Gotham Season 3, Episode 3 Recap: “Mad City: Look Into My Eyes”

In Gotham’s “Mad City: Look Into My Eyes,” Penguin is the star of the episode as he makes a bid to run for Mayor of Gotham.

Gotham‘s “Mad City: Look Into My Eyes” episode has glaring plot holes, but Penguin keeps it entertaining with his well-played, enthusiastic scenes.

Spoilerific Recap: Jervis Tetch puts on a show at Barbara’s nightclub. Spotting some expensive jewelry on a woman, Tetch takes an opportunity to use her husband as his next act. Before the trick is over, Tetch subconsciously inserts a passphrase into the husband’s mind.

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At Wayne Manor, Bruce has welcomed his doppelganger, but there are definitely some questions. The doppelganger only remembers waking up last year and being imprisoned by Hugo Strange. Fish later let him out when she made her escape.

It seems that Jim is the one doing the “walk of shame” after a night with Valerie, as she quickly leaves to take a “real shower.”

At GCPD, Barnes welcomes Leslie back and promises that Jim isn’t around anymore. However, that promise is quickly broken when Jim shows up to collect his paycheck. He, of course, runs into Leslie and learns that she now has a fiancée.

Tetch calls the man he hypnotized and uses the passphrase on him. After robbing the place, Tetch makes the man kill his wife and commit suicide.

At an unknown, rundown apartment, we meet Alice—the sister who Tetch is seeking. The landlord enters, demanding rent. She can’t pay, but he suggest another “exchange” and quickly gets handsy. After hitting her, the landlord attempts to kiss her bloodied lips. He’s quickly poisoned and falls unconscious.

Aubrey James declares himself mayor, but Penguin quickly interrupts him to announce his own candidacy to the press.

The doppelganger runs into Bruce and Alfred’s sparring session. The doppelganger gives it a try and bests Alfred a couple of times. When Alfred ups his game, he injures the doppelganger. However, the doppelganger feels no pain.

Tetch pays a visit to Jim and employs his services to find Alice. Jim agrees after Tetch offers him double what the GCPD is offering.

Selina makes a surprise appearance to Wayne Manor. Bruce quickly hides his doppelganger, but he eavesdrops on their conversation. Selina needs Bruce’s help in finding Ivy. He denies her (due to his current situation), leading Selina to storm off in anger. The doppelganger quickly masters his impression of Bruce.

In the city, Jim runs into Selina and offers to keep an eye out for Ivy if she can tell him where Alice is located.

Jim visits the burned out Narrow’s Bar and is quickly confronted by a band of men. Their bar was set on fire after Alice’s blood was accidentally exposed. They don’t allow Jim to leave after discovering that his client, Tetch, has the finances to fix the bar. A fight ensues with Jim winning, but suffering an injury.

At the ER, Jim is treated by Leslie’s fiancee, Mario. They have an awkward exchange. However, Jim wishes them well.

Penguin meets with Aubrey at a restaurant. When an angered Penguin raises his voice and stands, Aubrey’s bodyguards reveal themselves. Surprising Aubrey, the rest of the restaurant patrons are actually Penguin’s bodyguards. Though Penguin has the upper-hand, he remains civil and pins his campaign badge on Aubrey.

Jim enters Alice’s apartment and hears banging on a closet door. The landlord exits the closet and immediately attacks Jim in a frenzy. Alice shoots the landlord, saving Jim. She’s checks if Jim has been “infected” by her blood and quickly sets the landlord’s body on fire. She tells Jim that she wants nothing to do with Tetch.

The doppelganger changes his appearance to look like Bruce. The next morning, Alfred discovers that he’s taken some clothes and drove off with one of their cars.

Tetch is back at Barbara’s club. This time, he hypnotizes Barbara, but it slightly backfires when he tries to get her fall in love with him. Her rejected lustful desires trigger her murderous urges. He saves himself by stopping the trance.

Jim finds Tetch and forces him to reveal why Alice doesn’t want to be found. Tetch leads Jim to the rooftop and hypnotizes him. After disarming Jim, Tetch commands him to jump off the ledge. Alice intervenes with a gunshot, breaking Jim’s trance. He loses his balance and almost falls, but Alice saves him. However, Jim still arrests her.

At Arkham, Edward Nygma is deemed sane and freed. He quickly discovers Penguin to be behind all of this.

At dinner, Mario tells Leslie about his surprise meeting with Jim. The tension is broken when Carmine Falcone approaches their table. It’s quickly revealed that Carmine is Mario’s father.

The doppelganger finds Selina and pretends to be Bruce, apologizing for not helping her. He offers to take her dinner. She agrees and leaves in his car.

Next: Catch up with a recap of 'Mad City: Burn the Witch...'

Best Moment: Aubrey James, you think those are guns? No, these are guns! Penguin is never one to be upstaged. And he played it quite well by being well-prepared for his meeting with the cowardly former mayor.

Final Thoughts: “Mad City: Look Into My Eyes” was definitely Penguin’s episode. Even though it was the introduction of the Mad Hatter, the light couldn’t be taken off of our favorite bird. However, Robin Lord Taylor’s talents couldn’t detract from some major plot holes. One of these being the fact that Jim didn’t realize Mario was Carmine’s son. I mean, don’t all doctors wear a name tag? Would something like “Dr. Falcone” have given it away?