Gotham 5x6 : 13 Stitches review

Be warned there will be *SPOILERS* involved in this review. With that being said let's get into it.

They've finally done it. Gotham after 5 weeks of okay to just plain bad episodes delivers it's best episode this season and for my money one of it's best episodes period. It begins pretty much from where the last ended as we see Gordon running throughout the streets with Nygma hot on his tail. Nygma tells him that there is no use in running and gets a shot off on Gordon who evades him to go inside a medical vehicle to look for supplies. Ed eventually goes inside too and the two battle it out for a few seconds. Gordon beats Nygma by charging up a heart machine thus frying Ed's head knocking him out. Back at the GCPD we see Bruce who is joined by Alfred. Alfred notices the tattoo / motto on the arms of the various soldiers a part of Eduardo's gang that have completely taken over the GCPD. Alfred tells Bruce that they are bad news and after Bruce questions the stand in leader about the people's well being, resources and the location of Gordon both he and Alfred are to be escorted to the back where they can wait for him. Of Bruce & Alfred fight off the men and decide to go find Jim and see what exactly is going on with Eduardo's crew. Speaking of Jim we see him standing over Ed who wakes up and again can't remember what he did while he was under the chip in his brain's control. Jim mentions how he tried to kill him and the two argue. They both go pay Barbara a visit who agrees to work with them. This little team up is short lived however as Eduardo and his crew show up again and he tells Ed to kill Gordon. Of course Eduardo doesn't know that the chip in Ed's brain is completely fried now and Ed actually plays along for a bit coming at Gordon with a knife. He eventually turns around and throws the knife at one of the men landing right in the middle of the guy's face. Barbara, Gordon and Ed get away thus leaving Eduardo with only one option. Begin Phase 2!

And Phase 2 does begin back at the GCPD as he kills people in cold blood much to the disgust of Harvey and the other cops whom Eduardo has placed into custody. He says all criminals in Gotham will die. Bruce & Alfred manage to catch up with Gordon, Barbara and Ed who gets help to remove the chip in his brain from Lucius. Inside this chip is evidence that points to Walker and Eduardo being the cause of not only the destruction of haven but there's also various audio logs that Jim wants to transmit to the mainland. As all of this is going on however Eduardo calls up Gordon on a radio and plays his own trump card in the form of Lee. It's funny how he mentions just how many fiance's does Jim have as he's now met both Barbara and Lee. Jim actually agrees to give up the chip in return for Lee and the two former military buddies agree to meet outside of the destroyed haven building. Jim ever the hero doesn't give Eduardo the chip inside breaks it right in front him but he did make a back up. That backup is currently being worked on to be transmitted to the mainland in a bid to expose Walker and Eduardo's plans. Jim and Eduardo end up fighting the old fashioned way and it gets quite brutal at times with Jim getting the upper hand at times. Eventually Eduardo is pushed by Jim into a metal rod and is killed..or is he? as Gordon just runs off in pursuit of Lee who ends up killing the guy who was ordered to kill her. Back at the GCPD and in Jim's office both he and Lee talk about what she has been up to the past few months. Much like Ed's condition earlier in the season she can't quite remember what she's been up to only waking up from a state of pure confusion. We skip to Eduardo once again who is still placed against some debris with the metal rod poking out of his chest. A woman is show walking towards him and this is indeed Walker. She mentions how Gordon and the others got the evidence transmitted to the mainland and how the press has now got it all. She also tells Eduardo that Professor Strange will have him fixed up in no time before placing a mask on him. The mask lights up and right away Eduardo says Jim Gordon's name. Bane is indeed coming!

The episode draws to a close back at the GCPD where we learn that Nygma wasn't the only person fitted with a chip in their brain as Lee too got the same treatment and speaking of Lee she tries to kill Gordon after Walker activates her chip. Gordon of course gets the upper hand and after Lee wakes up they're all interrupted by Barbara who drops a major bombshell on Jim. She is pregnant. Jim looks completely shocked and Harvey says congratulations. So I guess baby Barbara Gordon is coming then? or maybe we'll even see her in the big time jump that is coming in the final episode. But the episode doesn't end there it actually ends with Alfred who after running back to his and Bruce's place to get some stuff is knocked out and brought to Wayne Manor by none other than Jeremiah. Alfred threatens Jeremiah but the maniac tells him it's time to do some butler work and that Bruce will be along soon as the big day is about to begin. And that is that. What an episode honestly. It flowed perfectly jumping for one scene to the next. I can't wait to see Bane in action. Also Penguin and Selina's friendship / partnership after catching and killing diamond catching thief Magpie was a nice little side story to get here throughout. But all in all this episode of Gotham was easily my favorite this season as we're now halfway through season 5. The next 6 episodes will be extremely interesting going forward for sure. 

★★★★★