Gotham Review: Red Queen (Season 3 Episode 7)

I really didn’t want to write another review about how I absolutely hate The Mad Hatter storyline on Gotham. This is a problem once again with Season 3 Episode 7, “Red Queen.”

I am starting to feel like a bit of a broken record, but I just don’t know what the concept is with Tetch.He’s introduced as a skilled hypnotist and yet seems to just be a psychopath. You’d think he’d attempt to use his abilities at some point, and yet he hasn’t.

I can’t quite pinpoint what makes me dislike this arc so much, but I think it’s the fact that I’ve seen a whole bunch of Lewis Carroll references before. The Alice in Wonderland references seem superimposed on the DC Comics world and it isn’t meshing well for me.

While I know that Mad Hatter made his first appearance in the comics in 1948, something about this interpretation of the character feels like we’ve been there, seen that, and bought the t-shirt.

I will admit that I was intrigued when Jervis and Alice were first introduced in “Look Into My Eyes.”  The idea of a villian that can control minds is terrifying.

Then Jervis got steeped in Alice in Wonderland references. It became clear that this “skilled hypnotist” doesn’t know how to use his own ability.

Jervis becomes one of the most clichéd villains I have ever met.

I don’t think it’s just the Lewis Carroll allusions that his character draws upon, I think it’s also the fact that he talks in riddles. Isn’t there already a villain that talks in riddles? (Yes, I am looking at you Nygma!) 

This week we catch up with Tetch, we find that he is in the process of developing a plan that involves mixing his dead sister Alice’s blood with a hallucinogen called Red Queen. The plan is to add it to the wine being served at The Founders Dinner so he can poison Gotham’s elite, and it’s a tedious plan to watch.

I feel like a broken record, but I am still at a loss as to how this skilled hypnotist is resorting to these measures. Why is he going through these lengths to formulate his plans when he could very well take everything with brute force (or a psychological mind game)?

No one would even have to know he was behind the plot and yet his grandiosity and showmanship seem to get the better of him.

Fortunately, this storyline comes to something of an end with Tetch’s arrest. I doubt this is the last we’ll see of him, but some time in Arkham might actually do him some good and make him a more worthy adversary when he does resurface.

Like I’ve said in the past, Tetch has potential and, at times, he is downright terrifying, but I think his shortsightedness gets the better of him.

He puts his desire for revenge ahead of clear thinking and as a villain he would be a much more worthy and organized if he stopped and planned a little more thoroughly. Maybe used all the tools in his box.

Despite my problems with Mad Hatter’s plot, I do love watching Benedict Samuel’s portrayal. He plays a classy, yet egomaniacal character who I would gravitate towards. When Gotham introduced him I was excited to see where his character would go. He seems to fit right in with the atmosphere and he had this cool “magic act,” but that devolved really quickly.

Remembering his introduction, I still have high hopes for Jervis Tetch, and I do think he can come out swinging.

Stray Thoughts:

• Bruce and Selena are adorable. I’ve been dying to see them together ever since Bruce told her how she felt and she corrected him. Selena is independent and not used to having things done for her, so when she finds that Bruce has made her dinner she isn’t sure how to react. It’s refreshing to see Selena maintain her tough exterior. I think her character continues to be the most consistent. She knows what she wants and she isn’t afraid to voice those needs. You go girl!
• Ed and Isabella are another refreshing aspect to this show as well. While I deplore the love triangle that it creates, I think that the idea of  this look-a-like is so fascinating that I can’t wait to see where the relationship goes. I feel like I can’t really put my feelings about their relationship into perspective, but I expect a lot from it.
• Jim Gordon’s experience with Red Queen was both insightful and very satisfying. While it was endearing to see his guilt over an attack at the GCPD and his desire to have a happy family with Lee, the most rewarding part of this plot is the scene with Jim’s father. It’s a scene that is very much-needed for Jim Gordon’s character and I think he emerges from that encounter and the Red Queen hallucination with a newfound sense of what he wants.
• Piggybacking on the hallucination with his father, the episode ends with Jim Gordon going back to the GCPD. Thank you! Somehow, seeing this scene gives me so much hope. I feel like Gotham is actually on its way to being safe again.
• The most important thing I gleaned from this episode: now that Tetch and the Tweedles are in Arkham: can we please get back to Catherine and the conspiracy? Somehow that seems to be more my jam. Espcially now that it seems like Jim’s father is involved.

What do you think of this episode of Gotham? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Gotham airs Mondays at 8/7 on Fox.

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