This episode also has the fewest cast members as only Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Robin Lord Taylor and Cory Michael Smith appear.
Weeks after the previous episode, Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is adjusting to life in Blackgate Penitentiary after being framed by Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), following the same routine every day.
During a visit from Bullock (Donal Logue), Gordon is told that Lee (Morena Baccarin) has lost their baby and laid low.
The next day, Grace tells Dahl about Cobblepot being a super villain called "the Penguin", but he doesn't change his mind about Oswald.
In March 2016, it was announced that the sixteenth episode of the season would be titled "Prisoners", and was to be written by Danny Cannon, with Scott White directing.
[1] David Mazouz, Morena Baccarin, Sean Pertwee, Erin Richards, Camren Bicondova, James Frain, Jessica Lucas, Chris Chalk, Drew Powell, Nicholas D'Agosto, and Michael Chiklis don't appear in the episode as their respective characters.
[3] With this ratings, Gotham ranked first for FOX, beating Lucifer, fourth on its timeslot and sixth for the night on the 18-49 demographics, behind Blindspot, Scorpion, Supergirl, Dancing with the Stars, and The Voice.
I've mentioned before that the show is usually too overstuffed with characters, most of whom don't even have a meaningful or engaging arc going on, to really focus in on a single story and make it have an impact.
Dramatic stakes get lost in the continuous shuffle of villains and crooked cops, and the ever-shifting morality of Jim Gordon.
"[8] Andy Behbakht of TV Overmind gave the series a star rating of 4 out of 5, writing "Overall, despite my issue with how fast they ended the Cobblepot reunion, 'Prisoners' was a solid episode.
In many ways, this one feels like a return to the season 1 dual focus on the contrasting journeys of both Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor).
The show's other major figurehead, David Mazouz's young Bruce Wayne, was nowhere to be found, as was recurring baddie Hugo Strange (B.D.
That being said, one of the most interesting aspects of recent episodes has been the shift in Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) into full-on Riddler mode.
It's an evolution that will likely be largely completed by season's end – and one that longtime fans of Gotham likely can't wait to finally see come to fruition.
"[11] Keertana Sastry of EW stated: "Monday night's episode of Gotham may have been titled 'Prisoners,' but really it should be called 'Jim Gordon and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.'
"[12] Karmen Fox from The Baltimore Sun wrote positively about the episode, stating: "Was the doomed sidekick/heroic sacrifice trope necessary to help lift the guilt-ridden Jim's spirits so he could escape prison?