Gordon and Bullock continue to investigate the Ogre, who begins to make his move on someone close to Gordon. Meanwhile, Bruce and Selina team up to expose a corrupt Wayne Enterprises employee and Nygma comes to Kristin Kringle's defense.
"Under the Knife" continues the Ogre serial killer story established in the previous episode. It's a case that Commissioner Loeb gave to Jim because of the deadly consequences it may include. Jim couldn't turn away and let a violent criminal continue to kill women in Gotham. And yet, that also meant he had to be very concerned about the loved ones close to him. Jim spends so much time worrying that the Ogre will target Lee. That relationship is moving to a very serious place. Jim has confessed his love for her even though they have only been dating for a couple of episodes. It's a rushed development that is suppose to have weight because of Jim's fear that Lee will be targeted. The suspicion over Lee's safety is a fun plot contrivance for a moment. She's only in her apartment unsure of what the strange noises from the other room are. But ultimately, it's all just a ton of misdirection. That plotting isn't completely justified because Jim worries about Lee when the audience knows for the majority of the episode that he should be worried about Barbara.Yes, the woman in Jim's life who the Ogre targets is Barbara in her bigger return to relevancy this season. That twist is largely one of convenience. The show hasn't known what to do with her for the entire season. So putting her in harm's way is how she'll be pushed back into Jim's orbit. It's not a particularly great story beat because Barbara has been such a lackluster character. She just doesn't garner a whole lot of interest. So when she is being teased by falling under the charms of this mysterious man, it's not filled with tension. He tries stabbing her the first time they meet only to later learn that she is no longer with Jim.
That last part is a crucial blow to the Ogre's actual threat. He has been built up as this sociopath who the police fear. He spies on Jim and Harvey's investigation and makes sure that they know if they keep digging, the people they love will get hurt. He is toying with them. He stalks them and delivers threatening messages over the phone. So why then, does the Ogre focus all of his energies on Barbara in the first place? He bases all of his information on Jim from a news article from earlier in the season when he was just starting as a detective. So much has changed for Jim over the course of this season. Is the Ogre simply not connected in with the rest of society? The only reason is because Barbara needed to become a part of the core narrative again - even if she is completely oblivious to who this new man really is. That's such uninspired reasoning for a bad guy who is suppose to be a bigger threat than the show's typical bad guy of the week. Jim isn't even made aware of the full situation until the very end of the episode. Did he think that Lee was the only person in his life worth targeting because of his life?
As has often been the case in recent episodes, the subplots had to carry more of the excitement. In "Under the Knife" though, they had to do so without the guaranteed success of Fish - who isn't seen at all despite the cliffhanger in the previous episode. Every one else is a fine supporting character in this universe. And yet, they haven't had the kind of out there, crazy story Fish has had in the last few episodes. In fact, most of the subplots are largely characters going through the requisite steps in the path to their final destinations for the season - Bruce and Selina looking further into the Wayne Enterprises corruption, Oswald still having reason to hate Maroni - or things finally coming to a head in their long gesturing storylines - largely just Nygma.
Edward Nygma's infatuation of Kristin Kringle has been simmering in the background for so much of the season. It's not a dynamic with a whole lot to it. And yet, it has been the focus of several episodic stories. And yet, there's almost no consistency to it either. One second Nygma is purely a creep with this misplaced crush while at other times he's presented as the only decent man to her. That's just a precarious dynamic that hasn't made a whole lot of sense. It's grown tiresome as it became apparent very early on that it would eventually lead to his shift in becoming his future famed villain - the Riddler. In fact, much like several people calling Oswald the Penguin just to make things clear to the audience on who he was, Kristin's new abusive boyfriend insists on calling Nygma, the Riddle man - which is just one small step to becoming the Riddler in case it wasn't obvious who he would become despite riddles being his one defining characteristic. Nygma did enjoy stabbing the officer to death more than he should have. It's also the first interesting thing he has done all season long. He has always been a superfluous character this season and his shift into joining the villains may still be a completely unnecessary story beat for the show. The season still has Oswald, Falcone and Fish. But all it seems to be worried about is making sure Nygma is on the path to becoming the Riddler.
Some more thoughts:
- "Under the Knife" was written by John Stephens and directed by TJ Scott.
- Bruce was openly and loudly talking about killing a guy with Selina at the party and literally no one heard him. At least they got the key, so they are still competent about some things.
- Selina did look great in that new outfit Bruce got for her for the party. Also, Barbara's reaction to learning that Selina would also be attending - alongside Bruce Wayne - was great.
- An oblivious Carol Kane is a wasted Carol Kane. Also, what was the point of Oswald killing the delivery guy other than to say that this show likes meaningless violence?
- Apparently the Ogre is willing to still pursue Barbara even after learning that she has little importance to Jim because she may actually be the woman he's looking for as a partner. Well she didn't hate the secret room he has in his apartment, so that may be true.
- Was the show actually saying that someone can only have a face like Milo Ventimiglia's if they have plastic surgery?
