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Recap / Gotham S 2 E 18 Pinewood

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Directed by John Stephens

Written by Robert Hull & Megan Mostyn Brown

Bruce and Gordon's separate investigations into the Wayne murders converge with a startling outcome. Meanwhile, Strange's experiments reach a horrifying climax.


  • Adaptational Angst Upgrade: In the comics and recent media, Fries is usually The Stoic, never losing his temper unless he's really ticked off. Here, Strange has been giving him drugs that cause him extreme stress, and being sent on missions (such as assassinating Karen) or going outside in general (since he's always cooped up in his frost cage) appears to be the only way to calm him down.
  • Arc Welding: Not only is Strange revealed to be the mastermind of the Wayne murders, but his experiments under Arkham start to impact the main plot.
  • Back from the Dead: Theo Galavan is successfully resurrected by Strange's experiments.
  • The Bus Came Back: The Lady, Victor Fries, and Theo Galavan all return.
  • Came Back Wrong: Galavan is resurrected, but has clearly lost his mind in the process.
  • Continuity Nod: That "HA HA HA" graffiti shows up a couple more times.
  • Crimefighting with Cash: While Bruce Wayne will be playing this trope straight in future, here it's a literal example: Bruce provides a big bag of cash to distract, then buy off a prisoner-transport driver.
  • Fake Defector: Barbara pretends to return to her murderous persona in order to trick the Lady into spilling the beans.
  • Heel–Face Door-Slam: Gordon refuses to accept Barbara after all she's done, which drives her back to Tabitha.
  • He Knows Too Much: The reason Strange sends Freeze to kill Karen.
  • He's Back!:
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Karen lets Freeze kill her in order to keep him from going after Bruce and the others.
  • Literally Shattered Lives: Karen's body is smashed to pieces after being frozen.
  • Mythology Gag: Newly-resurrected Theo Galavan, last scion of the disgraced Dumas family, calls upon the name of Azrael. The Order of Saint Dumas from the Comic Books is a fanatical cult and Knights Templar Expy. "Azrael" is basically a title within the Order, passed down from father to son: he's the main enforcer of Order law, dealing out death and punishment to those who violate its tenets.
  • Oh, Crap!: Gordon, upon seeing Freeze again.
  • Refuge in Audacity: Gordon's big plan to bust Karen out of police custody? Dump a giant bag of cash in the middle of the road, counting on the cops escorting her to stop and take it, letting him, Bruce and Alfred jump them.
  • The Reveal: Hugo Strange was the one who put the hit on Thomas Wayne, in order to stop his investigation into Strange's experiments.
  • This Is Unforgivable!:
    • Bruce goes into Tranquil Fury upon realizing that the person behind his father's death was someone he considered a trusted friend.
    • Gordon tells Barbara that he can't forgive her for trying to kill Lee.
  • We Used to Be Friends: Hugo Strange and Thomas Wayne.
  • Wham Line: Karen reveals Thomas Wayne started Pinewood with good intentions, but the project was corrupted by the Philosopher.
  • Wham Shot: Two of these occur. The first one is a photo showing that Thomas Wayne used to work with Hugo Strange. The second one is the identity of the man Strange spends the episode bringing back to life: Theo Galavan.
  • "You!" Exclamation: The only thing Freeze says upon encountering Gordon again.

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