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Gotham Recap: “They Who Hide Behind Masks”

By Kelly Shanaphy

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“They Who Hide Behind Masks,” seems to set the table for the rest of this season of Gotham.

This week saw the return of Nygma, as well as Ra’s Al Ghul finally entering the main fold of the story. It’s a relatively low stakes episode of Gotham but with the war for the city promised by the end of the season, it’ll be interesting to see who ends up on which side.

In a flashback, it’s revealed that Ra’s Al Ghul was brought back to life by the Lazarus Pit. His former mast encourages him to give the blade to his next heir, as the only way that will set him free. In Arrow, it was revealed that the Pit takes away part of the soul, and it looks like Gotham is following suit. As many people suspected “They Who Hide Behind Masks,” confirms it was Ra’s who brought back Barbara from death and pulling the strings behind her weapons business. He attempts to use her to retrieve the knife for him from Penguin’s auction, but unfortunately, Bruce Wayne gets his hands on it first.

Bruce is still sticking with the vigilante path in “They Who Hide Behind Masks,” as he scopes out Penguin’s docks. Spotting a thief (aka Selina Kyle), he swoops down from the rooftops to engage in an altercation but is unable to finish the job without getting injured. He returns later in the day, pretending to be a street kid but his ruse is easily seen through.

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Luckily, Alfred bails him out of a tough situation and Bruce manages to get his knowledge of the knife. Later at Penguin’s auction, he dons his billionaire brat persona to evade any kind of suspicion and successfully bids on the knife over Barbara. Unfortunately, when Selina comes knocking on his door hoping to get it, his refusal puts a rift in their friendship. Looks like those two are going to have a lot of problems to discuss once they’re old enough to really date.

Speaking of two people on different pages in “They Who Hide Behind Masks,” Jim finally meets Sofia Falcone, the daughter of Carmine. Upon learning that the old mob boss is dying, Sofia quickly suggests she return to Gotham in his place. Of course, Carmine is against that, but she spends the day with Jim on the beach before the two share a kiss. Thinking that’s the end of that, Jim goes back to the GCPD thinking that it’s the end of the line before Sofia shows up in full gangster apparel. He accuses her of sizing him up where she simply offers her services as the rightful heir to the Gotham underground.

Penguin isn’t having the best day in his love life either when Nygma finally escapes his ice prison with the help of an admirer. Apparently, one of his elementary school classmates has gotten a Kathy Bates level obsession with him and promises to nurse him back to health. However, Ed can’t even remember the answers to his beloved Riddles in “They Who Hide Behind Masks”. On the other side of town, Penguin is heartbroken and furious that his captive has escaped which leads to him demanding he’s returned. By the end of the episode, Nygma’s savior has been caught (and killed), but the Riddler seems to finally be getting his groove back.

Next: Gotham Recap: The Fear Reaper

“They Who Hide Behind Masks,” smartly sets the stage between the impending war for Gotham. Penguin has the most to lose, and every week it looks like his criminal kingdom could be knocked down at any moment. Hopefully, Barbara turns out to be more than just a pawn to R’as Al Ghul, considering she has transformed into such an interesting character compared to the love interest she just was.

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