Gotham Season 2: Ep 204, Strike Force Recap! New Police Chief, Nygma & Kringle, and Bruce Leaves the House!

It’s been a weird, but mostly solid season of Gotham so far. After last week’s episode, it’s time for the show to start a new chapter. How do they follow up last week’s shocking ending?

Gordon and the GCPD

After going through a round of police Captains there’s new fish to be fried, enter the no-holds barred Captain Barnes (Michael Chiklis) who struts into the police station all spit and vigor. How did this guy become Police Chief when there’s no city government or mayor to appoint him? The first thing he does is take the scalps of some dirty cops, you know to set the new tone. He tells Gordon he wants him to be his 2nd in command and that he’s going to head up a special Strike Force.

The show completely rips off the Brian De Palma film – The Untouchables (one of my all time favorite movies) as Chiklis tells Gordon that they should get their dirty apples directly from the barrel before they turn rotten.

Galavan and Penguin

Penguin is upset that all of the recent Arkham activity has impacted his business and is annoyed that no one knows who is behind it – until he’s summoned by Galavan (James Frain). Penguin tells Galavan that he has no interest in seeing Gotham burn to the ground and that he’s someone who builds stuff.

Galavan reveals that he has Penguin’s mother and wants him to kill all the Mayoral candidates.  Gordon confronts the Penguin about the hits and demands an explanation which of course he doesn’t give. Gordon says damn the consequences, he and the Strike Force have made Penguin public enemy number one.

I don’t like Galavan – thanks to ABC ,I think he should break into song whenever someone mentions his name and he’s an awful actor. He’s the Fish Mooney of this season.

Bruce Wayne and Cat

Who cares about Bruce? He actually leaves the house this time and Cat waits for Bruce outside of school when Alfred notices her. Alfred punches her in the face for killing Reggie and tells her to get out of Bruce’s life. Galavan tries to set Bruce up with his niece. I wish they would bring ambiguity back to Cat and give her some hope so the audience can actually care about her again. She was the best thing about last season and they ruined her.

Nygma

They need to speed this up, I’m a beyond bored with Nygma. Nygma’s confidant alter ego finally gets a date with Ms Kringle. Nygma slips up and says he’s glad her Ex is dead and that he talks to himself. Instead of running away like any sane Run Kringle, run!

Conclusion

This was actually a really solid episode. It felt very much like a the first part of a new story arc. It wasn’t an action packed episode but we did finally see, some movement on the Kringle/Nygma relationship, we saw Gordon man up against Penguin and it was nice seeing someone take charge of the GCPD. I still find it ridiculous that the show makes it seem like there are NO good cops. I don’t like Galavan – thanks to ABC I think he should break into song whenever someone mentions his name and he’s an awful actor, he’s the Fish Mooney of this season.

Episode Grade – B