The episode was written by co-executive producer Robert Hull and directed by main cast member Ben McKenzie, making his directorial debut.
Meanwhile, Bruce is met by a Shaman in his cell, who brings him to a journey of spiritualism in the form of memories, this time with his parents' murder.
While Mayor James is reinstated, Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is investigating Michael Ness, the supposed drunk driver who killed his father.
Meanwhile, Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor) is attended by Ivy (Maggie Geha) and he asks her to gather Gabe and many of his men in order to take back his power.
Gordon visits his father's grave and receives a call from Kathryn, where he takes the blame for killing Frank and asks to meet her.
In April 2017, it was announced that the sixteenth episode of the season will be titled "These Delicate and Dark Obsessions" and was to be written by co-executive producer Robert Hull and directed by main cast member Ben McKenzie.
I only missed one day of prep to film as an actor in episode 15, and that allowed me to go through the full process, which, honestly, I've been through before because I've shadowed directors both on Southland and Gotham.
His role was described as "a mysterious figure who enters Bruce's (Mazouz) life with the stated intention of unlocking the potential of his own mind.
In April 2017, it was announced that the guest cast for the episode would include James Remar as Frank Gordon, John Doman as Carmine Falcone, Raymond J. Barry as the Shaman, and Leslie Hendrix as Kathryn.
[13] Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a "good" 7.0 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "Penguin's silly sideshow with Ivy was the highlight here as Gotham gears up for Ra's al Ghul and the latest attempt to ruin and reset the city under the pretense that it will somehow ease, maybe erase, all the crime and corruption.
"[17] Vinnie Mancuso of New York Observer wrote, "The lesson, in the end, which is important to keep in mind while Gotham keeps Bruce trapped in a faraway cell, is that the bats always came back, baby.
"[18] Lisa Babick of TV Fanatic gave the series a 4.5 star rating out of 5, writing "Ben McKenzie made his directorial debut on Gotham Season 3 Episode 16 with a fun hour that featured a Penguin and Ivy alliance and on its flip side, a serious Bruce getting closer to his ultimate destiny.
"[15] Robert Yanis, Jr. of Screenrant wrote, "While 'These Delicate and Dark Obsessions' very much feels like a transitional episode building into the tail end of the season, it does move some significant pieces into position for that final arc, leaving both Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and Bruce (David Mazouz) — the two characters whose parallel journeys the show has hinged on since day one — with some major decisions to make.
"[19] Kayti Burt of Den of Geek wrote, "The bright light in tonight's mediocre episode was the direction, undertaken by Gotham's very own Ben McKenzie.
He imbued the graveyard scenes with an ethereal beauty and made Bruce's frantic dashes through the labyrinth of the temple just as headspinning for the viewer.
"[20] MaryAnn Sleasman of TV Guide wrote, "Children -- and insecure man-child presidents -- get really bent about loyalty.
Ivy's earnestness to prove her worth to Penguin and make him understand what real friends and allies look like is a very child-like approach to the usual Gotham City revenge plot and it kinda works.