Gotham: Ace Chemicals review S5 E7

Jack Nicholson’s Joker mastered the clown aspect of the character. Heath Ledger proved creepily unnerving. Cameron Monaghan is demanding we put him in the mix with the best portrayals of the character ever with a sinister, twisted and evil version of Joker. It’s Monaghan’s performance that makes Ace Chemicals special in an already amazing season of Gotham.

Sure, Bane is on the way and all the other principal Batman Rogues are near fully formed, but Jeremiah’s Joker is a standout. Every episode with him is just that much better than the rest.

Jeremiah unleashes rockets of green gas, which kills four men with Z’s carved in their chest. I could almost understand the thought that this was the handiwork of Zsasz if he was portrayed more like the serial killer in the comics. Gordon, Bullock and Harper didn’t watch a lot of old school movies and TV if they missed the significance of the small mustache as well. With Walker and Eduardo handled, there’s no reason for the government to hold off aid to Gotham provided they don’t learn about this incident. That’s asking a lot of a city known for crazy nut jobs to suddenly be 100% crime free.

There’s also the matter of Alfred being missing for five days. We get more foreshadowing of future Batman as Bruce hasn’t slept while searching for his friend. At this point Bruce will at least listen to Gordon’s advice and does decide to go his apartment for some long overdue sleep. But there’s no rest for the weary here as it’s littered with papers featuring his parents’ death. Geesh, Jeremiah that’s cold.

Before he can make sense of it, Bruce spies two people that look like his folks heading to the subway station. He follows the long winding trail, which takes him to Wayne Manor and finds his ‘parents,’ an oblivious Alfred and a guest…Jeremiah.

Jeremiah has hypnotized Alfred and the Wayne stand-ins so they don’t notice the bombs he’s planted throughout the manner. Today is the anniversary of Bruce’s parents’ death and Jeremiah wants to give him the chance to experience it all over again. Jeremiah says that was the most important day of Bruce’s life and he didn’t get to be a part of it. Man! One thing about Monaghan’s Joker is he’s not funny and strangely charismatic. He’s just straight up psychotic and evil.

Gordon has other issues as Barbara wants Lee to be her doctor. Lee points out Barbara tried to kill her and Barbara replies ‘that was years ago!’ This is so Gotham levels of absurdity and I’m loving it. Barbara isn’t done getting in all the great dialogue as she tells Gordon his involvement with her baby ended when he put his pants on. Personally, I’m way more invested in Gordon/Barbara than Gordon/Lee.

Jimbo tries to make good with Lee and explain things (she fell and my pants came undone?). Honestly, Jim’s best play here is to just own it. You were crazy and tried to kill me multiple times and Barbara had been looking out for me. Done deal. They track down some leads on the gas attack, which brings them to Ace Chemicals. The workers are hypnotized, which Gordon considers too late to be the handiwork of Jervis Tetch, who’s working with Jeremiah and Ecco. That makes sense as Jeremiah and Tetch were aligned after they busted out of Arkham with Scarecrow.

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Bored with the luncheon, Jeremiah takes ‘The Waynes’ and sets off the charges. Bruce manages to get Alfred out in time and the blast snaps Alfred out of Jeremiah’s control. Well, while you’re rebuilding the mansion, now’s as good a time as any to check out the basement…

Bruce tracks Jeremiah down to the same theater where the Mark of Zorro is playing. Jeremiah filmed a movie where he sliced up the four guys from earlier while dressed as Zorro. He blames Bruce for leaving early and causing the death of his parents. This is some really twisted, get all up in your head mind games. But the surprises aren’t done. Bruce races outside to the same alley where his parents were killed and finds Jim and Lee dressed like his folks. Now Jeremiah wants to kill Bruce’s father figure. Selina makes the save allowing Bruce time to chase after Jeremiah…right to Ace Chemicals.

We’ve seen this play out before, but the personal aspect of the splintered Bruce/Jeremiah friendship adds a surprisingly strong, personal touch. They battle along the gantry and Jeremiah says without me you’re just a joke without a punchline, but fails to nail the knockout blow and tumbles into a vat of chemicals.

Gordon, meanwhile, tries to stop a runaway truck of chemicals. He doesn’t succeed totally as he has to send the truck into the river polluting it and screwing up Gotham’s chances of reunification with the rest of the world.

Penguin and Selina are still working on their escape plan. What Penguin doesn’t know is Selina hasn’t forgiven him for killing Tabitha and alerts Barbara to the plan. Penguin decides he needs a third man in this get out of Gotham mission and recruits Riddler. They go to Barbara with their idea — using submarine blueprints Riddler found to avoid the mines in the harbor. There’s just one catch. They’ve got to build the sub first.

Lee and Gordon has out their issues with a slap and then a kiss. Clearly, Jim likes it rough.

Bruce and Selina check out Jeremiah in his hospital room. He’s got no brain activity and Bruce assumes that means he’s no longer a threat (ha!). I’m hopeful this isn’t the last we see of Jeremiah this season even if it makes for a nice ominous cliffhanger for his future as The Joker.

Ace Chemicals was Gotham at its best. Terrific character work, significant challenges from the villains and the final step in the creation of Batman’s greatest villain. Gotham has almost been too good to end things at this point. Is there any way we can beg, plead and demand a sixth season?

Rating: 10 out of 10

Photo Credit: Fox