Bruce and Batman must forge new alliances and fight old rivals to protect the innocent and keep Gotham from descending into chaos.

Batman: The Telltale Series

Episode 4 – Guardian of Gotham

Picking up after Bruce’s infection at the hands of Vicki Vale in Episode 3 – New World Order, Episode 4 – Guardian of Gotham shows Bruce Wayne have flashbacks of his attack on Oswald.  He wakes up to discover that he has been placed in Arkham Asylum.  He is assaulted by some of the inmates who were previously sent to the asylum by his father but before he is killed he is saved by another inmate known as John Doe (cough, cough…the Joker). John Doe gives him the key to escape Arkham.  While still suffering the effects of his injection, Bruce watches a news report of Dent taking credit for Batman’s efforts in stopping the Children of Arkham from infecting the city.  Also, he learns that it was by Dent’s orders that he be locked in Arkham Asylum.  John Doe reveals that he knows Vale’s secret identity as lady Arkham and that due to his father’s actions was born in the asylum and seeks revenge.  John Doe agrees to help Bruce escape and entices a fight with Victor Zsaaz who distracts the orderlies so Bruce can make a call. John then divulges how Bruce can find Lady Arkham’s drug stash. Later on, Alfred comes and frees Bruce. The two are heading home when they are stopped by Dent’s Enforcers and Bruce threatens a civilian who is harassing him.   Selina tells him she is leaving Gotham due to Dent’s insanity.  After Selina leaves, Bruce succumbs to his chemicals in his system, then develops a cure with the help of Alfred and Lucius. Taking into account John Doe’s tip, Batman investigates Vicki’s parents home only to find her parents dead.  After reenacting the crime scene discovers Vale killed them. He discovers a small boy adopted by the Vales when they are attacked by a drone designed by Lucius and controlled by Cobblepot.  With the help of the boy Batman defeats the drone and when cops show up, warns Gordon of a possible attack against the police. Batman confronts Dent about Bruce Wayne who gives the order to blowup half a city block in an effort to destroy the Children of Arkham’s drug stash.  After threatening Dent he learns Gordon is about to be killed in Crime Alley and escapes after officers corner him.  Batman saves Gordon but Dent raids Wayne Manor.  Batman intervenes and after a lengthy battle is nearly killed but with Alfred’s help defeats Dent. The episode ends with Cobblepot finally managing to hack the Batcomputer as Batman cuts the hardline rendering all of his tech useless.

The Verdict:  In the end, Episode 4 – Guardian of Gotham felt more personal, maybe because of this tug-of-war between Wayne and Dent.  Come on now, the best aspects of this episode are the villains.  The Joker is finally introduced as an inmate of Arkham Asylum and the mystique surrounding the character makes him that much more badass.  There’s definitely gotta be something for his character in the next episode.  What are the Children of Arkham planning to do next?  Vale has already shown that she will stop at nothing, even killing her parents brutally.  Selina appears to be out of the picture though it is expected of her to make her appearance in the next episode.  Dent finally becomes the Two-Face criminal we all know and love and he is pretty brutal.  Episode 5 is looking to be a grand finale with Batman having to deal with Penguin, Lady Arkham and the Children of Arkham, and quite possibly the Joker.  Episode 4 – Guardian of Gotham gets 4 out of 5.