“There are no heroes here…”
And I am the full embodiment of Harvey’s statement. I apologize for the late posting of this review; I was caught up in a non-stop marathon watching The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, Barabbas, The Robe, and Demetrius and the Gladiators. It’s amazing with one thousand channels available how often the films are in heavy rotation over the past Easter/Passover weekend. I am certainly no hero but neither is really anyone in Gotham City, which is really sets the tone for the episode and once again proves that Gotham is capable of deeper episodes with layers that can entertain and still be compelling at the same time. No one is purely good nor evil, but shades of grey – not fifty shades, of course. Maybe more like charcoal. I’ve always said the show works best when the villains are allowed to cut loose, Footloose, kicking off their Sunday shoes. This week’s episode, My Three Soups, manages to give us some manic villainy, decent storytelling and no one particularly annoying. This week, Gotham’s “finest” give Gordon and Harvey a run for their money as they hatch a plan to escape Arkham, Bruce comes up with his own strategy to thwart their plans, and in the finest tradition of The Godfather, Babs gets an offer she can’t refuse.
Jerome, Mad Hatter Tetch and The Scarecrow escape Arkham via a three way tag team approach. Turns out when super villains band together they can accomplish anything they want. Tetch keeps Gordon and Harvey on their toes with hypnotized Gothamites and cops clamouring onto rooftops, waiting for the stroke of midnight to jump off ledges. Gordon and Harvey realize Tetch is reaching a wide audience to get so many people at the same time – a radio station! But which one? Harvey locks himself into a car and turns the dial – that’s right, you heard me. No digital stereos here, millennials. Once upon a time one had to actually turn a dial and burn some calories rather than asking Siri or Alexa to run a playlist. But I digress….
Harvey finds the correct station and relays it to Gordon seconds before he too is hypnotized and takes the stairs to the rooftop to join others at the ledge. Gordon tells Harper to get the GCPD emergency broadcast system ready as he makes for the radio station where Tetch is broadcasting from.
Gordon arrives at the broadcast booth in time to pull Tetch from the microphone, and in a surprising act of focus, determination, and will, he shoots Tetch in the hand to force him into calling off the jumpers. Problem is, Tetch reveals he can’t; if he tells the jumpers to stop, they will jump, and if they do nothing, they will jump. Tetch is very satisfied with himself, believing he has one up on Gordon and by the stroke of midnight there will be a lot of people doing their best swan dive from rooftop ledges, including Harvey. Alas, Gordon is more clever than Tetch gives him credit for and broadcasts over the airwaves for everyone to save each other, which works.
Turns out, Tetch’s mass rooftop debacle was a diversion for Jerome so he could visit Uncle Zack at his diner without any interruptions from the GCPD. Jerome needs some information that only Uncle Zack can provide, and he figured he could terrorize and threaten dear old Uncle Zack for the info. But wait, there’s more! Zack hears about the jailbreak and knew Jerome would come for him, so he calls in the former strong man from the circus to manhandle Jerome. And manhandle Jerome he does, for while Jerome may be psychopathic and villainous and entertaining, he is no match for Zack’s large friend.
This is where stories collide. Bruce feels responsible for Jerome after the latter kidnapped the former and Bruce could have killed him but didn’t. But Bruce, because he didn’t kill Jerome, feels it’s on him to bring in the future clown prince of crime. Bruce and Selina sneak in to GCPD during Tetch’s manic escapade and Bruce asks Selina to break into Gordon’s office to steal Jerome’s file. Turns out he will bring in Jerome his way. Det. Harper finds Bruce at Gordon’s office, and in a nice return to the Bruce Wayne persona, Bruce feigns paranoia that Jerome is after him because he helped with the capture. It’s all a ruse of course, to allow Selina time to get out of Gordon’s office. In the car, Selina, who is along to do Bruce a favour, just about slaps him for his grand ego; not everything is about Bruce or his responsibility. Bruce leans towards Selina, apparently for a kiss, but opens the door and tells her she no longer owes him from helping with those jewels from last week.
Back to the action at the diner, Uncle Zack has three bowels of soup (hence the episode’s title) on the table – one too cold, one too hot and one just right. The hot one is for Jerome, and Uncle Zack pours it down his throat. How Jerome or Zack’s strong man didn’t burn themselves is a mystery. But Bruce arrives just as things are about to go downhill for Jerome. Turns out, Bruce believes a sociopath like Jerome doesn’t deserve such mistreatment. Zack orders the strong man to take out Bruce, and Jerome takes advantage of the interruption to turn the tables on his uncle. While Bruce dances with the strong man, Jerome threatens to pour bleach down Zack’s throat unless he coughs up the info (see what I did there?).
No chemicals needed as Zack folds like a cheap lawn chair. Jerome shoots him then turns his attention to Bruce when Selina arrives and disarms Jerome with her whip. Selina points the gun at Jerome is a hair away from pulling the trigger when Bruce shoves him aside and lands on Selina. Jerome escapes, leaving Bruce and Selina in a messy diner. Bruce stays, adamant that he needs to stop Jerome.
I do like Bruce being more determined and focused, and he seems to hold dear his no killing rule, especially after killing Ra’s sent him over the edge. I also like the Bruce Wayne persona, as it will be important in the future to alleviate any suspicion Bruce is Batman. What I really like is that Bruce’s story is clear and concise, much like last week, and he is not a petulant, bratty, punk. He calls Gordon and informs him Jerome is off to St. Ignacious school and will meet him there. Jerome, meanwhile, rescues Tetch from the GCPD with the help of Scarecrow, and the three super villains speed off at episode’s end.
Meanwhile, Babs still has massive headaches and a glowing hand that makes Netflix’s Iron Fist look like Brite-Lite. She tells Tabs memories are trying to get in and the headaches are caused by resisting them. Tabs tells her she is foolish to let pain prevent her from learning the answers, which are in her head. Babs, never one to be called chicken, allows the memories in and we learn Ra’s did indeed bring her back to life with some Lazarus Water. Turns out Ra’s also has big plans for Babs and gives her the power to become the Demon’s Head.
Babs feels much better, that is, until the League of Shadows arrives. Turns out, a few of the men have a problem with a woman leading the League, even if she is the Demon’s Head. The female members, however, remind the men that is a tradition rather than a law. Turns out Ra’s chose Babs but did not give her all the details, so Babs kills the aggrieved party and challenges anyone else to a fight. She tells them they are weak and orders them to bow down to her. The women in the group, called the Sisters of the League, kill the men and kneel to Babs.
Now, in the words of Rush, you don’t get something for nothing. El Predicto states Babs might come down with a case of buyer’s remorse in the next few episodes. Harvey and Gordon sharing a drink in the Captain’s Office is great. Babs and the League of Shadows is very interesting. The Three Amigos of Jerome, Tetch and Scarecrow has potential for some villainous fun, and as Tetch stated earlier, they have plenty of time to stab each other in the back later. Even Bruce had a decent story for a second week in a row. I hope things begin to ramp up towards season’s end with a fantastic finish. The only thing better would be to include Penguin and Riddler to the Jerome mix. Nothing like pouring gasoline onto a fire and watch what happens.
Tune in next week – same Bat-time, same Bat-channel.
