Looking to continue on the trend of the DC Extended Universe making it's mark not just in film but also in television. We'd see fresh off of the arrival of the miniseries Nine Lives of a Femme Fatale which has thus far received positive reviews with much anticipation for a second season. That following that would be a drastically different story set in Gotham City. This series would focus in fact on not one but two main characters as Off the Record was about investigative journalist Vicki Vale (Sophia Bush) and television reporter and podcast host Jack Ryder (Aaron Stanton) and would be comprised of eight episodes split into two parts. As of course we'd see from flashes to this pairs' prior appearances in Year One and Year Two establishing some differences between the pair who as we'd learn had both come from humble beginnings. Despite this there would be some noted differences between the two, while she may have been a dogged reporter and not one to back down as we'd see in her pursuits to expose corruption in Gotham, Vale had a level of integrity that Ryder seemed to lack especially in Year Two when the shameless Ryder for the sake of views and clickbait would praise the vigilante killer known as Reaper. This would firmly establish Ryder as someone who in many ways has allowed fame to corrupt him as he'd cover anything for a good story.
While the pair seemingly had a modicum of respect for one another in the past. Vale never could condone Ryder's support of the Reaper even if it was just for views. Despite this however Ryder wished to keep working with Vicki as part of the Gotham News Network. Despite Ryder's want for the pair to continue working together and exchanging information based on some of their past success. Vale would be hesitant to do so and she wouldn't be the only one as we'd be introduced to Vale's boss at the Gotham Gazette Warren Spacey (Kevin Kline). A mentor and father figure to Vicki Vale, Warren has never been said to be a fan of Jack Ryder or his willingness to take risks and shortcuts just for views and credit. However as she'd think things over and seemingly agree with Warren who only wanted Vale to be safe and perform to the best of her abilities. Vale would later experience a quite hostile interaction with top rival reporter Horten Spence (Ludacris). Seen very much as the top reporter, Spence was very much perceived as Vale's top competition in the paper with the respected journalist having his own sources for intel far beyond the usual reach. Wanting to prove something to herself, the rest of the Gazette and Spence personally, Vale despite her better judgement would agree to meet with Ryder.
As we'd learn in Vale's meeting with Ryder, that this time around there would be no debate over what was right for Gotham in regards to a figure like Reaper. But instead this time Ryder wished to launch an expose into a figure known throughout the Bowery section of Gotham City known as Deacon Blackfire. Wishing to do a full exposition on Blackfire who had appeared in the Bowery before the homeless, the sick and the lawful with bold proclamations. Hearing stories of Blackfire being revered by this community as a almost god like figure with his apparent healing and prophecies. Jack Ryder wanted to do a full exposition on what this was with the help of Vale as he believed there was more to this than a second coming. Admitting albeit with some regret that Ryder maybe right with this story, Vale would in turn head to the GCPD building and it would be here that we was introduced to Harvey Bullock (Marc Addy). A gruff and surly individual, as we'd learn Bullock like many GCPD detectives was at one stage a corrupt detective willing to take bribes and kickbacks. However unlike several other Gotham detectives, Bullock would be inspired by the stand Jim Gordon took and actually change his ways to be on the straight and narrow path.
Despite thus Bullock was far from a people person nor was he a big fan of the press. However it seemed based on her previous work and some of his prior dealings with her, Harvey Bullock held Vicki Vale in quite high esteem and had a fair amount of respect for her. Which is why Bullock openly could not hide his disbelief, shock or disgust at the prospect of Vale working alongside a scumbag like Jack Ryder. During this conversation Vale would meet Bullock's new partner a former private investigator turned GCPD detective Jason Bard (Sam Claflin). Shown to be a highly intelligent and ethical individual, Bard didn't let his true feelings about Ryder detract him from his purpose as he revealed that the GCPD were in fact quite aware of this Deacon Blackfire. Revealing him to actually be a former priest and man of the cloth. We'd learn a little more of the Deacon's backstory including how Joseph Blackfire was fired from his post due to his fanaticism and extremist beliefs. Revealing that Blackfire has a criminal record for tax evasion and other federal crimes. Jason Bard would then warn Vale that Blackfire believes himself to be immortal, this is not a con man but instead an insane man and that makes him dangerous. Bullock would then follow by mentioning there have been rumors of Blackfire and his cult practicing things as dark as ritualistic sacrifice although getting anyone to talk from that district is easier said than done.
With Jack Ryder confirming through his network and podcast that he would be doing this interview and would be assisted by journalist Vicki Vale. Another individual would reach out to her and warn her about this decision. Surprisingly this would be Horten Spence, who would not only flat out tell Vicki this was a bad idea but warned her that Ryder will do anything for views and he hasn't considered the kind of man he is dealing with. Branding Blackfire a lunatic who believes everything he says, Horten would show a new side to himself here as rather than rivalling Vale or being cold or arrogant. Instead he offered her advice and a source of his own. Using his resources Horten gave Vale the details of a former subject of Blackfire by the name of Aadlyn Stern (Margarita Levieva). A former follower of Blackfire who following her time with him had been through both rehab and voluntarily sectioned. Aadlyn was a troubled woman who's entire life had been altered because of Blackfire. Meeting with Aadlyn, Vale would be horrified to learn that Blackfire was more than a man claiming to be immortal. He was someone who craved power and destruction and in appearing on public television, he'd be given a grand stage to do something horrific. Still troubled and feeling the effects of her time with the deacon, Aadlyn would then take her own life in front of Vale as she proclaimed that he could not be stopped.
Scarred from what she'd seen but wanting to stop any tragedy, Vale would contact Jack Ryder just before he went on air. Warning Ryder that he has given a dangerous man a platform that he has wanted to spread his message to all of Gotham. Vale's warnings would fall on deaf ears as Ryder stated that it would all be great television. Unable to reach any of her other colleagues, Vale would then contact Bullock and Bard but despite their warnings she would head to the newsroom herself. This would set up the harrowing final episode of the first part of the miniseries entitled "The Cult". Here we would see the Deacon and his subjects had in fact mobbed and swarmed the news building on live television with Deacon Blackfire preparing to perform ritualistic sacrifices of the celebrities he deemed as brainwashing the masses. Among those gathered to be sacrificed included Jack Ryder, Weatherwoman and Ryder's girlfriend Vera Sweet (Lindsley Register), Warren Spacey and Horten Spence. Rushing into building and the face of danger Vicki Vale hoped in a gambit she could turn the people away from the Deacon. In order to do so she'd be armed with details of his past and old crimes, confronting the Deacon before he could personally slit Vera's throat, Vicki Vale would be the first person to outright confront and challenge the Deacon branding him a fraud. A livid Blackfire would cast Vera aside and demand his subjects bring Vale to him.
In this period we would see the GCPD arriving at the building. As she got onto the stage and towards the Deacon, Vicki would surprisingly strike Blackfire who in turn would knock her to the ground. With his followers watching on Blackfire held a dagger in the air until Vale pointed out her strike had in fact cut the Deacon's nose exposing him as vulnerable and able to bleed. As his subjects began to lose faith in him, the Deacon swore to bathe in her blood when Horten launched himself at Blackfire. During a scuffle, Horten would be stabbed by Blackfire as Bard and Bullock rushed onto the stage. Seeing his subjects all surrendering having recognized the Deacon as a false profit, Blackfire would elect to kill himself when as per Spacey's command the TV station would shut off the feed. Realizing he had no audience to spread his message, the Deacon would shockingly still follow through on the act as he plunged the dagger into his own heart before collapsing to the floor and bleeding out. While the GCPD would get control of the situation, Warren started to tend to Horten along with the help of Vera. Vale meanwhile would angrily confront Ryder as she revealed to everyone that she warned him of this. In turn Spacey promised that with that Ryder would be done!
The second half of this miniseries would very much instill a brief time jump of six weeks from the first half. We'd open and begin to see how life had since changed for Vicki Vale. Thanks to her journalistic covering of the Blackfire saga, her profile and recognition had only increased as a writer. Horten Spence while still healing from his wounds had become a close friend to Vale and even acted as a mentor at points. This wouldn't be the only change in her life as we'd learn that Vicki Vale and Jason Bard had in fact began dating. Ryder meanwhile having been exposed and shamed for going through the Blackfire broadcast had been kicked off of public television with Vera Sweet taking his position as the new host of Gotham News. This had caused tension in their relationship and led to Vera in fact breaking up with Ryder to further his downfall. Since then Ryder had fully focused himself into being a podcast host who aggressively tried to tell his own story and redeem his reputation. While Ryder had few listeners there was one name of note who was well aware of Jack's story which is what would bring this story together as Harvey Bullock gate crashed Jason and Vicki's latest date. Revealing that Ryder has gone on line to reveal he has been in contact with the criminal known as the Cluemaster, Ryder has put it out there that he wants to interview this criminal and claims that in doing so he will help solve some of the Cluemaster's crimes.
This would become a big news story as with Ryder pledging that Cluemaster was willing to confess and provide details of his crimes. We'd learn more about the Cluemaster aka Arthur Brown (Jason Bateman). Formerly a game show host of the show Think Thank Thunk. Cluemaster as we'd learn would double as a serial killer who left clues at the scene of crimes indicating of potential other locations. In turn Jason Bard would have to leave with Harvey Bullock as they looked to get a hand on this situation while Vale would find herself met by a woman named Julia Pennyworth (Wallis Day). A government agent and the grand daughter of Alfred Pennyworth, Julia said that while she'll reconnect with her family another time. The reason she has come to Gotham is because of Arthur Brown aka the Cluemaster. Saying he was a prolific serial killer who they believe has taken lives all across the state. Knowing that there was a chance to get this information and give a lot of families closure, it would be Julia who revealed that her people had hoped they would get this information themselves but until now Brown would not speak. When asked why she was telling Vale this, it was because Julia was well aware of the kind of man Cluemaster was and that she believed he had agenda. On top of this she knows that Ryder is blinded by fame which is why she is hoping Vale can keep tabs on Ryder. Despite her hesitancy to work with Ryder again, Vicki would agree to do so in order to give families closure.
The reunion with Ryder however was far from harmonious as at first Jack Ryder would meet Vale with some hostility and blame her for his downfall. Vale however would counter and remind Jack that he didn't listen to her when she warned him and that the lives lost to Blackfire were on his hand. Saying that the show must always go on, Ryder would leave Vale with the promise that he'd think about it. During a later meeting with Julia Pennyworth who had introduced herself and agreed to work with the GCPD. We'd learn that Cluemaster was set to be transferred to Blackgate in order to meet with an appear on Jack Ryder's podcast. During which he would divulge information about his crimes and locations about the bodies. During this conversation which was also sat in on by Bard and Bullock they would reveal that Cluemaster was only stopped because of a private informant. We would then be introduced to a colleague of Julia's by the name of Tam Fox (Quintessa Swindell). The grand daughter of Lucius Fox, it would be through Tam Fox that we learned the informant was Brown's very own daughter and what she has been in witness protection ever since. It would be Julia who suggested it might be worth checking in on her to make sure she is OK and make her aware of what her father was doing.
What they would be unaware of was that since his time away, Ryder had employed a former reporter turned private eye Alexander Knox (Jason Biggs). A shameless unscrupulous individual who was willing to perhaps go further than even Ryder could predict. This would include planting bugs on cars and even attempts at cloning phones. As we'd learn the reason for this was as part of his agreement to get Brown on his show and tell his story. Ryder would arrange a family reunion as such and bring in Brown's daughter. While it was unclear if Arthur knew his daughter had in fact turned him in, it was a big part of his deal that he wanted to see his daughter again. As we'd learn in private while Ryder played himself as this shameless figure, he was in fact haunted by his decisions in the Blackfire case and was looking for a chance at redemption. It would be his hope that if he could give these families a chance to get closure, he would find some peace in what had transpired. Of course in order to do so he'd need Arthur's daughter and this is why Ryder reached out to Vale aware of her connections. As he told Vale of the deal, Vicki Vale was horrified that Ryder would even entertain such a risk. When she took this back to Pennyworth and the GCPD however while Jason Bard was quick to shoot the idea down also it would be Bullock and Julia who considered it as they believed that Arthur never knew of her betrayal.
Despite Vale not being sure of the plan, Julia put her at rest remarking they would only do so should Stephanie agree to it. With help from Tam Fox, both Julia and Vicki Vale would meet with Stephanie Brown (Annasophia Robb). Having now moved on in life and studying at university, Stephanie had put her life behind her as the daughter of a serial killer. After spending years in isolation and now trying to turn her life around. Stephanie at first wanted nothing to do with this plan until Vale mentioned giving the families closure. When asked exactly what the plan would be it would be Vale who said that Ryder would be hosting a show in which both Arthur and Stephanie would be present. It would be then that Vale offered to sit with her for it which did not seem to please Julia or Jason until Vale said she was not leaving her in a room with Ryder and her father. Of course quickly as we'd learn details of all this was being recorded by Knox but not just for Jack Ryder. Showing once more his shamelessness Knox was willingly selling this information to another bidder. With that we'd get to the final episode of this miniseries which was titled Eternal and this would see the show being hosted by Ryder in which Arthur Brown, Vicki Vale and Stephanie Brown were present. At first it would appear Brown was true to his word as he'd talk openly of his crimes in exchange for information about his daughter.
While Bard and Bullock took notes of everything Brown said, Tam Fox would use satellites for locations while Pennyworth conducted teams to go to these locations. During the course of this chat however Brown began to toy with what he was saying. Instead he started talking about his capture and revealing that he was well aware of what is going on here. From there in a shocking twist Alexander Knox on looking to receive payment for what he'd done would show up to the studio with a gun. Seemingly in a frenzy and panicked state we'd learn the truth that Knox was working for Arthur Brown and this was a potential escape attempt. The sleazy detective however would quicky and easily be disarmed by Harvey Bullock who arrested the detective and rushed him from the building. In all this commotion however Arthur Brown revealed that he was well aware of what his daughter had done and had orchestrated everything for this. It was then Arthur quickly popped free from his handcuffs having used the Knox distraction to free himself and quickly disarmed and subdued Jason. Snatching his daughter quickly and holding the gun to her, Arthur Brown said that he would now be leaving and taking her with him.
Despite Julia's best efforts, Arthur would back himself to the exit and his plan seemed to be in motion when Jack Ryder in a shocking show would tackle him. This allowed Stephanie to get free and rush to Vale and Julia when the gun would fire. From there to Vale's horror Jack Ryder would collapse onto the ground having been shot in the stomach by Brown. The armed killer would then attempt to flee only to be caught by officers and apprehended. While Brown was subdued Vicki Vale would begin to tend to Jack Ryder. Julia Pennyworth meanwhile would order the transfer of Brown back to prison. Medics would then be called on the scene for Ryder and in a later potential tease for things to come, it would be mentioned how Ryder came extremely close to death but then miraculously healed. From there we'd also learn shockingly that despite police transfer Arthur Brown did manage to escape his confinement and go back out there. Knowing he would be hunting her, Stephanie Brown no longer wanted to hide but be ready. Impressed with her willingness to fight Harvey Bullock in the closing scene would say that he has a friend who could help her do just that and would encourage her to reach out to Victor Sage (Misha Collins) |
