Producer: The CW
Writer: Bruno Heller, Megan Mostyn-Brown
Director: Bill Eagles
Featuring: Benjamin McKenzie, Robin Taylor, David Mazouz, Donal Logue, Zabryna Guevara, Morena Baccarin, James Frain, Michael Chiklis
Release date:USA: OUT NOW! UK: Early 2016

The new Gotham City Police Department Strike Force sets its sights on the Penguin (Robin Taylor) just when the season’s big bad and new mayoral candidate Theo Galavan (James Frain) has kidnapped the foul bird’s mother. It’s no wonder Pengy’s even more violent than usual.

Gotham Season 2 Episode 5, The Rise of the Villains: Scarification begins with a major police raid on Penguin’s counting house. Nobody gave Penguin the message that “kill the messenger” is not intended literally. But violence is very much Penguin’s muse. For Galavan Penguin has ordered a series of arsons and sparks the birth of a new super-villain.

Episode highlights include Michael Chiklis as puffy Captain Nathaniel Barnes, scary and supercilious. “The city council can suck my tail pipe,” he says. Also, in the comic books Jim Gordon (Benjamin McKenzie) marries Barbara. But on Gotham the chemistry between Jim and Dr. Leslie Thompkins (Morena Baccarin) must never end. They get plenty of face time and it’s not boring. “I could psychoanalyze the heck out of you,” she tells Gordon.

Just as he steals every scene, Penguin steals the show. He’s by far the most interesting character and we love to watch him explode. We can’t wait to see how Penguin handles Galavan.

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker