Gotham Review: A Beautiful Darkness (Season 4 Episode 13)

Gloom, with a thin layer of cheesiness, seems to be the theme of Gotham Season 4 Episode 13, “A Beautiful Darkness.”

It is pretty apparent that the name of the episode is supposed to bring the classic A Wonderful Life to mind. When Ivy Pepper attacks Bruce Wayne inside of Wayne Manor, he launches the viewers into his quasi-reality hallucination.

This has been done so many times, by so many different shows. For that reason, it’s getting quite stale. From the get-go, you know that this “dream” is going to somehow guide Bruce back towards his roots and away from his young “playboy” status.

At the very least, it is entertaining to see a majority of the Gotham cast together in one room at the same time. While some of them are out of character, it is fun to see our favorites rub elbows at a masquerade ball. And don’t get me started on Jim Gordon’s mustache — even Bruce pokes fun at that one.

Unfortunately, the cheesiness is not contained to Bruce and his “life lesson.” It actually starts within the first few moments of the episode — with the harebrained schemes of Ivy Pepper.

The line about her victim being responsible for the torture of innocent plants just about made me spit out my popcorn. Sure, Ivy has a screw loose, but give her a purpose that is more relatable for the audience. But then again, maybe there is some hippie out there taking notes and making plans.

Even future villain Selina Kyle can’t get behind Ivy’s over-the-top antics and quickly makes for the exit.

It is heartbreaking that this partnership doesn’t last a bit longer. If they waited to reveal to Selina how “different” Ivy has become, it could have added to the drama of them parting ways.

“I really thought doing a crime spree with you would be fun, but I was wrong.” -Selina Kyle

When Selina folds on Ivy, it is clear that the two won’t be getting together for girl-talk anytime soon. Poor Selina — just give her a stand-alone story already. She doesn’t have to be just a connective piece. Her rich comic history has to fit in somewhere.

When Jerome and Oswald come to view within the walls of Arkham Asylum, it seems as though maybe the cheesiness will relent. It doesn’t.

Don’t get me wrong; Jerome and Oswald are definitely the strong point of the episode. Their separate appearances always give me a smile, so just imagine my joy when they share the screen.

With Jerome’s insistence on Oswald making him laugh, the audience knows almost immediately that it probably won’t end well for at least one of them.

Oswald’s mime act is spot-on, even though it does make me do a bit of an eye-roll. Then when Jerome joins in — adding to the obscene hilarity — it’s hard not to delight in this extreme absurdity.

For my money, this is the scene of the night. It really sells how loony these criminals are. And you feel a little crazy yourself for joining in on the laughter.

If this episode does anything right, it’s that the hour gives us hope. Hope for the return of Bruce Wayne and his rise to heroism. Along with hope for our favorite villains to break free from the shackles that bind them.

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

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Gotham airs Thursdays at 8/7c on FOX.

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