Gotham finale: 5 things we want to see (and 5 we really don’t want)

Monita Roy Mohan

Jeremiah’s gonna be the star of the show. Image credit by Fox

As Fox’s Gotham closes in on its series finale, we speculate about what we would like to see, and what we definitely don’t, in the last episode.

Gotham reached the halfway point in its final season with Barbara Kean (Erin Richards) dropping a bombshell on beleaguered Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie). All of episode 6, ’13 Stitches’, was a love letter to a truly bad day for Jim, where he was almost killed by Ed Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), his old friend Eduardo Dorrance (Shane West), and his ex-fiancée Lee Thompkins (Morena Baccarin).

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Barbara then surprised him with the news that, following their intimate encounter in episode 4 of Gotham, she was pregnant. This opens up plenty of speculation for what lies in store for the rest of the season, and most importantly, the show’s final episode.

https://twitter.com/Gotham/status/1096501160020561920

Why? Because Erin Richards is directing the last episode, which may mean that she won’t be on screen that much. Also, the finale is written by Ben McKenzie, and titled ‘Batman’, and it will possibly see a time-jump. We already know from the season premiere that the Gotham lockdown continues for over a year and that many unlikely alliances are formed, but what isn’t certain is how many time-jumps viewers can expect.

With plenty still in the air about how Gotham’s swan song will go, it will undoubtedly be a culmination of all that’s happened on the season so far. In six episodes, the showrunners have dropped so many hints on building the greater Bat-verse that anything is possible from the show’s climax.

So, what better time than now to speculate on what the showrunners could include in the finale, and what they should definitely stay away from.

HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 21: A fan dressed as Batman attends a ceremony honoring Batman creator Bob Kane with the 2,562nd star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 21, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

10. We want – Batman

The final episode is literally titled ‘Batman’, and the showrunners have also hinted that though David Mazouz will be voicing the Caped Crusader, he will not be donning the Bat-suit as it was created for someone bigger and taller. Hopefully, this will not hinder the episode creators from giving viewers a Batman in action. Viewers deserve one action-heavy scene of Batman in full regalia knocking out bad guys.

More from Show Snob

Gotham has re-created some iconic panels from the comics with its own twists, and what better way to send off this show than with a scene of Batman doing what he does best – standing atop a gargoyle brooding over saving his city. Part of me is dying to see a cheesy 90s style running-towards-the-camera, as well.

9. Definitely not – Justice League

If it’s a Bat-property, then there is a temptation to see his extended family appear. That family includes the Justice League, but their presence would be stretching the realm of realism for Gotham. Aliens and Amazons don’t quite fit with the usually grounded (albeit with some iffy science) atmosphere that the show has generated.

Plus, it would diffuse the central relationships and partnerships that the showrunners have built between Bruce, Jim, Alfred Pennyworth (Sean Pertwee), Lucius Fox (Chris Chalk) and Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova). Batman will still be in his early days in the finale, which means it is more important to focus on what he can and will do for the city than bring in additional elements who are likely to take him away from home.

8. We want – Two-Face

The majority of Batman’s rogues gallery has appeared on Gotham in some form or other, except for Two-Face, which is surprising since Nicholas D’Agosto appeared as Harvey Dent in a few episodes during the first two seasons of the show.

Given the state of the city in this season, there probably hasn’t been much need for a district attorney, but what if Dent was away and returns to Gotham only to become the supervillain? It would be a great way to set up the journey Batman, Gordon, et al will be going on, even though viewers will never have a chance to see it.

7. Definitely not – Resurrections

Season 5 of Gotham already has had four resurrections, most recently with Jerome Valeska (Cameron Monaghan), and Eduardo, who will become Bane. What we don’t need is any more. While there have been a number of incredible characters who didn’t deserve to be killed (see: Tabitha in the season premiere), but there have to be some stakes in this series.

Possible resurrections could also be a lazy writing choice as deus ex machina. This has been the show’s best season because the writing has, for the most part, been tight and focused. I feel like any more resurrections might make it a contrived attempt at drawing out emotion from the viewers.

GOTHAM: L-R: Cory Michael Smith as Ed Nygma and Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot. (Credit: Fox Broadcasting Co.)

6. We want – Nygmobblepot

Let’s be honest, from all the pairs on Gotham none had as much chemistry as Smith’s Ed Nygma and Robin Lord Taylor’s Oswald Cobblepot. From the moment their paths crossed, sparks flew, and the showrunners went as far as allowing Oswald to fall in love with Ed in season 3.

More from Editorial

Unfortunately, they didn’t follow through with the initial promise, but the two characters have reconciled (in their own villainous way) in this season. We see them team up with Jim a year into No Man’s Land, so here’s hoping the showrunners let their relationship burgeon to full-blown romance as a nod to the many LGBTQ+ fans of the show.

5. Definitely not – Sarah Essen

Most people will recognize Sarah’s name – she’s Jim Gordon’s second wife in the comics. She comes to Gotham as a detective and lieutenant partnering up with Gordon before the two decide to have an affair in Batman: Year One. All this, while Jim’s first wife is pregnant and then raising a toddler. Not the best of starts.

Jim Gordon’s revolving door of romantic partners has become something of a joke on Gotham. Eduardo even joked about it in episode 6, so the last thing viewers want to see is Jim get involved with yet another woman in the finale. However, Jim probably needs some kind of happy ending, so maybe they can meet under better circumstances than in the comics.

4. We want – Lee Thompkins: Superhero doctor

Judging by her erratic characterization on the show, one would be hard pressed to remember that Lee Thompkins has been around in DC Comics since 1976 and had never been killed until last year.

Baccarin’s Lee has been defined by her relationships with the men in her life, but what has always been obvious is her passion for using medicine to help those who can’t afford it. She was Queen of the Narrows in season 4 of Gotham, but it would be great to see her embrace the kind person that she used to be and become the superhero confidante that she is meant to be.

3. Definitely not – Barbara Kean: Happy housewife

The Barbara Kean viewers were first introduced to on Gotham was the hapless fiancée terrified of the villains who constantly found ways to break into her home. Then, The Ogre came along and supposedly changed her – instead, he let out the real Barbara. That woman is not meant for domesticity or convention.

Now that Barbara is pregnant, my worry is that the showrunners might want to shoehorn the character into the mold of her comic book counterpart. It will honestly be a disservice to how far Barbara has come. We are all assuming that Barbara is telling the truth about her pregnancy and is planning on keeping the child, but whatever her decision, she is better off running the Sirens Club than being at home with Jim.

2. We want – Batgirl

Barbara Kean’s announcement sets the stage for Barbara Gordon’s introduction on Gotham. Known as Batgirl, and later the tech genius Oracle, Barbara’s superhero career in the comics is as accomplished as Batman’s. Best of all, she’s a hero in her own right, adopting a ‘Bat’ title willfully, rather than being commandeered into it.

Gotham could easily add a version of the character to show how the city has more than one hero protecting it. If the showrunners go down the route of writing Barbara as disabled from the start, that will be even better. I imagine Jim lovingly taking hold of his daughter and raising her on his own, while Barbara Kean continues running her club, protecting the women of her city and doling out superhero advice to her daughter from time to time.

1. Definitely not – Dick Grayson

In the first season of the show, viewers briefly met John Grayson, whom the showrunners had hinted was intended to be the father of a certain Dick Grayson, Robin the Boy Wonder turned solo superhero Nightwing in the comics.

Considering it has been five years since that introduction and the finale will feature another time-jump, the series creators could be inclined to introduce Batman’s sidekick, with Haly’s circus, et al. But, considering Dick Grayson is already leading DC Universe’s Titans, the character and his origin story will be fresh in viewers’ minds. We don’t need another re-tread so soon after on Gotham.

Have you been enjoying Gotham season 5, so far? What are you looking forward to seeing in the finale? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Monita Roy Mohan

Monita has been championing diversity, inclusivity, and representation in entertainment media through her work for over a decade. She is a Tomatometer-Approved Critic. She writes for Bam Smack Pow and Geek Girl Authority. Her bylines have appeared on 3-time Eisner Award-winning publication Women Write About Comics, HuffPost, Reactormag.com (formerly tor.com), Soundsphere/Screensphere, FanSided's Show Snob, and Vocal. She was also a TV/Movies features writer at Collider.com. Alongside her twin, Monita co-hosts the pop culture podcast Stereo Geeks.