GOTHAM's season 3 finale was truly epic, a grim and gritty payoff for various plot threads they had been stringing along all season. The biggest resolution was the Tetch Virus story line, which threatened to turn Gotham into an even bigger hellhole than it is on most normal days. That old lady robbing the bank was the perfect metaphor for the whole thing, showing that Gotham is a place where even its most genteel are murderers at heart. The deadly virus on the loose and the search for a cure before it is too late, is an old trope, but it has an added twist here in that our hero, Jim Gordon, and his love, Lee Thompkins, have already been infected. For a moment there, we are tantalized with the possibility that Jim and Lee will go off together and become a couple of badass villains. What a twist that would be, but good old Harvey Bullock saves the day and slips Jim the antidote, knowing very well that Gordon will do the right thing in the end.
But there was no shortage of villains in "Destiny Calling" and "Heavydirtysoul," with Penguin, Riddler, Hugo Strange, Fish Mooney, Barbara Gordon, Butch Gilzean, Jervis Tetch, Ivy Pepper and Mr. Freeze all putting in appearances. The main battle was between Robin Lord Taylor's Penguin and Cory Michael Smith's Riddler, and both actors took their characters to new heights, as we realize these two villains are really just two spoiled children, forever circling each other.
The other big story line of the finale centered on the brainwashed Bruce Wayne and Alfred's attempts to free him from the influence of the Court of the Owls. Not for one minute did I believe that Alfred was going to die after Bruce ran him through in the cliffhanger ending of the first episode – not when they'd already shown the Lazarus Pit. It was great see that introduction of Ra's Al Ghul, if only briefly, hinting of good things to come.
The high points of the show had to be two special scenes: Carmen Bicondrova's Selena Kyle gets her hands on Catwoman's whip for the first time, and the very last one, where David Mazouz's Bruce Wayne takes the first big step on the way to becoming The Dark Knight. The subtitle of this season was Heroes Rise, and in the end, they delivered.
As always, the acting by Donal Logue, Sean Pertwee, Ben McKenzie, Drew Powell, BD Wong, along with all the others named above, was excellent. I sure hope we haven't seen the last of Erin Richards' Barbara Kean and I loved how they dropped a big hint that Butch will become the villain, Solomon Grundy.
Of all the comic book based shows on TV, GOTHAM is the most ambitious, and one who most tries to stay true to the spirit of the source material. Looking forward to season 4, where hopefully, Cameron Monaghan's Jerome will play a more prominent role.
But there was no shortage of villains in "Destiny Calling" and "Heavydirtysoul," with Penguin, Riddler, Hugo Strange, Fish Mooney, Barbara Gordon, Butch Gilzean, Jervis Tetch, Ivy Pepper and Mr. Freeze all putting in appearances. The main battle was between Robin Lord Taylor's Penguin and Cory Michael Smith's Riddler, and both actors took their characters to new heights, as we realize these two villains are really just two spoiled children, forever circling each other.
The other big story line of the finale centered on the brainwashed Bruce Wayne and Alfred's attempts to free him from the influence of the Court of the Owls. Not for one minute did I believe that Alfred was going to die after Bruce ran him through in the cliffhanger ending of the first episode – not when they'd already shown the Lazarus Pit. It was great see that introduction of Ra's Al Ghul, if only briefly, hinting of good things to come.
The high points of the show had to be two special scenes: Carmen Bicondrova's Selena Kyle gets her hands on Catwoman's whip for the first time, and the very last one, where David Mazouz's Bruce Wayne takes the first big step on the way to becoming The Dark Knight. The subtitle of this season was Heroes Rise, and in the end, they delivered.
As always, the acting by Donal Logue, Sean Pertwee, Ben McKenzie, Drew Powell, BD Wong, along with all the others named above, was excellent. I sure hope we haven't seen the last of Erin Richards' Barbara Kean and I loved how they dropped a big hint that Butch will become the villain, Solomon Grundy.
Of all the comic book based shows on TV, GOTHAM is the most ambitious, and one who most tries to stay true to the spirit of the source material. Looking forward to season 4, where hopefully, Cameron Monaghan's Jerome will play a more prominent role.
