With the Ogre out of the way, “Gotham” closes its freshman season with “All Happy Families Are Alike,” which rightfully returns focus to the mob conflict that’s been bubbling since the premiere. It’s an entertaining enough episode, but not nearly as grand as it could have been.
Two weeks have passed since the Penguin pushed Falcone and Maroni into all-out war and the GCPD is struggling to stem the tide (although not so much that Montoya or poor Crispus Allen manage to make it on-screen). Oswald is confidently waiting in the wings, ready to swoop in for the crown once his enemies eliminate each other. There’s also a wild card in the water in Fish Mooney, who sweeps back into town like her subplot on the island of Dr. Dulmacher never happened (if only). And mixed in with all these villains is our hero James Gordon, who worries about what will happen to his city if the wrong victor emerges.
There’s some fun moments scattered throughout, like Fish ranking her various enemies on a scale of how slow and painful their deaths will be and a surprise appearance by Selina during the proceedings. Sadly though, the story too often fizzles when it should sizzle, low on action and high on people standing around talking. But when the dust settles, the show’s mob scene has been thoroughly shaken for next season. Characters die, characters flee, and a new head of the Gotham criminal underworld stands tall.
In subplot news, her ordeal with the Ogre has led Barbara to latch on to Leslie, first as her doctor (why the medical examiner is seeing living patients, I have no idea) and then as her trauma counselor. These contrivances to put his former and current girlfriends together leads to a lame twist that changes the outlook of Gordon’s love life. Also, a tense conversation with a suspicious Kristen Kringle pushes Edward Nygma closer still to his Riddler persona.
Finally, Bruce is still obsessing about his conversations last week with Sid Bunderslaw and Lucius Fox and what secrets his father could have been concealing about the corruption at Wayne Enterprises. Amusingly, given the amount of time the characters spent on that set this season, Bruce and Alfred tear apart the Wayne Manor library searching for answers. And in the scene that will keep Batfans smiling all summer, Bruce does make a discovery, one that will open up a whole new world for him.
The first season finale of “Gotham” airs this Monday on FOX. So for the final time until fall, share your pre-episode thoughts and speculations in the comments section.
