Gotham, Season 4, Episode 7: A Day in the Narrows
This is an episode that wasn't super impressive the first time I watched it, but I ended up really liking after sitting down to review it.
We continue the main A-plot with the Professor Pyg storyline, which on the surface got me going 'aw, man, it's a repeat of the previous episode'. Sure, some things and key plot points are changed, but on the surface it seems to simply be another episode of Pyg targeting corrupt cops. But seeing Pyg (who we finally see in his full unmasked glory in this episode) be developed as a character, as well as him being a catalyst in two important subplots -- the Pax Penguina and the Bullock/Gordon relationship break up -- is definitely very welcome. Pyg himself is perhaps not as impressive as he was last episode because this episode didn't actually feature much of him after the whole 'oh that random cop they saved was Pyg in disguise'.
But we get to see Penguin and his head honcho Headhunter (who's a hilarious parody of a one-note-gimmick thug, by the way) basically shoehorning his way into the GCPD operations, and no one really has the balls to say anything. Because as Bullock pointed out himself, every cop is scared shitless other than Gordon, and the manpower they add is definitely not inconsiderable. Add that to the fact that Gordon doesn't really offer much of a solution and just being headstrong and moral doesn't really help his case either. This ends up naturally fraying the already iffy Bullock-Gordon relationship. And also Headhunter and his goons end up playing 'bad cop' super-duper enthusiastically at the rarely-seen Narrows, which is a nice neat touch.
And the episode wouldn't have worked at all if we hadn't gotten the six-episode (well, maybe five episode if we cut away the Ra's centric one) buildup to how Bullock has been first ignoring the Pax Penguina and being subservient, and later be revealed to straight-up be in cahoots with Penguin. It ends up feeling like a huge climax and payoff when Bullock and Gordon engages in a shouting match in front of the building, with Bullock sending his team in because Gordon's information is honestly based on gut instinct. This ends with Gordon being a hero once more, and a symbol of hope. It is a bit plot-mandated, of course, but it does kind of feel like he's earned it, more than the many times that he's just the designated hero just 'cause. At least some of the policemen in the GCPD are going off to team Gordon, straight-up denying one of them fancy Penguin licenses in honour of Gordon. Which is cool.
Meanwhile, Penguin has a bit of a fallout too. In-between having some real hilarious gags with that cute little girl that keeps standing in front of his TV, he's so unwilling to accept any of Sofia's sensible mafia advice simply because he's so wary of treachery. And, well, while Sofia herself may be sort of treacherous, it's not like she didn't give good advice this time around. Plus Penguin didn't have to be such a huge dick.
Overall, it's a pretty amazing episode. We tie this off with a ribbon by mentioning the Bruce Wayne subplot. He's struggling with the fact that he's killed Ra's (he'll be back) and he's just brooding and pushing everyone, including Alfred, away, and ends up running off with his old classmates to a bar, buying up the bar, telling Tommy 'Hush' Elliot (neat little callback) to fuck off, and then end up kissing ladies in the club with sunglasses on and drinking alcohol by the buttload. It's such a jarring change in the young Dark Knight's psyche, but one that makes absolute sense. The Bruce stuff is probably my favourite subplot of the week.
Oh, and there's the weird sisterhood of Selina, Barbara and Tabitha teaming up to take down a biker gang, which is something that... kinda just worked. It's basic, it's simple, and I genuinely can't think of more than two sentences for that subplot that isn't just descriptive, but it's a neat little no-nonsense plot progression for our side characters.
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