'Gotham' Recap: Ben McKenzie's Jim Gordon Discovers Bane's Origins In "Viper!"

The Batman prequel, Gotham, continues on Fox with another exciting episode. With more characters from DC Comics Universe making their way onto the TV screen, Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is about to discover the "venom" origins of the super-villain Bane in, 'Viper.'

A bum on the street receives a green vial from an unknown man with a mangled ear. After inhaling viper, the bum becomes a super-sized muscle man, stealing an entire freezer from a deli store. Gordon (McKenzie) and Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue) are called to duty to instigate the robbery.

Gordon and Bullock discover where the robber is hiding. With the drug in his system, the robber lifts up the freezer above his head. As soon as the drug starts wearing off, the freezer falls on top of him. 

The drug is being released on the streets for free. Soon the precinct is crawling with junkies hooked on viper. The victims are too much for the cops to handle, until they die on the spot. 

Accepting his new name, Penguin (Robin Taylor) overhears a conversation from Sal Maroni (David Zayas) about how he wants to rob from Falcone. Penguin says too much, talking about how he once worked for Fish and how she thinks he's dead. Sal is so angry that he slams Penguin's head against his table, knocking him out.

Edward Nygma (Corey Michael Smith) has analyzed the drug, claiming the source came from a hi-tech lab. The clues lead to an ex-employee from Wayne Enterprise, Stan Potolsky. Unfortunately, Gordon is pulled away from the case by Maroni's men.

Back at Maroni's restaurant, with the Penguin's life is at stake, Gordon has to tell Maroni about the conspiracy behind the Wayne murders. Maroni tells his goons to let Penguin go, kisses his new protege, and hugs him. Gordon heads back to the precinct to continue his investigation. 

Gordon and Bullock talk to an old college professor that knew Stan Potolsky. It turns out viper, real name "venom," was made in a lab at Wayne Enterprises for the purpose of making bio-weapons. The old man takes venom and starts a fight with the detectives.

Just as the hulk-sized old man strangles Bullock, Gordon shoots him down. Before the venom kills him, the professor gives the two an important clue. The venom will be released at a charity event, the same one Bruce is attending.  

With venom released into the air vents, Alfred covers Bruce with his blazer and runs away with him. Gordon arrives at the rooftop, shoots the tank, and unleashes venom all over Stan Potolsky. Before committing suicide, Stan reveals where he made the drugs. 

Gordon discovers the drug warehouse has been emptied. The detectives are being watched by one of board members from Wayne Enterprises. After realizing there is a conspiracy, Alfred decides to help out Bruce find his parents' killer.

After a round of kinky foreplay, Fish and another mobster have been sleeping around, planning to get rid of Carmine. Fish's "Secret Weapon" is designed to seduce Falcone, triggering his childhood and memories of his mother. 

The origin of Bane was explored in Gotham. Readers, what did you think of Viper?