Gotham Review: Pena Dura (Season 5 Episode 5)
Gotham has long been at its best when leaning full force into some of the wild and crazy stories it tells. Any Batman fan can tell you that Gotham City is a wild place with lots of larger-than-life villains, and exploring them makes the stories feel richer.
Gotham Season 5 Episode 5, “Pena Dura,” is a success largely because it explores some of the show’s villains and their motivations, feelings, and takes each character deeper than their larger-than-life personas.
“Pena Dura” is arguably focused on Edward Nygma. Viewers know Edward Nygma and they know the Riddler, but it still doesn’t make sense that he would execute the people at Haven. He’s hurt people before, but never on a mass-murder scale.
So the majority of “Pena Dura” explores Nygma’s inner turmoil, knowing he committed this act but not knowing why. What unfolds within this story is a deeper study of the grey areas between good and bad, and whether anything is black or white.
Nygma’s inner turmoil, and previous inclination to help Lucius Fox solve a crime, suggest that he’s not 100% bad, but we all know he’s not 100% good. Hence, the conundrum.
Perhaps the most compelling, though, is the very long anticipated reunion between Nygma and Oswald Cobblepot. The long wait for the Nygmobblepot reunion pays off, as it is filled with deep, powerful, complex emotions.
Remember, Oswald once loved Ed, and even named his dog after him.
Even though this friendship later turned bitter, complex emotions arise not only because of the previous feelings, but because their reunion reveals that Oswald saved the life of his friend, sending Nygma into further conflict.
Cory Michael Smith and Robin Lord Taylor both gave a phenomenal performance throughout the episode, but their reunion in particular is powerful (albeit short-lived). Smith and Taylor have always been two of the best on Gotham, and that still holds true.
Exploring these deeper issues goes even further with Jim. Lining him up alongside an old military companion illustrates just how many compromises Jim has made over the years to keep Gotham City alive and give them hope.
He knows, for instance, that both Oswald and Ed are guilty of many crimes and should be brought to justice. He also knows that they’ve done good things for Gotham City, which illustrates the great turmoil of the classic Gordon character, and why Batman is needed in the first place.
A few stray thoughts:
- Donal Logue’s Harvey Bullock is just so underrated. What a sweet scene with Bruce.
- Aside from the powerful moment between Oswald and Ed, my favorite moment is when Nygma tricks his redneck kidnappers into setting their own car on fire.
- “Pena Dura” marks the first introduction of Shane West, who is already expected to become Bane.
- I adore this episode, but they almost ruined it for me with the Bane pun in next week’s preview.
- Nygma’s story also has a “whodunnit” element, which really sucked me in until the very end.
- Very glad we got Hugo Strange back into the fold during the final run, but WHERE THE HECK IS LEE?
- Of course Jeremiah isn’t dead. Of course.
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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Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.