Gotham Episode 11 Recap: The Inmates Are Running The Asylum

"Gotham" is finally back after a few weeks break with "Rogues' Gallery". Jim is busy in his new duties as guard at Arkham Asylum. The criminally insane are putting on a play. It gets a bit out of hand and one of the prisoners is attacked. This is a perfect reason to take him to the infirmary where Gordo meets Dr Leslie Tompkins (Morena Baccarin). You may recall her as the FABULOUS Queen from "V". Why, oh why, did they cancel that show? Anyway, I hope she sticks around Gotham for a long while. Jim, dump Babs and hook up with the Doc!

Is It Time For My Physical?

Cat finds a sick Ivy and takes her to Jim's apartment to recuperate. No one should be coming home for a while. Remember Barbara was in Renee's bed the last time we saw her.

An inmate (the Frogman) is found near death. He was electrocuted. The asylum's director (Dr Lang) has it in for Jim. He better find the culprit or else. Jim tries to interrogate the prisoners (which is no easy job... being they're crazy and all).

If I Had A Dime For Every Time Someone Called Me Toxic

Elsewhere Barbara is still in Renee's bed. They have a fight. Rene says she cant go backwards. Babs is a drug addict and needs help. Barbara doesnt take that well and declares herself "toxic". On a positive note, this is the most emotion I've seen from Barbara in...well... forever. Barbara calls Jim's phone but Poison Ivy answers. Barbara definitely gets the wrong idea. More emotion from Babs. I like it!

Back at the hospital, another inmate is attacked. Lang continues to storm around but Jim already called Harvey to help. Jim asks Nurse Duncan to take him to the records in the basement. But of course Dorothy is not really a nurse. Psych, she's an inmate. She lets all the patients out of their cells and is promptly trampled in the stampede. Ouch!

Hubris-- Look It Up!

A beaten Penguin is in jail. Don Maroni arrives. He teels Oswald he's there due to his "hubris". Penguin must learn his place. He is not the boss--- yet. Maroni says "you're a smart monkey but you're a monkey and I'm the zoo keeper". Penguin makes a face.

Just when we thought the asylum case was wrapped up, it turns out Nurse Dorothy was herself a victim of electrocution. The real villain is... wait for it... it's Jack Gruber. Jack and his newest experiment attack Dr Lang. I think he's dead. Gruber leaves Jim a written message. We get the whole Hannibal Lecter vibe. I like it.

Fish and the other underbosses discuss making their move. There is lots of side dealing going on. Butch again meets with Jimmy and this time shoots him dead. OK then. Is Butch making a power play too?

Surprise!

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). One of the episodes thus far IMHO. Sure we have no idea where the overall story is going, there's a crime of the week and some story lines are pulled out of thin air. There's still enough here to keep me coming back. The misdirections were great fun. I also like anything that takes place in Arkam Asylum. MUCH more of Dr Tompkins please. And real emotion from Barbara. There may be a person in there after all (even though she doesnt have much to do).