Gotham 5x12 : The Beginning review
So here we are. The finally episode of Gotham ever has come and gone and with it a number of things were addressed. This episode had so much to handle. From introducing a fully fledged Batman to letting fans know what various villains (mainly Penguin, Jeremiah and Riddler) have been up to over the past 10 years. Beginning with Bruce Wayne who we see on a boat. He voices over the scene as he reads out a letter that he wrote for Alfred. He says he will be back to Gotham one day and that Alfred won't hear from him for quite some time. Until he is able to fully protect those he loves he will not return. The scene ends with a shot of a mountain in the background which can only explain that Bruce is going there to train and better himself which I really like. It is then we're brought 10 years into the future. And inside of Mayor James's office, yes that's the same Mayor from the first two seasons we see Gordon who is sporting that iconic moustache. and Bullock. Gordon says he's handing in his resignation and will leave his post after the opening of the new Wayne Tower building. Speaking of the Wayne Tower building it has taken 10 years to rebuild what we saw Bruce and Selina destroy last week. Bruce Wayne is coming home for the first time in a decade to attend the opening and Gordon says once that is all wrapped up someone else will take the post as Commissioner of Gotham. Mayor James wants him to stay on longer though as he says the people love him and look up to him. But it looks like Jim has made up his mind. We then see a young girl standing looking out a window of a new tower being built. It's none other than Barbara Gordon and Barbara herself who is now sporting red hair. Jim gets made fun of for his moustache but Barbara before taking his daughter for the day. Back at his and Lee's place Jim after constantly getting made fun of shaves off his moustache as Lee supports his decision to step down as Commissioner. Some might say it was silly of Jim to shave the moustache off but at least it was included as a nod to the comics. They could've easily left it alone.
As Jim and Lee are talking they get to Bruce Wayne who hasn't been seen in Gotham in 10 years. Lee mentions Selina and how she will take him coming back home. Lee says she's become quite the IT girl around and it's then we're introduced to an all grown up Selina who is fully embracing her Catwoman persona. She slips into a room after lights out avoids lasers and steals a priceless diamond but not before something flashes over the screen..Selina nervously takes the diamond and gets away as the camera cuts to outside to reveal a shadowy figure standing and watching. Ed Nygma once a well known name in Gotham City has been reduced to a former shell of himself in Arkam for the past 10 years. While in his cell with various other patients he sees a cop reading the newspaper. With the headline that Oswald Cobblepot is to be released from Blackgate soon after also spending 10 years in prison. This sparks something in Ed and while in his cell with the other patients an argument is seen breaking out in the back. It's other patients and a certain Jeremiah Valeska who the last time we saw was free falling into a vat of chemicals in Ace Chemicals. He is in a completely brain dead state just sitting in his chair, drool falling from his mouth. Ed even staps him with something but he doesn't flinch. Chaos soon erupts however as sirens blare in the cell leaving all the patients covering their ears. Ed gets a bag put over his head as a nurse walks in and wheels Jeremiah out. Oswland Cobblepott, The Penguin one of the most amazing characters on this show gets released from Blackgate after 10 years. It turns out that not 6 months after standing toe to toe with Jim against Bane and his army Gordon had Penguin locked up. It's not said why but Penguin has sworn revenge ever since. Upon his release he is questioned by the media but doesn't give too much away. He ultimately ends up kidnapping Gordon before bringing him to the place where their journey began. The pier of Gotham where back at the very beginning of this show Gordon had the chance to end Penguin but he didn't. He let him go. With reports of various bombs around the city Gordon says Penguin needs to stop what he's doing as it's not a way to be welcomed back. Oswald says he has no idea what Jim is talking about before saying his goodbyes. Gordon obviously gets away by jumping into the river but this was a really nice throwback to arguably Gotham's first big incident in the show. I'm going to miss Gordon and Oswald's relationship as it's always been so interesting and unique.
The episode draws to a close at Wayne Tower where Riddler kidnaps Mayor James ( again ) only to be thwarted by Barbara and Selina who Barbara says Bruce will be mad he let get away as she does look rather incredible all grown up. With Ed stopped the Mayor rushes into the main room where Alfred just so happens to be giving a speech about the future of Gotham and the new Wayne Tower. The room gets evacuated as inside in the middle of the room is a diagram of new buildings in Gotham. Underneath it all is bombs rigged to blow. Lucius notices that the clock tower set is not the new one and upon lifting it up reveals another bomb under it. Lee says she will cut the wire to shut it off as she's got the most steady hands and while at first she only makes the timer go quicker she does manage to stop it. At Barbara's old club we see her and young Barbara walk in before being greeted by Echo. Behind Barbara however stands Jeremiah who has had this entire situation planned. He had the bomb plan, the ruse in Nygma and the gullible people in Gordon and Barbara who fell right into his trap. Barbara does fight back and manages to stab Echo before Jeremiah finishes her off by saying there is plenty more fish in the sea. Can I just say how incredible Cameron Monaghan was here?? because he was immense. Perfectly capturing the loose cannon state of Joker as he flipped from completely insane to a joker with a taste for chaos. Jeremiah kidnaps young Barbara and leaves a message for Gordon. Meet him at the place where it all began for him. Which is ACE chemicals. So Gordon heads there and inside we see young Barbara hanging over the same containers of chemicals that Jeremiah fell into. He says there is no more Jeremiah as he is now something more..something beautiful. He also says that he waits for him to return home which is obviously Bruce Wayne. He says he was crushed by Bruce just abandoning him and with the re-opening of Wayne Tower he now waits for his return. He lowers the rope that holds young Barbara up over the containers as Gordon goes for him. On the catwalk him and Jeremiah have a mini scuffle which leads to Gordon being stabbed in the shoulder. But just as it looks like Young Barbara will be sent to her demise something gets thrown at Jeremiah from a distance. He laughs it off and says who is there before another thing gets thrown at him landing right through his hand. He laughs manically at it before one more is thrown at his forehead before he falls to the ground. These of course were batarangs and the final thing we see in ACE chemicals is a shadowy figure looking over Gordon and young Barbara. Back atop the GCPD Gordon and Bullock unveil the proto Bat-Signal that Bullock thought got destroyed years ago. Gordon removes the veil over it and shines it in the sky. Gordon having still not seen Bruce since he returned is greeted by Alfred who says that Master Bruce is a bit busy at the moment. And busy he is as Penguin and Riddler try to escape together that same shadowy figure stops them in their tracks literally by landing on the hood of the getaway car. They both get out and are greeted by the one who would become Batman who strings them up before leaving them for the GCPD. The episode and series then ends with Gordon Bullock and Alfred seeing that same shadowy figure standing a top a building far away from the GCPD. Who is that says Bullock?? A friend replies Gordon and the final thing we see in this show is The Batman himself. As the camera pans forward until finally we see him. Standing a top looking over the city. And that's how Gotham comes to a conclusion. What a great episode and what an unforgettable series. The Bat suit looked pretty good to be honest and just being able to get to see it was definitely worth the 5 year wait.
I have some things to say about this show before I end this final reviews and it's a heartfelt goodbye. Gotham started as a cop drama based around Jim Gordon and the GCPD but over the years has transformed into something quite special. So many incredible characters have come from it and equally so, so many incredible performances. Ben McKenzie who I didn't really like at first really became Jim Gordon over the 5 years and as of right now he is the ultimate Jim Gordon in my opinion. David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne started off as a timid scared young boy but what he transformed into was quite spectacular. Cameron Monaghan as Jerome, Jeremiah and J well what else can I say than truly incredible?? he made each character different while still retaining unique qualities that the Joker is know for. Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot brought the Penguin character to life in such a way that I don't see it ever being topped. It's as good if not better than Danny Devito's version of the character many years ago. He nailed the character in almost every aspect. Corey Michael Smith as Ed Nygma / The Riddler was a gyrating experience at times as similar storylines were used for his character but his performance overall was faultless. I could go into further detail about everyone else but I won't as to be honest they all did their part in bringing this show to life in such a way that I don't think it will ever be forgotten. Sure I had my issues sometimes with the show but honestly who didn't?? Gotham wasn't afraid to try different things and while not all worked for the most part things did and I have to commend them for trying stuff outside of the box. This was there own version of the Batman mythos and one that I don't think will be forgotten anytime soon. I thank you Gotham for this 5 year journey that I wish could have lasted longer, but that being said it did end on the perfect note. Farewell Gotham you will never be forgotten.
★★★★★
Season overall :
★★★
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