Directed by Nick Copus
Written by Ken Woodruff & Megan Mostyn Brown
Jim Gordon is being investigated for his possible role in the death of Theo Galavan, Penguin is alone and on the run, and Butch as the last man standing is the de facto mob boss of Gotham. Jim claims he had no part in the death of Galavan, even though both Harvey Dent and Captain Barnes doubt that to be true, but he's reinstated and then officially cleared when the Penguin is arrested and claims sole responsibility for Galavan's murder. Upon returning to duty, Gordon and Bullock investigate the murder of people being frozen to death and related abductions, eventually discovering that Victor Fries was responsible. Fries has been experimenting on people in order to discover a way of putting someone in cryogenic stasis and reviving them in hopes of putting his dying wife Nora in stasis until a cure for her condition can be developed. After the GCPD arrest Nora, Fries attempts to turn himself in but witnesses his latest experimental victim walking around the station in confusion after having come out of his frozen state on the autopsy table. Knowing he has a process that works, Fries walks out swearing to rescue Nora.
Tabitha Galavan makes an offer to Butch to be his partner in running Gotham's criminal underground.
Meanwhile the Penguin, claiming insanity, is sent to Arkham and encounters the facility's director, Dr. Hugo Strange. The Wayne Industries Indian Hill experimental facility is revealed to be concealed below the asylum itself, with Strange as the person in charge. Strange is informed of Fries having successfully developed a cryogenic stasis technique and sets out to find the man the newspapers are calling "Mr. Freeze".
Tropes in this episode:
- Asshole Victim: That pharmacist really didn't have to be so nasty to Fries, and is in the process of being rude to a little old lady when Fries comes back to freeze him."
- Blatant Lies: Gordon's statement denying any connection between himself and the murder of Theo Galavan or assisting the Penguin in carrying it out is interspersed with flashbacks of him pulling Galavan out of the trunk of a car, standing by as the Penguin beat him, and then finally shooting him. Captain Barnes doesn't believe a word he says and Harvey Dent is likewise skeptical.
- Body Horror: One of the experimental subjects Fries attempts to revive has their flesh melt off their skeleton when their body temperature rises above freezing.
- Call-Back: Strange is informed that Firefly (seen several episodes back having been transported to Indian Hill) is not being cooperative.
- The Chains of Commanding: Since becoming the new mob boss, Butch has realized it's not as fun as he was expecting, something Tabitha points out.
- Dragon Ascendant: Butch has taken control of the criminal underworld in light of Penguin's downfall.
- Eye Scream: The patient Nigel is given a phrase by Strange to remember: "See no evil, do no evil". The same man is later seen laughing hysterically and reading a newspaper, only for him to turn around to reveal that he clawed out his own eyes and that the phrase has become a Madness Mantra.
- Internal Reveal: Nygma informs Gordon how he found the Penguin wounded in the forest and helped him recover. He neglects to inform Gordon that he'd been in the forest to bury Kristen Kringle's body, nor that he's encouraged Cobblepot to resume his homicidal ways.
- Mythology Gag: Victor Fries threateningly says "I'll be back!" when leaving the pharmacy the first time round. Sound familiar?
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero:
- Near the end Victor comes to the precinct to give himself up so he can get Nora's medication to her, but as he's the fifth to come forward that night Alvarez puts him to wait. This leads to Victor finding out his latest experiment worked and walking out.
- Nora Fries clams up even harder when Gordon and Bullock threaten her with jail for obstruction, without any real cause up to that point.
- Oh, Crap!: Penguin gradually realizes that being sent to Arkham Asylum may not have been his best option.
- Race Lift: Hugo Strange, white in the comics, is being played by B.D. Wong.
- Sinister Shades: Hugo Strange wears a pair of evil-looking, red-tinted glasses.
- Suppressed Rage: While Nygma's words to Bullock are spoken in a controlled voice, it's the audible sound of the frozen rose in his hand slowly being crushed that really underscores his anger. Both Gordon and Bullock notice this.
- This Is a Drill: Butch Gilzean puts the drill extension on his wrist through some guy's head before Tabitha drops in.
- To Be Lawful or Good: Barnes clearly believes that Gordon was involved in Galavant's death but since Penguin confessed to it, and there's really no evidence to indict Gordon, he lets it slide - although he subtly warns Gordon never to try anything like that again.
- Villainous Friendship: Nygma promises Penguin that he'll take care of Penguin's mother's grave when the latter requests it.
- Villain Team-Up: Tabitha and Butch strike up an alliance.
