BWW Recap: Trouble Balloons in GOTHAM

A vigilante strikes, taking out corrupt officials; the resourceful Selina the "cat" helps the cops and then slips out of the custody; the penguin-like Oswald slips back into Gotham, determined to get a job; and Gordon works out cases. Meanwhile, sexy siren Fish Mooney makes sure to throw suspicion on to the rookie detective. GOTHAM is the place to be and we have the recap for week three.

Episode three begins with the ever eager and incognito Oswald Cobblepot getting off a bus and looking for a job. News reports announce the arrest of a Bernie Madoff-like, Ponzi-schemer, Arnold Danzer. Cut to Danzer walking down the street as a hot dog cart rolls by with an unidentified vendor who also has a collection of helium balloons. In a flash, Danzer is attached to a cable and floats helplessly into the Gotham skyline. Detective Harvey Bullock and partner James Gordon are on the case and, as usual, do not agree on the approach. Back at the police station, Gordon meets a cocky (and corrupt) police lieutenant, Bill Cranston.

Later, Davis Lamond of juvenile services brings Selina Kyle by the police station at Gordon's request. The detective takes her back to the scene of the Wayne murder. Jim is skeptical that Selina knows anything and she claims she ditched a wallet in the sewer drain. Gordon handcuffs Kyle to a fire escape before he explores the sewer only to find the wallet, as she claimed. By that time, Selina has escaped her shackles and is on the run again.

Meanwhile, at Fish Mooney's establishment, Allen and Montoya from GPD major crimes questions Fish about Cobblepot's disappearance. Fish puts on quite an act to convince the police it was Gordon who shot Oswald, which just further convinces them of Gordon's guilt.

A reluctant Bruce Wayne is being trained by his trusty guardian and butler Alfred in armed self-defense. Alfred learns Bruce has obtained police files from his parents' murder. "So you're a detective now," Alfred questions Master Wayne and reminds the boy of James Gordon's promise to find the killer.

At the police station, Montoya and Allen question Gordon over Oswald Cobblepot's disappearance. He tells them

to come back with evidence. When they leave, Jim shares with Harvey about being questioned by major crimes. Once again, Bullock tells Gordon to let it go. Across town, Oswald is recognized by someone and he (naturally) snaps and kills the man. He is desperate to get a job and needs the correct shoes. To insure getting hired, Oswald attacks a guy who worked at the eatery and steals his shoes.

Gordon and Bullock interview the balloon supplier who says four were stolen and his partner Smikers is a prime suspect. The scene shifts to a Gotham alley and a confrontation between the unknown Balloon Man and Lt. Cranston. Cranston struggles with the secretive vigilante but is subdued and meets the same fate as Arnold Danzer.

Accounts of the Balloon Man spreads and citizens of Gotham welcome the end to corrupt officials. Once a cop is hit by the crime, Bullock shows Gordon the old fashioned way of looking for leads - charm and intimidation - and finding Smikers. Now employed by the Italian restaurant, Oswald overhears some talk among key members of the Marone family, the rivals to the Falcone folks.

It should be noted among the things Cobblepot overhears and is mentioned several times is Arkham, one of the districts in Gotham. It also refers to the asylum for the homicidally insane and, in the comics, home to many of Gotham's most heinous villains at one point or another. Next week's episode is entitled "Arkham."

Fish, back in her club, orders her staff to take care of Falcone's girlfriend and Laslo, Mooney's boy toy. In her apartment, Barbara discovers detective Montoya has snuck in. Montoya questions Barbara about lighting up a joint and if she can really trust Jim. Viewers may have been surprised or even titillated by the loaded chemistry that lingered between the two ladies - it seems they were intimate at some earlier point. Her lingering feelings towards Barbara may be coloring Montoya's obsession with discrediting James to his fiancée.

While they question Smikers about the weather balloons, he reveals once they achieve a certain altitude, the balloons will burst. Moments later, a lady walking her dog look up to find Cranston crashing down to earth. In the remains of the policeman, they discover documents with Jim's name. The light bulb goes off, so to speak, and James figures out Balloon Man's identity. A third Balloon Man victim turns out to be a perverted priest.

Gordon reveals the Balloon Man is Davis Lamond of juvenile services, the one who helped Selina earlier. Thanks to information from Selina, Jim and Harvey head to an old warehouse and have a scuffle with Lamond. Bullock attaches the remaining balloon cable onto Lamond and he begins to float into the skyscrapers but not before James leaps to pull him down. Bullock shoots the balloon down and they apprehend Lamond.

Don Carmine Falcone visits Mooney's establishment to reconnect. He reveals his girlfriend Natalia was mugged and he is planning on taking care of anyone involved in the mugging.

The episode closes with Gordon arriving back home to rest. He is greeted by his sexy fiancée Barbara who comforts him by the fireplace. She seeks any hint that her man is corrupt. He denies any wrong-doing on his part and she is elated he is still the hero. Jim expresses fear that there will be more vigilantes in the future. Interrupting the homey scene, a knock at the door pulls Barbara away to see who it is.

She opens the door to find none other than that faked gun death survivor, Oswald Cobblepot.

See you next week: Same Gotham time, same BWWTVWorld location! Let me know what you think in the comments below, and follow me on twitter @jeffwalker66. Before you go, check out a preview for next week's episode:

Photo Credit: Fox

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