TV REVIEWS: FTN Reviews Gotham Season 04 Episode 06: Hog Day Afternoon

If you don’t know who Professor Pyg is, that’s ok, he was brought into DC Comics about a decade ago via the one and only Grant Morrison. He’s been featured in certain things since then (like Beware the Batman and Batman: Arkham Knight) but this is his first live-action debut, and it was certain interesting. “Hog Day Afternoon” put an interesting twist on the character, and revealed some fun things in the process.

We learned even more about Penguin’s “network” that included dirty cops paying other cops to be on Penguin’s side when things happen. When these “cashbags” started dying, Gordon and Bullock had to investigate. Now yes, this isn’t a 100% accurate version of Professor Pyg, but it doesn’t have to be, not yet. And the idea of him doing things Gordon would do….”but with a little more style!” was very fun to watch. As you could tell Gordon was both repulsed by what Pyg did, yet couldn’t deny that on some level (even if unspoken) that he was doing something about the dirty cops.

The other interesting thing here is that we learned that Harvey fell off the wagon in terms of being a good cop. He’s taking money from Penguin, and it almost got him killed by Pyg as a result. It’s going to be fun to see if Gordon can trust Bullock like he did.

Speaking of trust, that was the crux of the Penguin/Falcone story, as Ms. Falcone continued to weave her magic on Penguin, this time making him think she was planning to backstab him, when in fact she was opening an orphanage. I like that she’s toying with him, but we need to see the endgame come to light soon, this is becoming hard to watch.

Unlike the now growing Riddler/Leslie storyline. Ed wants to get smarter, and he thinks Leslie can help. But why is she back in Gotham? Turns out, she found out the Narrows were hurt the most by the Tetch Virus she helped release. And so as penance of sorts, she came back to Gotham and opened a clinic. But…she can’t afford the medicine it would take to help out everyone. So, Ed (via Grundy winning fun deathmatches) gives her the money, and she helps him be smart. I like where this is going.

I also liked how it ended, with Pyg saying that the “axe is going to drop”, I have no idea what he’s going to do next, and that’s exciting. “Hog Day Afternoon” was a solid episode, and one that took a very streamlined approach, I approve.