Actually, scratch that. Based on the outfit Barb chose to re-capture Jim herself, I can see why Barbara should listen to someone else. But I still don't see why Ivy needs to keep showing up with absolutely no plots involving plants.
Fish Mooney continues to demonstrate that she's effective at taking power, maybe even succeeding at a cause. But that cause has no apparent connection to anything else. And why are her nails still looking awesome? She hasn't had a manicure in days, maybe weeks.
To make things worse, a character who actually is useful has to break through Jim's glass ceiling to do her job. Dr. Lee and Jim are having their date night, and Jim seems to have no PDA problem at the circus as they are entertained by, wait for it- The Flying Graysons! It is physically impossible for a young Dick Grayson to be in this episode, but his parents are.
Yep. 'Cause this show lacks foreshadowing.
The Graysons put on a great trapeze show, but their bows are interrupted by a clown posse that turns the ring into a brawl. The ringmaster can't stop the chaos from ensuing, so Jim must. Dr. Lee gets suture duty, and finds herself in the middle of an argument between one of the clown posse, Pretty Clown Mary Lloyd, and Flying John Grayson. Both accuse the other family of starting the fight, and it turns out the Lloyds and Graysons have been at each others' necks for decades, over varying disagreements. The first was over a pre-WW1 false horse theft accusation. This time, it was over a snake charmer named Lyla.
So, Jim and Lee decide to see this Lyla for themselves, but find only her ginger son Jerome, who looks only mildly concerned that his mother isn't around. She's got a bad rep in the circus as a drinker and fallen woman, so the ringmaster informs Jim that they don't worry if she's disappeared for a while. Jim believes Lyla's snake over either Jerome and the ringmaster, setting it loose and letting the snake's sense of smell lead him to Lyla's body, hidden under canvas on the back of a truck. Jim somehow quickly deduces Lyla's been moved to the truck, and forces the ringmaster to lead him to a bloodstain in the field surrounding the circus.
My mom's not exactly a helicopter parent, officer.
When Jim angrily demands to know why anyone would move the body, the ringmaster seems more confident as he informs Jim that the circus planned on burying her after leaving Gotham. If the killer was an outsider, the circus would've considered justice impossible. If the killer was a circus member, they would be found. And dealt with in a ominous way the ringmaster doesn't want to talk about. Jim slaps the guy in handcuffs, and hauls the entire circus into the precinct so a stunned and not at all amused Bullock can object.
Every Lloyd blames a Grayson. Every Grayson blames a Lloyd. Mary and John get into it while Detective Alvarez, between them, tries desperately not to have to referee. Meanwhile, Jim interviews Jerome, Lyla's teenaged son. The kid says his mother took lovers, never having an actual relationship with any man, including her current Grayson and Lloyd lovers. Jim wonders if Jerome ever resented his mother's affairs. Jerome notes that one led to him, so he can't judge. He seems to have no sex hang ups, and considers the entire circus his family.
Jim, Lee, and Nygma meet with Essen in her office, where we hear that Lyla was killed with a knife or hatchet to the head and upper torso. Sometime the day before. Essen decides to hold on to Lyla's lovers, and Jim sends everyone else home with a warning against any more brawls. Lee will later be hanging around Jim's desk and bugging him to make a guess on the killer; Jim demures, on the grounds that he just decides based on evidence. This is when Jim gets a useful visitor.
Lorne Greene?
Paul Cicero, the circus' psychic, and the Blind Fortuneteller of the title, comes with a little fur-hatted assistant to walk him around. He's all gravitas, but not too showy. And he insists that Lyla has given him a post-death message for Jim: You'll find the servant of the devil in the garden of the iron sisters. Neither Jim nor Lee know what it means, and Jim outright dismisses Cicero as a crank looking for attention. Lee wonders if maybe Lyla did send a message after all. I love how it occurs to neither that Cicero maybe wanted to help without revealing that he actually did so. So, he makes sure people hear he's a psychic, his cryptic message, and Jim's dismissal.
Instead, we get namby-pamby BS from Lee about different ways of knowing. Even Jim can't believe she's credulous of Cicero's claims, as she's an actual MD. But Lee isn't just digging her heals in on Cicero's possible gift. She's also very insistent that she and Jim finish their date with dinner at her place that evening, which Jim agrees is a good idea. Common ground is important in relationships. And loving your girlfriend's cooking even more so. And agreeing that your girlfriend actually figured out a clue you should have would be nice too. But Jim only grudgingly accepts that "Lyla's" message refers to the park under the Arkham Bridge's towers, and definitely doesn't want to leave the dinner table, and possible bedroom trip, to go tromping around a dark park full of homeless people.
Lee, however, is totally game to go, even bringing flashlights for them to wave around on the park's ground as they openly discuss how little Jim wants to be there. And how much less he wants Lee there. Lee lays right into Jim; this is her job. She got the message with Jim, she decoded its meaning, and she's been game to go look for evidence. Jim openly complained that he couldn't share his work problems with Barbara. Lee is the exact opposite- so why is Jim still whining? Jim has no real explanation, and doesn't have to come up with one, since they find the Devil's Servant. Sure 'nough, it's a hatchet, covered in Satanic symbols. Lee asks about them, and Jim informs her, and us, that Gotham had Satanic killers. Decades ago. Jim calls the office, and asks for two witnesses to be brought back to the precinct.
Lee and Jim return to the precinct, with Lee now not-so-sure about Jim. He claims to be led by evidence, but he's actually got nothing on either of the people he's bringing in. They bicker about whether Lee should just leave. Hey, Jim- this is her workplace now, too. Which he eventually accepts, even bringing her into the interrogation room as Cicero is brought back in. Jim gets right to business, accusing Cicero of helping to cover for Lyla's killer. Jim wants to know who Cicero is protecting. Cicero clams up until little Jerome is brought in and seated right next to him.
Jim accuses Jerome of killing his mother and Cicero of helping Jerome by covering the murder weapon in Satanic symbols and throwing it off the bridge. When both deny the charges, Jim tells them Lee can perform a paternity test and prove that Cicero helped Jerome because he's Jerome's father. Both continue to deny any relationship, and Jerome is especially attached to his mother's story that his dad is a sailor. It doesn't take long for Cicero to crack, and admit Jim's right.
Jerome is pretty stunned that his father was a fellow circus member; and a pretty uninteresting one at that. In fact, that has him more concerned than his mother's death. So concerned that he rests his head on the desk, and we hear what sounds like crying. But Jerome's not really sad. He's really laughing. Softly, then hysterically. The whole thing is funny to Jerome. Apparently, it was more like normal teenaged rebellion. His mother's drinking and sex life weren't the problem- she nagged little Jerome. Jerome can't help laughing at the irony- he can taking drinking and whoring- but... don't... ever... nag. It's so funny, he slaps the table as he screams out his mother's real fatal flaw. Jim is horrified. He's never hated being right so much in his life.
Yes, everything's a joke to him.
When he meets up with Lee later, back in the locker room, he has to admit that he was wrong to try to shut Lee up and limit her involvement. She didn't lose it in the locker room. In fact, it was the opposite. To be fair, she did just finish a stint at Arkham. She should be familiar enough with insanity by now. But she's more than innured- she's fascinated by the cases, and the killers. They celebrate the perfection of their love by engaging in sloppy making out. Just in time for Barbara Kean, in a Selina-approved outfit, to appear in the door way. And see that it's really over.
Penguin's day isn't nearly as exciting, even though there's blood and dancing. His mother is just not a compelling act, especially not with the neo-punk crowd assembled in the Umbrella Club. She finishes her set to Penguin's enthusiastic applause, and the rest of the audience, small as it is, realizes they better clap, too. Especially when the one guy honest enough to boo gets himself slashed with a broken bottle. Applause for his mother or no, the club is not making money.
Penguin soothes himself with piano practice as the crew cleans up after closing, blue light washing over him. He's not especially good, but he gives it a devotion that keeps the thought of failing Falcone at bay. Which he needs, because when he's later auditioning a violinist, a fucking violinist, Viktor Zsasz shows up. And Penguin is instantly suspicious, because Viktor appears happy. And that means he's about to kill someone. Usually. Tonight, it only means that Viktor has brought Penguin a present.
He presents First Mate, aka Butch Gilzean. Dressed in business casual, and dancing on command. Penguin is sure he's about to die, but slowly convinced that Viktor is just helping out by giving him Mooney's former First Mate. And, apparently, Butch knows something about running a club that Viktor hasn't tortured out of him. So, he's Penguin's new consultant. He certainly looks happy to help, and Penguin is slowly convinced how lucky he is- his former torturer's assistant is now his!
Bruce has another week to pretend he's a grown-up. It's hard to tell if this is a reaction to his parents' deaths, or if he's always wanted to be a grown-up early. He's certainly got giving orders to the staff down. He treats Alfred almost like a naughty boy who's trying his patience when Alfred re-voices his concerns about Bruce appearing before the Wayne Enterprises Board. Alfred hasn't asked to stop for a potty break, Bruce. He's a grown-up who understands other grown-ups better than you do. Nevertheless, Bruce is determined to meet his Board in a glass-enclosed, daylight-filled box that is the architectural antithesis to Wayne Manor.
My Book Report is entitled: Everything Wrong With You
Once seated at the head of the table, he briefly, but decidedly, takes his Board to task for two things. The first, is the mob's involvement in the development of the Arkham land. The second is Wayne Enterprises' involvement in developing chemical weapons. He's convinced that high-level staff at Wayne Enterprises are responsible for both, meaning that the Board won't be able to pawn these off on middle management. And he's giving the Board until the next shareholders' meeting to get its shit together, root out the corruption, and come clean to him. If they don't, he's publicly revealing what he knows to the shareholders and police. And he promises them, he has more than theories.
The Board calmly reassures him, each and every member, that nothing horrible could be going on. But they'll look into it anyway, they make sure to tell him before he silently strides out. Once he's gone, the grown-ups all look carefully at each other, as if they share a secret that really could come out now.
Mooney's having a productive day. When a female prisoner had been returned to them missing her eyes, Mooney deduced that they were being held as unwilling, eventual organ donors. And, based on that, and the fact that she's improved discipline and the sharing of water, and maybe her new hat too, her fellow prisoners are willing to follow along with her plan. She outright promises them that some of them will die. But, she declares. They're a family. They'll die for each other. She makes her announcements from the back of one of her henchmen, on all fours, in typical Mooney style.
And when their jailers come again, she and her henchmen have been meditating. Which is good, because the time has come for prisoner 57A, a burly guy who now looks scared of his own shadow as he meekly identifies himself. Mooney decides to catch a fly with honey at first, asking nicely for a timeout to chat with Schmidt, who is their handler for someone called The Manager. She just wants some more water, supplies, and a magazine or two. She pitches it as team-building; Schmidt turns her down flat.
Try thinking of us as cage-free eggs. Let us graze on grass.
So, Mooney plays her card. Sure, 57A will die no matter what today. But now, he'll die useless to The Manager. With just one fist, Mooney signals to her men to knock out 57A, so he doesn't suffer as the others literally kick him to death. His face is battered in, his internal organs are pummeled. His organs are useless now. His body probably can't even be sold to a university for research.
Schmidt is surprised, but quickly demands to take Mooney to the Manager, as if she's a bad girl who needs discipline. Mooney doesn't see it that way. She has the notion that maybe she can't trust the Manager after all. And that, maybe, she should have some assurance she'll be returned to her family. She offers to go, if Schmidt will stay behind until her return. He barely shows his fear, but it's there. They have weapons, and control, but not the numbers. And Mooney's men just proved they don't need guns to kill. Schmidt offers to bring her offer to the Manager, and leaves.
It's a partial victory, but one nonetheless, and Mooney's new fans cheer. Mooney's not in a cheering mood. One of her men just proved their loyalty, and she needs to show her family that loyalty is rewarded. So, she rewards 57A with a kiss on his dead forehead. In full view of all. Reminding them that there are still sacrifices to be made. But that she will be there for them, even in death.
Her little revolt gets a result: The Manager definitely wants to speak with her, but she'll have to come to him. In return, he's agreed that Schmidt should remain with the prisoners as insurance. Mooney promises Schmidt that her family will definitely take all kinds of care of him while she disappears into the light, the bars of the prison behind her. Will she remember her family? Or ditch them the second freedom offers?
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