Episode 7 returns focus to the main narrative, delivering a surprising development for the season. When tragedy strikes, Gotham’s notorious new threat meets his match, becoming a volatile pair.

We’re introduced to Rose Forrest, the daughter of retired GCPD officer, Phil Forrest, who helps run the family’s floral shop. Unfortunately, Eddie Nygma targets them for weekly cuts of their profits. When her father acts defiant, Eddie guns him gunned down. Already emotionally fragile with a maternal history of mental illness, the grief consumes Rose.

As a trauma response, Rose forges a new identity. The docile, flower transforms into the vivacious Thorn. A woman who knows what she wants and sets her eyes on Nygma. It doesn’t take long to boost his ego, and sway him away from his long-time girlfriend. Soon, the two are knocking over banks, jewelry stores and bodies like Gotham’s Natural Born Killers. 

The duo catches Batman’s eye, but prove too much for him. Subdued by a floral toxin, Batman comes to bound in a car headed towarn a broken bridge. Luckily, the Caped Crusader dodges death for another day.

Back at Stumpers, the Riddler discusses plans to leave Gotham for Bloodhaven, expanding his criminal enterprise. That’s when the very much alive Batman arrives to finish the job. As he’s busy handling Riddler’s henchmen, Rose assures him she knows a safe place they can hide.

Thorn has decorated the hideaway specially for Eddie, with a loving floral arrangement. That’s when Thorn reveals her true identity and motive. Inside her father’s floral shop, she silences Eddie Nygma in a rain of bullets. Her goal of revenge complete, Rose/Thorn leaves Gotham, forever changed.

With Nygma dead and gone, a new chief rises to recruit his men for their devious end.

Episode 7 cleverly centers our A-plot through a new character’s lens — tragic figure Rose Forrest. Many speculated from the trailer that the femme fatale may have been a version of Pamela Ivy/Posion Ivy. But she happens to be a deep-cut character, with her own comic narrative. A DC anti-hero with ties to the Justice League, this iteration is based on Rose Forrest, the daughter of a Metropolis police officer. When he is killed by a notorious gang, Rose develops the Thorn personality and stalks the night as a vigilante for justice. The persona subsides once vengeance is achieved.

Here, the writers clearly didn’t deviate too far from those origins, placing her in Gotham rather than Superman’s neighboring city. And given she survives, we could see her again in the future.

While a milder episode, the performances are strong and the demise of Riddler serves as an unexpected surprise. The series’ dedication to killing off major characters raises the stakes, defining that this world has consequences.

Rating: 7.5/10