Gotham Episodes 15-16 Reviews: The Scarecrow And The Joker

"The Scarecrow" was OK but I really enjoyed "The Blind Fortune Teller". It was one of the best episodes to date. The Joker is introduced and he's definitely creepy. I still secretly want Dr Thompkins to reveal herself as the alien lizard queen from "V" and eat the citizens of Gotham City. Now THAT would be good television!

Episode 15: The Scarecrow
This episode finds Dr Crane still harvesting people's adrenal glands. The goal is apparently to create a serum so people can visualize their greatest fears. He thinks they will then be able to overcome them. How exactly would that work? Very bad idea! I have a phobia of spiders. If I see spiders all the time, that wont help me not be afraid of spiders. Instead I will constantly be running about trying to beat and/or stomp imaginary spiders into the ground. I pity the poor fool that gets in my way.

Creepy Scarecrow

There is eventually a gun fight and Crane is killed (but not before he injects his son Jonathan with a lot of serum). Is he really afraid of animated scarecrows? I'm never heard of such a phobia. On an unrelated note, Fish ends up in a coed prison which she quickly becomes the top dog.

Previously Penguin barely escapes a car compactor courtesy of Maroni. He goes to Falcone for protection. Falcone meets with Maroni. He gets a judge who sentenced a lot of his guys in exchange for not killing Penguin. Penguin is instructed by Falcone to renovate Fish's club. Maroni arrives at opening night. He wont lay a finger on Penguin as long as Falcone is alive. If he's dead though, all bets are off.

On the romantic front, Dr Tompkins is the new medical examiner (despite the fact neither the captain nor anyone in the GCPD HR department offered her the job). But whatever. She's still great to have around.

Young Bruce goes on a hike, falls down a ravine and crawls back out. But he's always under the watchful eye of Alfred. The Penguin and Joker (if Nygma is indeed the Riddler) finally meet.

Episode 16: The Blind Fortune Teller
Gordo and Les go to the circus. The Flying Graysons are there (minus Robin because he hasnt been born yet). There's a circus brawl over a woman named Lila (who is a Snake Dancer). She is found thanks to her snake (which is also part bloodhound). Her son Jerome appears distraught.

At The Circus

Barbara returns from a bender to to find Cat and Ivy living in her apartment. She tries on outfits while the girls critique them. Since when would she trust street urchin's fashion advise? Barbara later goes to the police station to find Jim and Lesley kissing. Ouch. The pain! She should head on over to Renee's.

Fish Is Rocking That Head Wrap

Fish is still in that strange underground prison. As you will recall from last week, the captives are being used as unwilling organ donors. Fish is now the shot caller (after killing the other guy). She rallies the prisoners calling them "family". She also tells them point blank that everyone will not get out alive. The baddies come for a new person but Fish refuses to give him up. She has demands-- blankets, water, fruit, etc. She orders the guy beaten to death. Oops no organs to harvest. Fish demands to speak to "the manager".

Thanks, We'll Be Here All Week. Remember To Tip Your Wait Staff.

Penguin is at his new club. Oh yeah, booing Mommy Penguin's singing is a really BAD idea. Victor shows up and has Butch in tow. Butch (previously loyal to Fish) has been brainwashed and will do exactly what Penguin says. Elsewhere Young Bruce shows up at Wayne Enterprises. He's cute in his little suit. Bruce accuses the board of "corruption, bribery, racketeering, and unethical medical research".

Bruce And His Little Suit

All the circus people are hauled into the GCPD. Gordon interviews Jerome about Lila's "loose" ways. The Graysons and Lloyds are like the Hatfields and McCoys of the circus. They're been fighting over a dead horse since before WWI. The blind psychic shows up at the precinct and leaves them a clue. "The serpent of the devil lies in the garden of the iron sisters".

At dinner with Jim, Les figures out what it means. It's the garden near the Arkham Bridge. Instead of finishing their meal, they run out to search and find a hatchet with the initials "THFC" (The Hell Fire Club). Wasnt that the group Benjamin Franklin belonged to? Fox should do a Gotham/Sleepy Hollow mashup.

I Personally Blame The Clowns... Always

Jim has the blind psychic hauled back into the office. He accuses Mr Cicero of murder. Paul says he simply passed on a message from the dead Lila. Next Jerome shows up. Jim accuses him of murder. And in another surprise twist, Mr Cicero is actually Jerome's father. Jerome feigns innocent and then turns into the psychotic Joker. That was a great scene. Jerome killed his mother because "she just kept pushing...she was a nagging drunken whore." Jerome didnt want to do the dishes and he was tired of Lila screwing clowns in the next room.

Grade: 4 1/4 Monsters (out of 5). I gave the "The Blind Fortune Teller" a 5 but "The Scarecrow" a 3 1/2. I'm enjoying Jim and Dr Thompkin's relationship (although they dont have much chemistry together). I'm glad to see she's not going to take any crap from him. And poor Barbara. How long before she turns to the dark side? Soon I hope. Great casting of the Joker. That kid is seriously creepy.