Gotham Review: Reunion (Season 4 Episode 14)

It seems the slapstick antics have taken a back seat on Gotham Season 4 Episode 14, “Reunion.” The entire town is instead shaking with fear at the hands of our newest femme fatale.

Ivy Pepper seems to fit herself into almost every storyline this time around. It is a pleasure to see her work her fingers so tightly around Gotham and everyone in it.

From the opening scene at the bar, we see that Ivy isn’t stepping down. She needs to send a message to Gotham’s elite, and that message is going to be written in blood.

Her kooky logic still seems to be the same, but it is pushed out of your mind by her sheer viciousness.

The smirk on her face alone makes you love and hate Ivy Pepper at the same time. It looks like Oswald may have a run for his money as the fan-favorite Gotham villain.

As a side note, you can’t tell me that you never wanted to punish someone eating like that one bar patron. If you haven’t, then you’re either a liar or a saint.

Turning Harvey Bullock against his best friend, Jim Gordon, is pure brilliance. It seems that these “super powers” haven’t just affected Ivy’s mind in a negative way. Well, maybe that is debatable to the GCPD.

She’s beautiful, don’t you think, Jim? Now drop your weapon! – Harvey Bullock

Peyton List’s acting chops are really being put to work here. Her stint as Golden Glider on The Flash really didn’t do her justice.

The interactions Ivy has with each character on Gotham really shine. This episode’s most exciting one is her face-off with a former ally: Selina Kyle.

The pure excitement of this scene gets me on the edge of my seat. There’s so much tension as Ivy has her hand around the throat of her friend, while Selina holds a blade against Ivy’s stomach. Not to mention, Selina’s foot is ready to smash the last vial of Lazarus Water into oblivion.

It is amazing to see the bravery — or stupidity — of Miss Kyle, as she actually goes through with the destruction of her only bargaining chip. She really takes a gamble and it pays off — for now, at least.

It seems, of course, that this will most likely play out differently somewhere down the road, when the pair’s paths cross again. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long for it. But then again, let’s pray it isn’t rushed either.

Elsewhere, we get to see the reunion of Bruce and Alfred. It is a tad surprising to see it unfold the way it does.

Most people assume that Alfred would come back with open arms, taking Bruce by the shoulder and whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

But true to Alfred’s character, he isn’t so quick to forgive and forget.

Once Ivy shows up at the Wayne Foundation’s benefit dinner, it is pretty clear how things will pan out. While predictable, the scene is still ultimately satisfying, even though Alfred — a former military man — does get taken down rather easily.

Optimistically, this will be the final time we see Bruce fall off his path. Realistically, it will probably happen again in Season 5. But as we all know, our failures help shape us along the path to greatness.

And let’s not forget the slow-moving revival of the Riddler.

Corey Michael Smith is so convincing as a man at odds with himself. He flawlessly banters between each side of his personality, so much so that it makes me kind of scared to meet him in person. Know that if this ever happens, I’ll be keeping my guard up, Corey!

The confrontation between Oswald and Ed is really where the episode should end. Sure, the additional scenes are important, but maybe just sequence them differently.

The glossed-over look in Oswald’s eyes as he spews his truth to Ed is enough to give nightmares to small children and adults with overactive imaginations. Not me, of course, but someone.

If the credits were to roll right then and there, the smile on my face would stay for days. But instead, we get Jim confessing to Harvey about everything surrounding Sophia Falcone.

Maybe Jim’s statement about doing everything he can to take her down is important, but it doesn’t conjure up the same excitement as two criminal masterminds embracing their insanity.

That could be saying a lot about me, though.

What did you think of this episode of Gotham? Which villain do you think takes the cake? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Gotham airs Thursdays at 8/7c on FOX.

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