Josh recaps Season 1 Episode 21 of Gotham, titled The Anvil or the Hammer, which is the last episode of Gotham before the season finale! In this episode, Gordon continues his pursuit of the Ogre, but has to go to Cobblepot for help in order to try to find him and save Barbara! Following the recap, both Josh and Violet share their thoughts about the episode.
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Episode Recap of Gotham, Season 1 Episode 21: The Anvil or the Hammer
The Ogre
So, the Ogre seemed to have had a good night with Barbara. Then we see a familiar scene–a woman trying to leave him. It happens again. The Ogre flips out, and locks her in his torture chamber, after telling her that he was planning to kill her.
Meanwhile, Jim is frantically trying to figure out where either the Ogre or Barbara are still alive. Dr. Thompkins tries to calm him down, but he seems stuck on finding Barbara. Jim then brings in a man who seems to know who the Ogre is. He denies it at first, but after some persuasion by Jim, he talks. Apparently the Ogre was a brothel frequenter, but one that seems to move around a lot. Jim decides to ask Cobblepot for some help finding this place.
The Ogre has a heart to heart with Barbara about finding his soulmate, which he thinks is her, despite her being tied up in his torture room. Her captor seems obsessed with Barbara giving him someone to kill. Who could it be…? He also shows her his current “collection” of trophies from his previous “loves”–photographs of previous women he killed.
Jim uses some more of his “personality” to get Cobblepot to get him information on the brothel. Another favor will be owed to Penguin, it seems. Gordon and Harvey take a tour of the brothel using some confiscated invitations, and there is a lot of kinky stuff going on. Harvey has had enough in the brothel after hearing a whip, chainsaw and pig with a man and woman on stage. I kind of don’t really want to know what was going on there. After doing some questioning, a woman comes forward telling her story of being attacked by the Ogre 9 years ago.
Meanwhile, Barbara is sleeping, and the Ogre wakes her up. She bursts into tears, and he demands to know who he should kill. He demands to know, or she will be the killed. She finally gives a name…
After talking with the prostitute, they figure out an idea as to where the Ogre might be. They are able to find his torture chamber. The Ogre then gives a call to Gordon, and Jim and Harvey get a clue from the call as to where they might be heading–Barbara’s parents’ house. Turns out Jim is right, and the Ogre kills them. Jim and Harvey shows up, and Barbara is taken hostage. Luckily, after some brawling, Harvey provides a distraction and Jim is able to take out the Ogre. Barbara takes a cut to the neck, but it looks like she will live.
Back at the precinct, Jim celebrates his victory, and Thompkins congratulates him. Thompkins also says that she was worried about losing Jim because of what happened to Barbara. Jim reassures her that he loves her still.
Nygma
So throughout the episode, we see Mr. Nygma trying to clean up his mess. He transports his victim–in pieces–to his lab at the precinct. Looks like he plans to get rid of the evidence. He begins his “Breaking Bad” style decomposing of the body, but Ms. Kringle pays a visit, asking for some case files. Nygma places the gory body off as a case he is working. She then asks Nygma about Officer Doherty. Of course, Nygma says he hasn’t seen him.
Later he talks with Doherty–his skull that is. He resolves to write a letter on Doherty’s behalf, and crushes the skull to remove the evidence, I imagine. Nygma talks to Kringle about the letter, which states that Doherty decided to take off randomly. She seems heartbroken, and Nygma seems excited about it.
Bruce Wayne
Alfred seems to be doing better, and Bruce gets a letter, which Alfred hands to him. Alfred plans to head out to Reggie’s “send off”, and Bruce is looking a bit guilty about it. Alfred heads out, and Bruce opens his letter. It is the key he was working on stealing last episode with Selina.
Bruce Wayne heads to his company, and is going on a tour. He sneaks away and sets off the fire alarm. Apparently he has more plans than just a company tour. He sneaks into an office, and finds a safe, which takes the key Selina provided to him. But he is surprised by Sid Bunderslaw. Sid is not shocked to see Bruce though–he is expecting him in fact. Unfortunately, Sid doesn’t let him get a peek inside the safe. Sid does admit to hiring Reggie to look into Bruce.
Sid drops a bomb on Bruce though–Bruce’s father seemed to be investigating Wayne Enterprises at first, but eventually succumbed to the corruption that the company seems to encourage. Lucius Fox then makes an appearance, and is escorting Bruce out. Fox seems to be a good guy though–and tells him a secret–Bruce’s father was a better guy than Sid is making him out to be.
When Bruce makes it home, he talks with Alfred. He tells Alfred about Selina pushing Reggie out the window, and tells Alfred about Sid.
Cobblepot
So Butch and Cobblepot plan for Maroni’s demise, in the bar he recently acquired. Cobblepot seems giddy about it. Later, we see Cobblepot hiring his hitman to take out Maroni. So Maroni and this guy shows up, and things look to be going Cobblepot’s way. Turns out the gun jams. Huh?
So Butch asks why the double cross, and it looks like Cobblepot is trying to get out from under the thumb of Falcone. I would think after all these double-crosses, Cobblepot will eventually run out of allies. It looks like this little action of Cobblepot ignited a war between Maroni and Falcone, which started off with Maroni mailing the head of the hitman Cobblepot hired to Falcone. At the precinct, the Captain tells the officers they are on high alert because of this war. Cobblepot laughs it up from his club, delighted to see his frenemies attacking each other.
Josh’s Thoughts: Gotham, Season 1 Episode 21: The Anvil or the Hammer
So the Ogre storyline is done. It was probably the best case that Jim has handled so far. He seemed menacing, and I think the actor did a great job conveying that. I kind of wish there was more cat and mouse between Jim and him, but I guess I can deal with how it ended. Jim is getting into deeper trouble with Cobblepot though. Eventually Cobblepot will call in these favors, and I am not sure I want to know what they are. As for Barbara, Dr. Thompkins seemed to kind believe my theory about how this episode would go: She was worried that Jim would feel guilty about Barbara and leave her, which is what I wondered might happen. So far, Jim says that isn’t the case. I have a feeling we will see Barbara coming back into the picture more though.
Speaking of Cobblepot, he may be grinning now, but I have a feeling Falcone and Maroni will probably find out what really happened, and both gun for him. Unless Cobblepot has a way to keep himself clean. He does always have some sort of sleazy way out of his troubles.
Bruce seems to have ran into a bit of a wall in his case, but with Lucius Fox as an ally, maybe he will be able to get somewhere with his company. Fox seems to think Bruce’s dad was a good guy despite what Sid says. Hopefully Fox elaborates one day on this.
As for Nygma, it looks like he is descending more and more into his evil side. He already has the riddle side down, and with his first murder under his belt, we will probably see him slip down more.
The season finale is next, and it looks like we will be dealing with Falcone and Maroni’s war. I have to imagine that Fish is going to come in on this as well. I think Jada Pinkett Smith is confirmed not to be in season 2, so we will probably see the end of her character one way or another as well. I guess we will see what happens Monday!
Violet’s Thoughts on Season 1 Episode 21 of Gotham: The Anvil or the Hammer
I really enjoyed following the Ogre storyline that has lasted the past few episodes, and liked Peter Petrelli’s — er, I mean, Milo Ventimiglia’s performance in that role. The introduction of this character, and having the threat of him and what he might to do Gordon’s loved ones loom over the episodes definitely kept me interested in Gotham lately, because I actually was looking forward to seeing what would happen next. Of course, that storyline has now come to an end, with Gordon shooting the Ogre in the head. I was glad to hear Gordon confirm his love for Dr. Thompkins, but how long will that last? Now with Barbara having gone through such a shock, and now being parentless, I have a feeling she will start to rely on Gordon for comfort and support, and that will bring the two back together eventually.
Now that the Ogre storyline is over, this episode made sure to introduce a storyline that would lead into the next episode, which is that of Maroni and Falcone going to war with each other. It looks like the season finale will end in a bloodbath. I’m sure Fish Mooney will make it back just in time to join in on it. Although, didn’t she take a shot to the gut? Whatever happened with that…? In any case, I don’t feel very interested in that storyline at this point though. Maybe once I watch the episode, it’ll be more exciting.
What I am interested in, though, is seeing what happens inside that room at Wayne Manor, when Bruce Wayne pushes the button on that remote, and the room starts moving like there are secret compartments. It’ll probably be just a minor sidestory to the big gangster showdown, but it’ll still be cool!
Scenes from Gotham, Sesaon 1 Episode 22: All Happy Families Are Alike
Here are scenes from next week’s Gotham episode titled All Happy Families Are Alike:
