‘Gotham’: Jessica Lucas On Tabitha’s Fight With Alfred

After their meteoric rise in “Gotham,” the Galavans have hit a rough patch. 

Theo is in jail and Jessica Lucas’ character Tabitha recently failed in her attempt to have Jim Gordon assassinated by one of The Lady’s (Michelle Gomez) associates. Sending thugs after Gordon didn’t sit well with Theo (James Frain) and it’s made for frosty family relations. 

“It’s strained,” Jessica told Access Hollywood of Theo and Tabitha’s current relationship, ahead of Monday night’s episode on Fox. “I think considering what happened last episode, considering that she did something reckless and went against what he would do and it all went horribly wrong… and he threatened her, and that created a lot of [strain] between them. And you’ll continue to see that play out, and those cracks are going to get deeper and wider, and the resentment will continue to build between them. It’s sort of been like a kind of undercurrent between them, but it’s going to get a lot louder coming up.”

But, before that happens, there’s a big, physical conflict on the way between Tabitha and another character. Tabitha (Tigress) is about to take on Bruce Wayne’s loyal and fierce butler Alfred (Sean Pertwee), when he comes looking for his young charge at the Galavans’ penthouse. And as the preview reveals, things are going to get messy. 

“It’s the first time that Tabitha has come across someone who has given her a bit of a challenge,” Jessica said, teasing the big match-up. “Everything has been easy for her so far, and borderline boring as she would say, but this is sort of the first time that someone has matched her in skills and so [it makes] for a really great sequence and it was a lot of fun and stressful to shoot. I mean, we had a very small amount of time to put it together, but Sean and I worked really hard and we had some amazing stunt doubles that helped us out and it’s a great sequence. I’m really excited for people to see it.”

While Tabitha takes on Alfred, Jim will need to be on the look out for Theo, who on Monday night is exonerated and released from jail. 

“I think as long as Theo’s around, Jim is in danger and he [will] be until he can eradicate the Galavans in some way, or get Theo off his back. So that’s what the next episode really focuses on is can he bring Theo down? I don’t know if he can,” she said. 

Another person with the Galavans in their sights is Penguin, who wants to avenge his mother. He may be recuperating now, but don’t count him out of the anti-Galavan faction in the episodes ahead. 

“I think their paths diverge for the moment, but I don’t think that he’s finished with Tabitha, I wouldn’t think, in any way,” Jessica said. 

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Playing Tabitha this season on the Fox comic book-inspired drama has been a welcome challenge for the actress. As viewers have seen, Tabitha is the muscle of the Galavan family, while Theo’s the politician, schemer and talker. 

“I’ve been looking to do something physical for a long time, because I grew up playing sports and I love working out and things like that, so I wanted to do a role that was a bit more physical. And it’s challenging because she speaks more through her physicality than she actually does speak, you know? She’s more physical than auditory, so as an actor, that’s incredibly challenging because you’re trying to get across the same level of emotion or the same level of character without speaking much,” Jessica said.

“So that was the challenge for me and it has been challenging, but really rewarding and fun and I’m really loving it,” she added.

“Gotham” airs Monday at 8/7c on Fox.

— Jolie Lash