Gotham S4 Ep. 16 Thoughts & Easter Eggs

"One of My Three Soups"

This week's episode of Gotham may just be the most spectacular entry of the entire series in regards to villain highlights. Being a fan of the Batman mythos has never paid off so strongly on television until this series came along. However, it is this episode in particular that truly encouraged the many childhood memories of watching the classic 90's animated series to leap into the forefront and take center stage. After all is said and done, this is essentially one for fans of the Batman universe to take a deep dive in, soak it all in, and yell out in excitement at how many significant villains share the same screen or at least interact with each other. In addition to having a small handful of jaw dropping twists and turns to keep us at the edge of our seats, let's dive into this week's geek out worthy episode of Gotham.

A Spectacular Opening of Fan Service Galore

In what is arguably the greatest episode opening since the series debuted back in 2014, Gotham kicks things off by showing the previously teased "spectacular" plan of Jerome in its beginning phase. What makes this specific sequence worthy of such praise you ask? Well, if you're a huge fan of Batman's colorful cast of crazy antagonists, this sequence was essentially designed to have you jumping up and down with childlike joy at the villains showing up together.

Taking place within the confines of Arkham Asylum, we get our grand return of Jervis Tetch in an excellently crafted scene showing off his dangerously effective hypnotism. What's so great about this scene is the way in which visual storytelling is utilized which is something that I've always praised about this series in the past. You have a security guard who, after being alerted about Tetch, immediately places on headphones with loud music blasting which sets up the idea that Arkham has created contingencies for its more unique patients. As the guard walks towards the cell, officers are shown standing to the side of the hall leading up to her unlocking his cell to confront him. Here's where the fun, or Gotham's psychotic version of fun, comes in with each of our villains perfectly being individually spotlighted.

Through the officer's perspective, Tetch is shown speaking yet we're unable to hear him due to the intentionally loud music to which the officer confidently claims is blocking out his influence. Jervis is also shown making suggestively violent hand gestures without any context whatsoever. Where the fantastically horrifying twist comes in is the reveal that Tetch has actually been speaking to another officer behind her the entire time who unfortunately isn't wearing ear protection. This leads to a brutal murder followed by the implication of several other murders as shown with the hallway officers laying dead on the floor. It's a prime example of saying a lot without the use of dialogue as several things are brilliantly alluded to. The officer's clearly young age (a new recruit hypnotized through negligence?) and the hand gestures without context actually being kill orders to Tetch's victim. Beauty, brilliance, and brutality = Gotham at its peak.

It's awesome getting to see Crane fully embrace his mad chemist persona here.

After getting the keys to another cell, we get another familiar face showing up via Scarecrow. With everything that's been going on in the city, it's easy to forgive someone for forgetting that this season did actually start off with Scarecrow as its big bad before he abruptly vanished. Scarecrow is shown in his cell concocting something vile with a new attire in the form of the traditional asylum jumpsuit with the addition of a potato sack over his head. Honestly, I actually really enjoyed this look as it showed a much more slender and awkwardly proportioned Crane giving him an unsettling visual presence. Jervis hurries Crane along in finishing up his chemical creation (rhyming in the process of course) which Scarecrow places into a container after testing eventually pouring it over the cell lock of villain #3.

Making the most grand opening of all is of course Jerome who walks out said cell in a smoky entrance. The humor spewing out of the psychopath's mouth is already on point in his introduction as he speaks about the two being five hairs pass a freckle late as opposed to the planned three hairs time frame (what?). Also, the fact that we're seeing the Mad Hatter, Scarecrow, and Jerome (which we can legally call a prototype Joker) all interacting onscreen together in a live action setting is definitely worth yelling about in excitement. This is it! This is the Gotham that many fans have been eagerly waiting to see and we're finally seeing it take center stage. Several big name villains having discussions with each other and/or collaborating in spectacular schemes. All that's missing? Yes, the obvious central component, but we're not quite there yet, so let's soak in and geek out over the massive baby steps that are currently being taken.

The Mad Hatter's Hold On Gotham

Jervis's first wave of attack on the city pits a married couple standing helplessly in a trance beneath a hanging wrecking ball and a crowd of hypnotized civilians keeping Jim and Bullock at bay. One of the coolest things to note here for fans of Season 3 are the callbacks to Tetch's debut. We see a married couple which was one of Tetch's choices for prey as well as his vengeful rage towards Jim regarding Alice's death. One of the greatest ways to reintroduce a villain is reminding audiences of said character's previous impact all in one piece of dialogue and/or course of action. It's famously used with Bane during the Justice League: Doom animated film where he tells Bruce "When we fought before, I broke the bat. Now, I break the man". Here, we see Tetch giving Gordon no choices whatsoever in saving the victims as he previously would have, but a simple witnessing of their execution. And boy is it brutal.

Immediately following the couple's unstoppable death, Gordon and Bullock discovers several civilians standing on rooftops awaiting their life ending falls after deciphering Tetch's rhyme. Calling back to the married couple who jumped during Season 3's mind games, Jervis has taken things to a whole new level. This is where I have to give major props to the writers for crafting such a tension driven thriller with the Mad Hatter's attacks all while cutting through various other standalone episode worthy plots. Honestly, it's insane just how much content gets jam packed into this one episode, yet it all seems to interweave effectively as one giant heart racing thriller.

After Bullock sacrifices his mind to find out where Tetch is broadcasting from (a pretty clever little twist on utilizing radio stations), Gordon finally catches him in the act. Of course nothing is ever so simple with Gotham's colorful cast of crazy as Tetch seemingly embeds a failsafe to ensure that Gordon's words won't be able to stop the victims…or will they? In a nail biting last minute decision, Gordon takes a risk by telling the victims to help save each other which works just in time before everyone is inches away from their demise. Again, it's pretty compelling to see what could have been a standalone villain return episode cut through so evenly with 3 other major plot points.

Barbara: The Demon's Head

In an unexpected twist, Barbara's glowing hand, which was seeded many episodes ago by Ra's, is revealed to be a key to accessing memories of her resurrection while also acting as a beacon for the League of Shadows. The entire flashback sequence was visually stunning in its stylistic presentation and, much like Tetch and Crane, it was great seeing this character make sort of a return. Having seen various iterations of the league, this was the last thing that I was expecting see left by Ra's towards someone like Barbara. Yet, somehow it works? It's great getting to see that hand exchange at Blackgate Prison pay off, but it's also fascinating how the writers are able to pleasantly turn the tables on expectations with comic book fans.

Considering how I negatively felt about the Barbara character during Seasons 1 and 2, I never thought I'd be so hyped up years later hearing her say the words "they're coming…the league of shadows" with a big smile. When you break down just how much this character has transformed over the seasons, it's pretty incredible especially given the now supernatural element being integrated. And although I had a little bit of a tough time buying into Ra's giving someone like Barbara the keys to the kingdom of his army of highly skilled assassins, his description of their similar mentalities and what he feels is eventually needed was pretty intriguing and kinda passable.

Considering that fans of CW's Arrow have already seen the league make their live action TV appearance several times, I was anxious to see Gotham's potentially more threatening iteration. Just by presentation alone, I can happily say that the creative team behind Gotham did an outstanding job at showing the league's shadowy theatrics better than Arrow did considering the show's already superb production value. The atmosphere of the Sirens club being darkly lit revealing the assassins right after Barbara calls out to them was absolutely badass. Interestingly enough, these league members aren't dressed in the same garbs as the previous faction during Season 3's finale. Is it possible that we'll be seeing different attires for the group? If that's the case then Gotham is so far taking all the right steps in making their version of the iconic assassin cult unique to its world.

Oh, and if that wasn't enough of a distinction, after Barbara confidently calls out the league as being weak and afraid of change stating that to be the reason of her chosen leadership, the entire group begins to bow to her. However, things take a surprise turn when the lights cut out and gunfire is shown taking out the assassins from behind eventually revealing the female members to be the ambushers. That's right, we actually see a gender conflict and a significant decision spontaneously being made within the league which has never really been in live action to such a profound extent. With the female leader of the remaining group stating that the men present were indeed weak, we now have the makings of a different face for the League of Shadows which I am more than open to see being explored. Is this the end of Ra's? Hmmm.

The Bat & The Cat

After Bruce gets Selena to steal Jerome's GCPD file (which the department should get fired over for letting teens just wander around the offices), we get one of Gotham's fantastic Batman allusions. As Bruce combs through Jerome's file to find possible locations that he'll visit, Selena tells him that the task seems more suitable for the police to handle which Bruce counters by placing Jerome's life and capture in his own hands. The strong sense of determination that he gives off in regards to having to take down such a dangerous criminal on his own without the police just screams the logic of the cape crusader himself.

I also love that Selena calls him out on being egotistical in that sense which Bruce responds by smoothly letting her out of the car in a manner that was possibly implying a kiss. It's a hilariously charming scene, and with the line "You don't owe me anything Selena, you never did", all I could picture was Batman speaking to Catwoman from inside of the bat mobile. I know we're years away from seeing Bruce in a cape and cowl speaking to Catwoman from his legendary high tech mode of transportation, but you can clearly see the seeds being planted here.

"Just don't take so much responsibility that you get yourself killed" - Selena to Bruce

Fast forward to Jerome's bizarre reunion with his uncle to where Bruce chooses a pretty bad time to interrupt, Selena pounces in just in the nick of time to save him. Using her now go-to weapon of choice being Tabitha's old whip, she snatches Jerome's gun giving Bruce the upper hand in the fight. It's great seeing the whip being used more often now and their confrontation about not shooting Jerome…again…felt like I was watching Batman and Catwoman having a moment. Jerome uses this opportunity to scurry away leaving Bruce with the written address to his next target. Was it intentionally planted for Bruce to find out? We'll have to wait and see.

The Clown Prince of Crime

After making such a spectacular escape from Arkham as promised, I was wondering how this season would top the previous circus of chaos story arc. Strangely enough, Jerome's path of anarchy is actually pretty scaled down during this episode. There's an unexpected moment where he hunts down and confront his uncle sharing twisted stories about how he torturously utilized hot soup leading to him getting ambushed. That's right. Jerome's big moment after escaping captivity is getting trapped by his own crazy uncle. It does feel kinda random, but it actually sort of humanizes him to an extent. It's also interesting that the uncle's henchman during this scene was once a "strong man" at the circus nicely referencing back to Jerome's past.

Jerome is then shown attempting to get information from his uncle which he does once Bruce shows up and turns the table around to his benefit. Here's where we get our first Batman-Joker moment of the season. After shooting his uncle with absolutely no hesitation, Jerome comments that he finds it bizarre that Bruce would save him all things considered. This is very traditional within some of the classic interactions between the two to where the Joker would confusingly laugh at Batman for saving his life wondering why someone would rescue such an insane criminal. It's also a nice added bonus that he has to find some logical punch line out of the scenario with Bruce struggling to fight off his uncle's henchman leaving Bruce, his rescuer, to his assumed death.

"Selena. Now, isn't that a nice name." - Jerome to Selena

Once Selena pops up adding an even more intriguing layer to the dynamic, this is the first time where we get to see these two meet. I actually had to think for a moment realizing that these two characters have never shared the screen together as popular as they are on the show. Kudos to the writers for finding an entertaining way for them to encounter each other. For one thing, Jerome's confused yet intrigued reaction to Selena whipping his gun away was hilarious. I also like that he tells Bruce to wait while Selena aims the gun at him claiming that she's not the murderous type right before escaping her gunfire. It's a fun little engagement and one that I'd love to see being followed up on in the future.

Overall Thoughts

After Jim and Harvey take the time to have a nice heart warming yet bittersweet chat about whether or not Gordon is the hero that Gotham needs, they both end on a consensus phrase being "There are no heroes here". This is immediately followed by a phone call from Bruce about Jerome's whereabouts. Not only does it nicely foreshadow our future cape and cowl wearing city savior in the making, but it's also a nice callback to the Jerome scene in Season 3 where he tells Bruce "Gotham has no heroes". This episode was filled with excellent callbacks, outstanding villain spotlights, solid performances, and some of the most eye popping visual flare of the season.

This is Gotham at its peak of greatness finally showcasing to the fans what the future of Batman villain pair ups will at least feel like in this universe. It's the beginning of something incredible, and as we see Bruce step back into the vigilante shoes (although not sporting a disguise?), it's made very clear that we're moving at full speed into the dark knight's early beginnings as a crime fighter. With Barbara now possibly being the new Ra's Al Ghul, Jerome popping back into the forefront stating that everything is going according to his plan continuing his alliance with Jervis and Scarecrow, Gotham is shaping up to have quite the spectacular upcoming villain arc.

Bonus Thoughts

Easter Eggs

1. Contingencies For Tetch

During the episode we're shown different contingencies for Jervis and his hypnotizing capabilities. We see the security guard use headphones and music as ear protection, warning signs on his cell about sound, and a muzzle towards the end for his mouth. It's fascinating how precautions are needed for a character who, in many other iterations, is usually someone that isn't really taken too seriously.

2. Jerome's White Suit

It may not be the purple and green suit that signifies the clown prince of crime for several mainstream audiences, but having Jerome sport a white suit is definitely a noteworthy hint towards the iconic villain. In the famous "The Dark Knight Returns" story, the Joker is actually wearing a white suit with a purple shirt. Jerome is only a color or two away from being a complete visual homage to the character. So, are we ready to call him the Joker yet or are the producers still dancing around the "He is...but not really...but sort of inspires him" type of game?

3. The Walrus Easter Egg

During the pandemic at Arkham, Bullock states that some of the inmates think that their walruses. Considering that Jervis Tetch was a big influential figure at the asylum, this may be an easter egg towards one of the Wonderland Gang members known as "The Walrus". In the comics, Moe Blum was once an enforcer for Black Mask, but eventually ended up teaming up with the the Wonderland Gang (led by The Mad Hatter) going by the persona "The Walrus" once his employer died. We've already seen Tweedledum and Tweedledee, so there's really no telling who Tetch might have under his belt at this point. 

4. Erasmus Rayne Easter Egg

As the GCPD attempt to get Arkham's prisoners back in line, Gordon reads off a list of names of escapees. One of the few being Erasmus Rayne who, as Gordon briefly mentions, is associated with a cult and a serial killer. This is very much true in the comics as Rayne claimed to be a psychic who can commune with the spiritual world eventually creating his very own religion. If Erasmus is out in the streets, we might be planting the seeds to a pretty interesting future villain spotlight considering what he ends up doing with said "voices in his head".

5. Daedalus Boch Easter Egg

Going along that list of names of Arkham escapees that Gordon reads off is Daedalus Botch (aka "Doodlebug"). Daedalus is an artist who claims to have inspirational visions to which he uses any platform necessary for bring said vision to life. What does this include? Using human body parts to create whatever twisted image comes to his mind. With someone like that running around the streets of Gotham, much like the Erasmus Rayne easter egg, we may be in for something unsettling in a future villain spotlight episode.  

6. Ephram Snow Easter Egg

On that list of Arkham escapees, Gordon mentions Ephram Snow as a child murderer. In the comics, Snow, being a mentally ill serial killer, murdered a group of girls leading to his transfer to Arkham. Gotham has dove into some pretty dark places with its villains in the past, but one has to wonder if we'll actually see a child murderer as a villain of the week. Yikes!

7. Ra's Al Ghul's Future?

Perhaps the most glaring question posed by this episode lies within Ra's Al Ghul's questionable future. Will Barbara actually be given the title fully becoming this universe's version of the iconic Batman villain? It'd be one of the boldest moves ever made in a comic book TV series in regards to a character. Truthfully, I'd prefer having the original Ra's return as the actor has been absolutely incredible in the role and Ra's ties with Bruce Wayne isn't something that should be sidelined due to a character change. Keep that in mind. Bruce and Ra's do indeed have a destiny to keep with each other, so it'll be interesting to see where this Barbara/Demon's Head arc goes.

8. Jerome's Cell Symbol

Just before Crane breaks out Jerome from his cell, a glowing green skull and crossbones symbol can be seen highlighted on his door. Neon green being a color that is popularly associated with the character, it isn't surprising that his own cell would have a skull and bones image presented that way.

9. Possible Bane or Ogre Easter Egg

During the opening scene, a security guard is shown reading a magazine entitled "Gotham Wrestling". On the cover shows a man sporting a mexican wrestling attire called "Ogre Von Schmit. Not entirely sure if this directly reference a character from the comics, but we have seen "The Ogre" during Season 1. The only other character that I can think of who would at least tie into the cultural gear would be Bane primarily going by the Luchador mask. Is this a possible foreshadowing? Only time will tell.

Rating: 10/10