'Gotham' Season Finale Preview: All Happy Families Are Alike

The first season of the new Fox “Batman” spin-off series “Gotham” is about to come to an end. After following detective Jim Gordon’s exploits in the Gotham City Police Department, the season comes to a close with a no longer fresh-faced Gordon. With the job toughening him up, Jim tackles a Mafia war in “All Happy Families Are Alike,” episode 22, and the first season finale of “Gotham.” [Spoiler Alert!]

Penguin’s rise to the top

Through some clever manoeuvring and less than honourable tactics, Penguin or Oswald Cobblepot has managed to pit the big mafia bosses against each other. Both Don Maroni and Don Falcone had him under their thumb for a period of time and now Penguin has had enough. He is tired of being at the beck and call of somebody, so he masterfully manipulates the bosses into trying to wipe each other out.

The Hollywood Reporter states that Penguin becomes the head of Gotham’s underworld in the comic books. If the war ends the way his character intends, it appears that Penguin might find himself as the underworld boss at the end of the season, much like in the comic books.

Fish Mooney returns

Fish Mooney was out of the radar for two episodes before the season finale. The last time she was seen, she had been shot while attempting to fly out of the Dollmaker’s lair. In the season finale promo video, Fish Mooney is alive and well and is back in Gotham City. Even though she survived the gun shot, it remains to be seen if she will survive the war. She wants to establish herself as the queen of the Gotham underworld, but Maroni, Falcone and Penguin are already fighting for that throne. With actress Jada Pinkett-Smith leaving the show at the end of the season, all arrows point to Mooney’s death in the final episode. If she survives, the producers will have to be creative in finding a replacement. [Video below].

Bruce Wayne’s family secrets

The past few episodes have been dealing a lot with Bruce and his investigation into his father’s company and their employees. His squeaky-clean image of his father was tarnished in the last episode when he was told that his father knew about the company’s illegal activities. Bruce digs deeper and accidentally finds a secret compartment in his father’s office, which all “Batman” fans know would eventually turn into his Batcave.

Jim Gordon’s future

With several small victories under his belt, Jim still has a lot to deal with before the end of the season. Now that the Ogre is dead, he needs to make good on his promise to go after Commissioner Loeb. Jim also owes Penguin a big favour, and now that things are heating up between the Mafia bosses, Penguin just might call Jim out on that favour.

Jim also needs to deal with his ex-fiancé Barbara Keane who was traumatised by the encounter with the Ogre. THR also states that Gordon ends up with Barbara in the comic books but then her character eventually dies. Where does this leave Dr. Leslie Thompkins in the story? All this and more will be revealed when the season finale of “Gotham” airs next Monday at 8 pm on Fox.