'Gotham' season 2 episode 16 recap and review: Falcone returns, friends help Gordon escape

In Season 2 Episode 16 of “Gotham,” Oswald Cobblepot or Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) grows closer to his new family at a cost. Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) escapes prison with the help of an unlikely person.

Spoiler alert: This recap contains major spoilers.

“After Gordon is removed from protective custody, he begins to face new threats and dangers inside prison walls. In order to survive, he must rely on a new friend, as well as Bullock and other outside help. Meanwhile, Penguin grows closer to his father, while his step-mother and step-siblings move forward with their own plans for the family,” states the episode synopsis.

The episode titled “Prisoners” started with Jim Gordon in jail after being framed by Edward Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) for the murder of a cop. He was placed in the isolation unit. The warden, however, wanted Gordon dead. He was forwarded to F Block, which is the worst in the entire prison. Gordon managed to survive the first few days after he befriended a guard and another inmate named Puck. The warden stayed focused on his plan of getting rid of Gordon for good.

Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue), in the meantime, was looking for ways to free Gordon. Nygma was shown laughing hysterically when he heard Bullock trying to save Gordon. Bullock kept missing his chances and finally contacted Carmine Falcone (John Doman), a former crime boss in Gotham City who admires Gordon. Falcone came up with a plan to get Gordon out of prison.

Puck was later beaten badly for accommodating Gordon. The guard cautioned Gordon that there will be an incident during movie night. Eventually, he was stabbed several times and lay on the floor dying. However, it turned out that he was only stabbed with a fake knife, going into a bag of fake blood. Gordon pretended to be dead and was placed in a body bag and taken out of prison. Gordon went back to rescue Puck so they can escape together, but Puck died in the ambulance. Falcone asked Gordon what his next plan was.

On the other hand, Oswald was adjusting in his new home with his real father, Elijah Van Dahl (Paul Reubens). Although he and his father bonded well, his stepmother and siblings were not very pleased with his entry. His step siblings initially tried to seduce him but when they were rejected by Oswald, they resorted to poisoning him. Elijah told his son about their family’s long history of violence and that he should learn how to accept it. Elijah drank the poisoned brandy that was supposedly for Oswald and died in his son's arms.

“Gotham” Season 2 will air its next episode on April 11 on FOX.

Check out the trailer for "Prisoners" here.