Gotham - 'Lovecraft'

"If you died... Who employs butlers anymore?"

This week's episode of Gotham is all go from the very start. After a brief introduction where Selina teaches Bruce about balance, we get straight into it with a trio of assassins led by a serpentine lady (the Arkham series' female Copperhead, perhaps?) breaking into Wayne Manor and pursuing Bruce and Selina across Gotham City.

The absolute star of this week's episode is Alfred, who shows himself both willing and able to bribe, cajole, beat and shoot his way through absolutely anyone to get to his charge, even honing in on Fish Mooney's weakness; her need to appear classy. Bullock is along for the ride, but Gordon - running solo in his search for the assassins' suspected employer, the titular Lovecraft - doesn't do so well, taking a major knockback at the midseason finale (there's a lot at the moment; I'm glad I'm seeing family over Christmas.)

"She's just a kid. Why are you scared of her?"
"Because she's scary."

We get another look at the future Poison Ivy during Bruce's walk on the wild side, with Selina hinting that she is someone to be wary of. Our other recurring folks are here as well: Edward Nigma in an adorkable moment, and the Penguin under pressure as Fish Mooney's game lights a fire under Falcone. It's all go, as you'd expect leading up to the break.

The first half of the season now over, Gotham is looking pretty solid. It's had its ups and downs and it still needs to blaze a trail away from simply being a showcase of future Batman characters, but all in all it's worth coming back to, if only for Alfred and Bullock.