buildings but he does have mental problems. Meanwhile, at Blackgate Prison, Ian adds volatile ingredients to a deadly gift basket. The gift is handed to a group of guards, who are caught in an inferno when the special selection of exploding cheese and crackers goes off.

After her first night in Wayne Manor, Selina continues to bond with Bruce in his study. She gets defensive when he asks about her family. At GCPD, Gordon and Bullock give Captain Essen an update on the bombing investigation. Alfred calls Jim, admitting it's not working out for them to keep Selina. Jim says he may not get to the mansion to pick her up for a few days.

Oswald drops by Mooney's club to sniff her perfume, comparing the lilac scent with the fragrance from Liza's apartment. Fish doesn't think Oswald is a threat and tells Butch to forget him.

Creepy Ed Nymga finds a partial nameplate in the bombing rubble. It is enough of a clue to send Bullock and Gordon off to investigate. They find Ian who says the Russians captured him and threatened his family if he did not help them go after Falcone - apparently revenge for Falcone getting rid of one of their own. A gun battle unsues between Harvey and Jim and the Russian mobsters.

As Selina tries to slip out of the Wayne mansion, Bruce catches her. ("You move quietly," she says. He replies, "So do you.") He asks her about the night his parents were shot and she tries to console him. She tells Bruce about her mom, a fanciful tale about a show biz star and secret agent. Selina asks Bruce if he's ever kissed a girl. That British c**k-blocker Alfred interrupts to announce homework time.

At GCPD, Mayor James is raging about the bomber and Jim is trying to blame the Mayor for the problem, since Blackgate Prison is not equipped to help mentally ill inmates. At Harvey Dent's office, Dick Lovecraft arrives only to be confronted by the attorney that he is a prime suspect in the Wayne murder investigation. We also learn Dent has a hair-trigger temper when he suddenly rages at Lovecraft.

Bullock and Gordon zero in on a Russian mobster named Gregor as the leader of the bomb planting terrorists. They still don't know who is behind the bombings. We find out it is that well-dressed and stylish Fish Mooney, attempting to hurt Falcone. Fish meets with Gregor and continue with their plan.

Bruce emerges from his pool as part of his strength and willpower training; Selina watches with interest. Adding to her streetwise advice to Bruce, she tells him on the streets of Gotham, you have to be ruthless, too.

Ed Nygma is working in his lab, playing along with a game show, getting all the answers correct. He also hits a bullseye when he realizes the special explosive compound is designed to blow through iron. Gordon and Bullock spring into action. Just as Gregor and the Russians - with Ian's help - blow a hole in an old tunnel, they are ambushed by the cops. Before Jim and Harvey can get Ian out of harm's way, guns start blazing. From a distance, Butch blows up the truck with Falcone's money shipment, killing the Russians.

At the mansion, Bruce and Selina playfully eat and flirt with a food fight. Alfred observes and gives Jim a positive report. Liza comes home and Penguin/Oswald is waiting on her. He confronts her about the true nature of her relationship with Falcone. Oswald toys with her and insists she s=keep working for Fish and not tell anyone. Dent comes to the station to update Gordon the Lovecraft angle to the Wayne case.

Mayor James has a press conference to announce the bomber is caught and that all criminally insane inmates will be transferred with Arkham Asylum.

Late at night, Jim makes a plaintive call to Barbara begging her to come back. She listens but does not respond, as she sexily rolls over in the bed of her old flame, Detective Montoya - a steamy screen-capture image that will surely live on the internet into the next Ice Age.

A Final Word: In case you are keeping up, as of this week, we have met the pre-Batman incarnations of the following villains: Catwoman, Penguin, Poison Ivy, The Riddler, and Two-Face. The "clown prince of crime," The Joker has still not been introduced. My guess is we will have to wait until the second wave of episodes and perhaps even the end of the first series to meet the grinning fiend.

Let me know what you think in the comments below, and follow me on twitter @jeffwalker66.

See you next week: Same Gotham time, same BWW-TV World location!

Here's a brief rundown for GOTHAM episode 10, "LoveCraft": Gordon is taken down a notch or two and assigned to Arkham Asylum. Selina is dogged by would be assassins and she shows her new found friend the ins-and-outs of their shady city.

PHOTO CREDIT: Fox

Before you go, check out a preview for next week's episode:



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