Gotham Season 4 Finale ‘No Man’s Land’ Plot Summary:
After catching Jeremiah (Cameron Monaghan), he continues to threaten the city until he speaks with Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz), who’s currently at the hospital with Selina (Camren Bicondova) who’s in critical condition. Barbara (Erin Richards) relies on Tabitha (Jessica Lucas) and Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), as she’s once again pitied against Ra’s al Ghul (Alexander Siddig) while Doctor Strange (BD Wong) attempts to fix Butch (Drew Powell). Meanwhile, Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) and Lee (Morena Baccarin) finally lay their cards out on the table.
The length of my plot description says it all. There’s a lot going on. As there should be. It’s the damn season finale. While a little slow out of the gate, this episode delivers on what a season finale should: It wraps up storylines and creates a new beginning. With the announcement that next season will be Gotham’s last, the final image of this episode puts us on the path this show always meant to take us on – the beginning of Batman. We have a lot to cover before we get there though, so grab the grappling hook and strap in.
If you’re a Batman fan, you know what the title “No Man’s Land” implies. It’s a storyline that The Dark Knight Rises even used. There’s no mystery as to what’s going to happen at the end of this episode. It’s about how all our characters choose to react afterwards. In true Gotham fashion, every character remains true to who they are in their purest form.
There’s only one place we can start with, and that’s Jeremiah. Okay, this is it. The mystery of who the Joker is in this show has been answered. Maybe not officially, but there’s no going back now. Jeremiah is our guy. Once again, Cameron Monaghan is superb. While his character feels off from the Joker as opposed to Jerome, you know it’s lurking inside him. He’s unsettling, but tame right now. He’s more measured. This leads me to believe that next season they will actually return to the original Joker origin of this guy falling into a vat of chemicals. He needs a kick to fully become the Joker, and it just feels like they will go with an oldie, but a goodie.
What I love about the Bruce/Jeremiah dynamic is how much care they are taking to foreshadow the legacies that both characters will have with each other. The fact that it’s all orchestrated by Ra’s al Ghul is beautiful. Batman and Joker are always linked together. Ra’s al Ghul knows that Bruce’s future is dependent on battling Jeremiah for decades. He tries to ensure that in this episode as the three stand over Gotham, waiting for its downfall to birth the Dark Knight.
Speaking of Ra’s al Ghul, Barbara and the Demon’s Head battle it out once more. The progression of Barbara in this series has been fascinating to watch. She goes from boring to crazy to someone who has now grabbed her destiny by the throat. Erin Richards commanded the screen in this episode.
Another character who chooses her own path is Lee Thompkins. After all this time, Lee succeeded where so many others failed. She heals the narrows. With her objective done, we get the moment we’ve all been waiting for – her and Ed finally have it out, and Gordon (Ben McKenzie), per usual, is right in the middle. This relationship has been one of the highlights of the entire season. It works so well, but you know it’s going to end horribly. That’s exactly what happens. The final standoff between Nygma and Lee ends the only way it could have. It’s a satisfying conclusion, and also leaves both characters in a very interesting place.
Out of all the big moments, the man who stole the show was none other than Oswald Cobblepot. Oswald had another good season to be sure, but he wasn’t the focal point like he has been. Even in this episode, he was background material, until the end. This was vintage season one Oswald. Pure villainy. Cold. Vicious. Vindictive. Conniving. It’s the Penguin at his most menacing. Robin Lord Taylor absolutely crushes it.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to Bruce. I’ve said it a hundred times throughout reviewing this series: I want to see this show go on for ten years so we can see David Mazouz become Batman. While the show won’t go on for ten years, I better get my wish. This series has to end with David Mazouz as the fully fledged, don’t dance around it, Batman. He’s earned it.
While the final scene between Bruce and Gordon says it all, my only complaint is they rush a big moment with Alfred (Sean Pertwee) at the end. Unfortunately, this scene was a victim of too much going on, but both actors still nailed it.
We can’t forget about the anchor of the show: Gordon. We take Ben McKenzie for granted. He’s so seamless as this character, you don’t even think about it. When the situation gets out of control, the city brings in military help with Major Harlan (Malik Yoba) taking over. You see the juxtaposition between this random army guy who doesn’t understand Gotham at all, with Gordon who knows every inch of how this city and its people operate. It proves once again how well these writers get their own show.
With one more season to go, Gotham ended its fourth season in scintillating fashion. The villains have all set up shop. It’s going to be a battle ground in Gotham City going forward, pushing Bruce closer towards his destiny, which is what this show has been all along.
It’s going to be one hell of a final ride.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10 (Really Great)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD5q-_H3Ddg
