Gotham Refresh Recap: "Viper"

Written by Shae

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

What happens when a new drug comes to the streets of Gotham?  Users suddenly have super human strength. Like, rip an entire ATM out of the wall and carry it for miles. Side effects of the drug include, craving milk, death, dying horrifically, and being able to throw people through walls. It’s hard to believe, but this drug is being handed out for free by the supplier. Bullock and Gordon are, of course, on the case. Sadly, there’s more deaths than they can prevent before figuring out a lead.

As it so happens, the drug itself is a highly synthesized drug that can only be made in a lab. That lab now in the spotlight, a state of the art laboratory, is run by Wayne Enterprises. Drawing more suspicion that the Wayne’s murder was more than just some random accident. Granted, we all knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Yet the theories keep piling up. A representative of the lab shows up at the police station to talk with Gordon and Bullock. The woman is able to identify the main suspect in the case, saying he was a former, disgruntled, employee who worked on shampoo. Does anyone else smell a fishy story? Yeah, me too. Thankfully, this isn’t the end of it.

With all of that going on, Oswald finally butts his nose in too far with Maroni and reveals his actual identity to the mob boss. This goes about as well as expected. Maroni sends for Gordon to confirm the story, and now more than ever is the detective wishing he’d gotten rid of the little snitch. Still, Gordon is a man of his convictions and tells the truth. This coincides with Oswald’s story, so Maroni lets them both live. Free to go, Gordon gets back to the investigation, while Oswald helps Maroni plan to rob one of Falcone’s casinos.  Which goes well, and Oswald does well, pleasing Maroni and saving his skin once again.

All the while, Gordon and Bullock find out the truth behind Viper. It turns out the drug was manufactured by the company this doctor named Patolski worked for. The drug was made to be a weapon, and had since been refined with no side effects. The original company Gordon and Bullock thought was behind the whole thing indeed was. Only, the suspect wasn’t trying to just murder people. I mean, he did murder people, but he was trying to bring awareness to the drug, to the company, to show the wrongfulness of all that was going on. 

In a strange way, he was trying to do the right thing. His next target? A Wayne Enterprises lunch that a young Bruce Wayne has decided to attend. Thankfully, Gordon gets there in time and stops the madman from blasting Viper into the air vents. The suspect, after being dosed with the drug, jumps off the building. Everyone is saved, but more questions are left. Bruce is now looking further into all the files his parents left behind, determined to fix everything he can. Alfred, who wasn’t for this, is now helping. Oswald is working for Maroni, while Fish Mooney’s newest hire is seducing Falcone. Next week it looks like things get scary…will another famous Villain be revealed?

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