This one hasn't been hinted at some much as directly signposted in the past couple of episodes. Apparently Arkham Asylum, a former medical facility for Gotham's criminally insane, has been closed for the better part of a decade (maybe even fifteen years, according to Bullock). There are rumblings throughout the criminal underworld, however, that it might be making a come back albeit in a less-than-legitimate fashion. Because, well, there are criminals involved. Gotham's second episode focussed on a couple of unscrupulous supervillains working for the unseen "Dollmaker", who abduct homeless kids and take them away to do...something. During Gordon and Bullock's investigations there's hints that the anaesthetic being used originates from Arkham. In the third episode there was another brief mention of Arkham during a conversation between two gangster types who, from the sounds of it, were looking to get the old place back on its feet. It's not clear exactly how the mob would benefit from operating a mental asylum - putting away cops who don't play ball, perhaps - but it's clearly going to be making a proper appearance soon. Seriously, the fourth episode of the series is called "Arkham" and everything. In the world of grown-up Batman the Asylum is where all the supervillains get chucked, since regular prison isn't really fit for them. And with all the budding supervillains appearing in Gotham, it's about time too.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
