Gotham episodes 4 and 5 recap: Who destroyed Haven? And why?
GOTHAM: L-R: Ben McKenzie and Robin Lord Taylor in the ÒRuinÓ episode of GOTHAM airing Thursday, Jan. 24 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2019 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: FOX
On Gotham, the person who destroyed Haven tries to figure out what drove them to do it. Selina’s revenge mission puts her at odds with Bruce.
Like the city of Gotham, my immune system has been put through the ringer over the past couple weeks. Now that I’m feeling better, though, I’m ready to dive back into recapping. Unfortunately, Gotham has only grown more beleaguered in my absence. Here’s a look at what went down in episode four, “Ruin,” and episode five, “Pena Dura.”
Dynamic duos and a lot of p’Zsasz
Well, it’s not every day that the life of a career assassin gets saved by cops. But this is Gotham, and the destruction of Haven shakes everyone to the core. Even Penguin and Barbara, who could hardly be called moral, are horrified by the slaughter of more than 300 innocent people.
Jim is naturally ridden with guilt, especially after the deputy police badge he gave Will Thomas is recovered. He reluctantly teams up with Penguin, who readily offers his men and ammo to capture a suspect seen walking out of Haven moments before the explosion. The suspect turns out to be the one and only Victor Zsasz, everyone’s favorite hitman!
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But there are a couple problems.
- Penguin really hates Zsasz for betraying him and allying with Sofia Falcone, and he’s ready to see Zsasz’ head roll, period.
- Zsasz could not have been the Haven bomber because there was no bomber. The culprit launched a rocket-propelled grenade from a rooftop (not the ground) to turn the building into a bomb. (more on that later)
Knowing Jim wants to let Zsasz walk, Penguin takes over the GCPD, breaks out Zsasz and puts Zsasz on trial back at his compound. Zsasz’ last hope is for Jim to win back the support of the people from Penguin.
Jim’s inspirational speeches don’t have quite the same power post-Haven, though, so he and Harvey pull a Pirates of the Caribbean: stir up chaos and rescue the person seconds before death. (In this case, it’s a public guillotining rather a hanging.)
So, the “innocent” assassin gets to live, at the least for the duration of a car ride. Tired of everyone, Zsasz included, mocking him for being so moral and noble, Jim challenges Zsasz to a shoot-out and orders Harvey to give Zsasz his gun. Zsasz decides to be smart and walk away, and Harvey calls out Jim for making him a part of his reckless idiocy.
Reeling from the day he’s had, Jim finds comfort in the arms of… Barbara! Could she be the mother of Barbara Gordon, who’s been teased to appear this season? (Based on the description of episode six, “Stitches,” we’re thinking hell yes she is!)
GOTHAM: Cory Michael Smith in the ÒRuinÓ episode of GOTHAM airing Thursday, Jan. 24 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2019 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: FOX
Who’s the real culprit?
Ed, a former CSI, helps Lucius determine the logistics of the attack in exchange for an old police file. The file, which he thought his Riddler side had told him to look at, is a literal dead end, but he realizes there’s a potential witness to the attack.
He breaks into the old woman’s apartment and gets hit over the head just enough times to verify her account of what happened. (My outlandish theory was actually right, at least as far who did it.) The head trauma triggers memory flashes of Riddler launching the RPG. Ed is horrified to learn he committed such an atrocity, though his next move to murder the witness.
The end of Jeremiah Valeska?
Alfred rescues the handcuffed Bruce from Jeremiah’s church just as Bruce is about to be murdered by some of Jeremiah’s thugs. While Alfred believes going after Selina is ultimately pointless, he supports Bruce no matter what. Unfortunately for Bruce, they arrive just after Selina has stabbed Jeremiah repeatedly. But is he really dead?