This season is leaps and bounds above Season One, and I think that’s largely due to the fact that Gotham has completely not thrown caution to the wind. Gotham is channeling its comic book side and ratcheting its crazy factor to 11. “Tonight’s The Night†furthers that madness.
Barbara Kean
Barbara was largely a throw away character last season, but she’s become infinitely more interesting now that her craziness is coming through. The episode starts out with her and Jim getting married. It’s obvious that it’s a dream which turns quickly into a nightmare when the pastor suddenly morphs into Cobblepot. Galavan is playing the piano, arkham inmates are in the pews and a bird flew out of Barbara’s mouth. It’s a terrifying scene indeed; although, it does a good job of showing that Barbara may not be that sold on Galavan’s plans after all.
Later on, Barbara waltzes into GCPD and has a chat with Jim in the interrogation room. After a few sexual innuendo laced sentences, Jim kisses her. Of course, Leslie is watching on the other side. While this seemed completely out of character, Jim explained that it was simply judgement call. He’s the first person in existence who has used that excuse, and it actually worked. Jim convinced the GCPD that Barbara is the only connection they have to Galavan. But of course, things don’t go nearly as planned.
Jim wakes up tied to a chair with a maniacal Barbara prancing around in her wedding dress holding a shotgun. The bickering back and force is great as she is trying to throw Jim off his game. In the chapel, they have a pastor and random “witnesses,†all of them gagged and tied down of course. Then, they bring in Lee, and Barbara tries to drive a wedge between the two lovebirds. But it is to no avail. Lee mentioned that Jim even told her about the man he killed for Penguin. A foot chase later ensues, and after a tussle Barbara lets go of Jim’s hand and plummets to her… almost death but really just multiple injuries. She sounds like the perfect Indian Hill candidate to me.
The scenes with Barbara were fantastic! Her crazy compulsive side easily outpaces her boring complaining side from season one. The way she tried to drive a wedge between Lee and Jim was the perfect way to express her craziness and how she really is the odd woman out.
Edward Nygma
Nygma’s scenes, while short, are absolutely hysterical. After dragging Kringle’s body that’s in a truck to some random site, he decides to have one last supper with her. This is cut short by a hunter. Now of course, Nygma has to bash the hunter over the head. The body count just doubled, but he only dug a hole big enough for Kringle. To this revelation he maniacally says, “I guess since I can’t make the hole bigger, I’ll just have to make you smaller,†with a medical saw in hand. He then notices that his sandwich is missing. He goes on a wild goose chase to find the culprit, and he’s led to a tiny shack. Lo and behold, out comes Penguin. In a stupor, Penguin mutters, “Help me.†What a team this is going to be later this season! As I said, the scenes were few, but they were a treat.
Bruce Wayne
This plot line for Bruce to sign over his company to Galavan or not was coming to a head early in the season, and we finally get to see the somewhat sad conclusion here. Galavan is essentially extorting Bruce by saying that he knows who his parents’ killer is. Galavan will leave the file with Bruce, provided Bruce signs over his company. Bruce talks about it with Alfred and, while not taking sides, Alfred explains that Wayne Enterprise isn’t his parents’ legacy; it’s Bruce’s. I love that never once does Alfred tell Bruce what to do. It’s entirely up to Bruce, and I honestly thought Bruce would sign the papers after he said, “Am I wrong to just want this all over?†When he is about to sign it, Bruce has a change of heart and says he won’t lose his company. Just then, the GCPD bursts in. They arrest Galavan on charges of kidnapping and torturing Mayor James after being tipped off by Barbara during the “shotgun wedding.â€
