''Gotham" Season 2, Episode 5 Recap: 'Scarification'

In this week’s episode of the FOX series “Gotham,” Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) finally makes progress in his attempt to rescue his mother from the clutches of Theo Galavan (James Frain). Meanwhile, Galavan has set the wheels in motion on his mission to take over Gotham City. His real motive is revealed as it becomes known to some people that he has a vendetta against Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz).

Penguin is being manipulated to do Galavan’s dirty work. His mother is still nowhere to be found, and Penguin is being very careful. He does as Galavan asks but relentlessly tries to find a weakness as well as a way to rescue his mother.

In the meantime, Galavan, the aspiring Mayor, has a big job for him. Galavan sends Penguin out to find arsonists to burn down selected locations around the city. Butch, Penguin’s henchman, enlists the help of Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova).

They visit the Pike brothers, a well-known group of professional arsonists. Selina grew up with the Pike brothers and has formed a childhood friendship with their sister Bridgit (Michelle Ventimilla). Because of Selina, the brothers agree to do the job.

Selina and Bridgit reconnect, and Selina feels sorry about the way the brothers have been treating her old friend. Bridgit is miserable as a slave in the Pike household, however, things take a turn when one of the brothers dies in a raid.

The brothers bully Bridgit into doing the dangerous jobs and she unexpectedly starts to enjoy it. Selina tries to talk her out of it, but Bridgit insists that she knows what she’s doing. She goes to burn down another one of Galavan’s targets but unfortunately for her, detective Jim Gordon and the GCPD Strike Force are waiting for them.

While attempting to escape, Bridgit burns and kills a cop. This makes the Pike gang police enemy number one. After analysing the buildings that have been burnt down, Gordon figures out that whoever is behind the crimes is targeting Wayne properties. He just hasn't connected the crimes to Galavan.

Elsewhere, Penguin gets a Gotham history lesson and also figures out that Galavan is out to destroy the Wayne family. He learns that 200 years ago, Bruce Wayne’ ancestors drove Galavan’s ancestors out of the city. Penguin sees that Galavan is on a mission of revenge and he tries to figure out a way to use this information to his advantage.

With the GCPD getting even more overwhelmed by the influx of crimes, Jim sees no other option but to seek Theo Galavan’s support. He agrees to endorse Galavan as Mayor, if he promises to support the GCPD’s operations once he’s in power. The men shake hands and Galavan has accomplished yet another goal.

“Gotham” returns next Monday at 8:00 pm ET on FOX.

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