Gotham season 3, episode 20 synopsis: “Heroes Rise: Pretty Hate Machine”

This week on Gotham, the Court of Owls uses a brainwashed Bruce Wayne to unleash the Alice Tetch virus.

Last week on Gotham‘s “All Will Be Judged” episode, the Court of Owls unleashed former GCPD captain Nathaniel Barnes to hunt down and execute Jim Gordon. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne completed the final step in removing his emotions.

Learning about a number of Court of Owls safehouses, Jim and Harvey Bullock explore one of them and discovere a crystal owl. The two are soon ambushed by an enraged Barnes, who abducts Jim. Later, Jim is able to free himself and alerts the GCPD to his location. However, the execution-happy Barnes makes a quick escape.

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Still looking for the other virus bombs, the GCPD Strike Force brings Kathryn in for questioning. Alfred Pennyworth—who learns from Selina that Bruce has been replaced with Fake-Bruce—also makes his way to the GCPD looking for Jim’s help. There, Alfred, Jim, and Harvey learn that their separate investigations all involve the Court.

When Barnes tracks Jim to the station, he unleashes an unrelenting attack. Kathryn, still smugly thinking that he’s under her control, tries to condescendingly command Barnes, but he quickly decapitates her. Jim, using some quick thinking, shotgun blasts Barnes’s axe-enhanced hand.

As all this is happening, Bruce and the Shaman have arrived at the outskirts of the city. However, Bruce’s training still wasn’t complete. Because Bruce still held onto the emotions for his mother’s death, his weakness could still be exploited.

The Shaman offers to take it away. Bruce is hesitant at first, but ultimately gives in, as he wants to fulfill his fate of becoming Gotham’s hero. As Bruce, in the vision, puts his mother’s pearl necklace into the metaphorical vault, he’s brainwashed into following the Shaman’s every command.

This week, the Shaman will use Bruce to activate the Court’s virus bombs and bring an end to Gotham. As Jim tries to stop the city’s demise, he will also have to contend with Lee Thompkins, who has infected herself with the Alice Tetch virus. Here’s the official synopsis from Fox:

“Heroes Rise: Pretty Hate Machine”

"TICK TOCK, THE VIRUS IS ON THE CLOCK ON AN ALL-NEW “GOTHAM” MONDAY MAY 29, ON FOXJada Pinkett Smith Returns as Fish MooneyGordon races against the clock to save the city from the Alice Tetch virus, when Lee Thompkins (Morena Baccarin) intercepts with a plan of her own. Also, Alfred sees a big change in Bruce Wayne after his work with The Shaman (guest star Raymond J. Barry). Meanwhile, some of Gotham’s most deranged villains band together in the all-new “Heroes Rise: Pretty Hate Machine” episode of GOTHAM airing Monday, May 29 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX."

And, of course, the promo for the episode:

Next: Catch up with a recap of 'Heroes Rise: All Will Be Judged'

Enjoy this week’s new episode, and check back with us on Tuesday morning for our full recap and review. Also, don’t forget to visit the Gotham After Show where our friends at theStream.tv will give fans a play-by-play of the latest episode. And the fun continues with Welcome to the Batcave, also on theStream.tv.

Gotham airs on Fox on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. EST. You can also stream it on fubo.tv.