Oswald Cobblepot is quite the strategist.

It's definitely clear at this clear why Oswald becomes the great villain Penguin that we all know.

We’ve seen him follow around Fish Mooney. We’ve seen him follow around Sal Maroni. He’s killed plenty of people all with that great grin and theatrical presence that works for his character.

And it really does. For whatever reason, I can’t help but be engrossed by the performance that Robin Lord Taylor gives to Oswald.

Watch Gotham Season 1 Episode 7 Online

It was the reveal at the very end of Gotham Season 1 Episode 7 that truly showed Oswald to be much more of a grand schemer than umbrella holder.

Yes, it took a lot of faith in Jim’s character for his plan to ultimately be executed, to get in with Sal’s gang and snitch to Carmine Falcone. Because if Jim did kill Oswald, we wouldn’t be where we are now.

But Jim’s Jim, and Oswald is becoming the Penguin, so all the pieces conveniently came together (much like Carmine pointed out).

What’s more, Carmine knows the overly-exaggerated Fish is out to get him, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t last beyond Gotham Season 1. I'm hoping Oswald takes her out, because there's no way she’s going to get a life-saving favor from him, right?

I half expected Oswald to try and take out Carmine, but I actually liked seeing the flashback showing the real plan behind it all. It certainly fit with the character.

But I can’t see Jim getting with the program much like Oswald seems to think.

I liked that Jim stuck to his guns (also literally) in trying to be that good cop. Not only did he get some help from Montoya and Allen, but Harvey turned up pretty quick to his side. It was necessary to get that antagonistic scene out of the way before the buddy-cop show could begin.

Did I think his mission would work? No. Did I think Barbara would come back and get caught? Yes.

At least Carmine and the mayor know someone like Jim is out there. An honest cop is dangerous.

I’m still curious where the story is headed next, but more so to see Oswald’s continuous rise.

Even with Gotham getting all dark and violent with someone like Victor Zsaz or the bloody shooting of a cop or Oswald killing someone, it seems pretty clear that the series wants to be this fun, cartoony tale in the end.

The dialogue continues to make me groan at times, but with series creator Bruno Heller writing this particular hour, I think the old school gangster-style conversation between characters will be the norm for this series. I can’t help but think of 1930s mobster movies when some characters talk.

While I can still enjoy some of Harvey’s hamming it up or certain aspects of the campiness to the organized crime, some of that over exaggeration and dialogue takes me out of scenes.

I maintain the series has a solid cast, and I enjoy following Jim and Oswald’s tale in this variation of the Batman universe. That ending of the hour certainly has me intrigued for more, but I think I have to look at Gotham as less serious fare (and Jim should, too). I wonder if other viewers can do the same.

What did you think of Oswald's reveal? Do you think the show is too cartoony or just right? Make sure to stay up to date with the episodes and watch Gotham online.

And here's your first look ahead to Gotham Season 1 Episode 8, "The Mask."

Sean McKenna was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. He retired in May of 2017. Follow him on Twitter.