Oswald Cobblepot cant even enjoy his little victory party without being the target of several overlapping schemes.
Alls fair in love and politics, especially where Edward Nygma and the Penguin are concerned.
The GCPD puts this new crew into the copycat category.
Credit: Jeff Neumann/Fox
Red Hood 2.0 make their debut in front of the press.
Then a black truck pulls up.
Shots are fired into the crowd, though no one is hit.
Instead, the Red Hoods target the statue itself, soundly decapitating poor Mrs. Cobblepot.
If the Hoods or their boss wanted Penguin dead, he would be.
They had a clear shot.
And then theyll lap him.
Barbara and Tabitha are the first to figure out that Butch is captaining the hoods.
All it takes is a few hours in the freezer for one of his employees to talk.
And Nygma isnt far behind, though he does piggyback on some GCPD police work to get there.
Hes untouchable, thanks to his status as Penguins confidante.
And hes also free.
(Surprised Barnes didnt give her an official commendation for it, to be honest.)
Nygma takes their distaste in stride.
The carpet fibers in the interior contained potassium chloride along with the regular stuff.
Nygma puts it together later when hes using salt to lift a stain from Oswalds party suit.
(So domestic already.)
Butch returns in a panic after Barbara and Tabitha show their hand.
If theyve figured out hes pulling the strings already, how long will it take a mind like Nygmas?
He essentially tells the guys to scatter; theyd like to get paid first.
But: desperate times.
Butch stands with the smoking gun in his hand, basking in the proud smile of his demented employer.
Nygma personally notes some curious details at the crime scene, however.
The men were all facing the same direction when they fell and only one had pulled his gun.
All signs point to the men expecting to see Butch.
They knew him and trusted him.
Ill leave Butch and Nygma there for now; they arent the only Gothamites with interpersonal problems.
Take Jim Gordon, for example.
Hes still sleeping with Valerie Vale, but theyre both reluctant to treat their arrangement like a relationship.
Her, because she likes some distance.
Him, because he cant shake the feeling that Valerie is perpetually using him.
And its who Gordon is too.
They are the job.
Bruce shows up to Gordons door sans Alfred and motivated by love.
Gordon sheepishly apologizes for not coming to visit as soon as he heard Bruce was back.
Bruce isnt offended; he knows when a man needs to keep a door shut for a while.
Hes come to ask Gordon to join in on the search for Ivy.
The guys have a man-to-man talk about matters of the heart at a greasy spoon.
The very firstGothamscene ever between Oswald Cobblepot and young Bruce Wayne is cordial and brief.
After a few congratulations, Bruce excuses himself to make his move.
Selina isnt in the mood for Bruces ambiguity.
Still, she follows Bruce to the roof.
and then prods him to get to the damn point.
I like you, he finally dares.
As more than a friend.
Selina moves straight to a defensive posture, citing their differences and his own inexperience.
Have you ever thought maybe you only like me because Im literally the only girl you know?
Theres something between us.
I know there is.
You have to see that, he says, stepping closer to her.
Selina gets into his face: Rule one: dont ever tell me what I have to do.
She kisses him, leaving him more confused than ever.
NEXT: Say it aint so
Downstairs, the battle for Penguins right hand is heating up.
Tabitha reminds Butch that he owes her for not ratting him out to Oswald.
Then Nygma corners Butch in a hallway with a gift and a proposition.
He hands Butch a pocket square matching Butchs own.
Nygma sells Butch the story he wants to hear.
Butch was right; Penguin shouldnt have trusted him.
If Butch helps to eliminate the competition, hell be by Nygmas side.
If he doesnt, Nygma will turn him over to Penguin, who will surely execute him.
As some insurance, he has Zsasz and some other defectors take Tabitha hostage too.
The hit is meant to take place during Penguins speech.
Left with no other choice, Butch advances with his gun drawn and a red hood over his face.
When he pulls the trigger, the gun doesnt go off.
He rages at the betrayal.
I gave you everything!
Butch yells at his boss.
Oswald tries to locate some mayoral decorum and downgrades his vendetta from kill to prosecute.
Meanwhile, Tabitha has knifed her captors in the kitchen and made a dramatic re-entry.
In the commotion she creates, Butch bum-rushes the stage and gets his hands around Nygmas neck.
Oswald knocks Butch out and cradles a choking Nygma in his arms.
Later, Oswald fusses over his injuries while Nygma explains the necessity of the scene at the party.
Butch had to be the traitor so that Oswald could again be the hero.
There are material advantages to Butch being out of Nygmas way.
And he could have destroyed Butchs standing with Oswald just because he doesnt like the way Butch treats him.
Nygma is a vengeful guy.
I hopeGothamlegitimizes the subtext here.
After all, the one thing missing from Penguins success is someone to share it with.
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