All hell breaks loose on Gotham’s streets as the crime families collide. Dr. Thompkins helps Barbara through therapy. Bruce and Alfred try to find out Thomas Wayne’s secret.

Gotham wraps up its first season concluding a bunch of plot lines, but also laying things out for the second season.

The gang war has broken out in the last episode, and sort of gets wrapped up in this episode…. yes, a story that could have run an entire season is handled in about one and a half episodes. But it’s action packed with Fish actually being a decent character coming off as pretty tough. I went from hating her, to liking her in one episode. It’s a battle between the various factions, and things get pretty settled, though there’s some loose ends open.

Also, the story of Barbara and her kidnapping goes completely south in what can be summed up as the most worthless character, and strangest plot line of the season. I didn’t like the character to start, and absolutely loath her now.

More is thrown around including Selina, Nygma, and Bruce discovering something. The season ended with an absolutely packed episode with lots of highs, and lots of lows.

I think the season can be summed up in this one episode as far as quality. A lot of it was great, a lot of it not so much, a lot I wish they just go it over with. We’ll have to wait to see where things go from here, but at least it’s left in a good place. On to season two!

Overall Score: 7.5

The Ogre breaks down Barbara’s emotions, while Gordon and Bullock track him down. Meanwhile, Penguin leads a massacre, beginning an epic war, while Bruce learns the truth about Wayne Enterprises and Nygma deals with his recent actions.

When last week’s Gotham ended Barbara was at The Ogre’s place and discovering his torture room. Fast forward to this episode and we’re hinted at that she’s spent the night and slept him? We’ve got some 50 Shades stuff going on here, and it further confirms to me that Barbara might be a less likeable and possibly dumber character than Fish Mooney.

For as bad as Barbara is though, it’s made up for by actor Milo Ventimiglia as the Ogre, who brings a calm, cool, and collected psychopath that is actually scary and disturbing. His is the type of villain that should have been more of a focus since the season began, instead of the more campy knock-off of classic Batman villains. Unfortunately the Ogre has to deal with Barbara who continues to barely act, and has moments that are almost laughable even though they’re not supposed to be.

Add in Nygma’s strange dark twist and further steps into the madness that will one day create the Riddler. There’s also the continued fantastic storyline featuring the Penguin and his manipulating the mob bosses into an eventual war. It’s Machiavellian in its long play, and probably the best storyline of the season.

The better part of the episode is the Penguin’s decision to amp up the war with a certain crimeboss. That is much better and more interesting as far as all of the plotlines. Along with that, the movement of Bruce’s story is quite nice as well, finally getting into more details as to the murder of his parents, a story that hasn’t quite gotten the attention it should have. Out of all of the stories this one had potential, but was never quite handled right.

Finally, Lucious Fox people!!!!

The episode has a solid build that finally pushes over the mob war tension that’s been growing all season. We knew it was coming to this point, but it’s finally nice to see it all spill over. There’s just one episode left, but the season looks like it’s ending on a high note.

Overall Score: 8.5

The episode continues the story of Gordon tracking down the Ogre, Bruce figuring out what’s up at Wayne Enterprises, the Penguin wanting to start a war, and finally the real birth of the Riddler.

Gotham is ending the series in a rather random way, with a mult-part story involving the serial killer, something that should have come much sooner in the series I think. It all feels a bit rushed.

There’s also the issue that the Ogre just feels like a 50 Shades rip-off. It’s not necessarily bad, but with a secret room, some S&M hints, it all just feels like a bad cash-in and attempt to connect with that audience. What I do think is interesting is that actor Milo Ventimiglia, who plays the character, actually channels some Bruce Wayne in the depiction, and I could see him taking on the role at some point.

The better part of the episode is the Penguin’s decision to amp up the war with a certain crimeboss. That is much better and more interesting as far as all of the plotlines.

There’s also a nice twist with the Riddler that I didn’t see coming.

The episode was ok to me. Not bad, not good, and a piece of the season finale. There’s some intriguing things of where they might take some characters, but overall, things seem a bit rushed to me. For once, I wish things were spread out across more episodes.

Overall Score: 7.25

Gordon and Bullock inspect a cold case involving “the Ogre”, a serial killer who targets young women in Gotham City. Meanwhile, Fish plots her escape from the Dollmaker, and Bruce and Selina confront Reggie.

Gotham‘s back after a short break to give us a new villain for Bullock and Gordon to search for, Fish’s escape plan, and Bruce dealing with the fact that Alfred was shot. The episode is really mix in quality.

The best part is the serial killer aspect, with Gordon and Bullock acting more like police in a weird city than going after knock-offs of Batman’s rogues gallery. The killer is interesting, and the fact it’s multiple episodes is a nice way to end the season, especially with only three episodes left.

Fish’s storyline has taken up WAY too much time in the series. It needs to end, and it looks like we’re close to that. Out of everything in this first season, Fish has been the low point.

Bruce also going out and finding Reggie is a bit odd. His storyline is only slightly better than Fish’s. Less Bruce, less Fish, better series.

The episode is just ok, and in general a weak return. The high point is we have some foreshadowing of Gordon’s future job in the police force. There’s only three episodes left, hopefully they’re better than this one.

Overall Score: 7

While Gordon seeks information about the recent controversy with Commissioner Loeb, Fish’s allegiance with the prisoners is questioned when she appears to join forces with Dr. Dulmacher. Meanwhile, after an attack close to home, Bruce deals with the aftermath.

Gotham‘s latest episode shows the politics of work as Gordon gets rather dirty to get things cleaned up. The episode is a very interesting one where we see Gordon getting more in that gray area in order to survive.

The episode is really summed up at the end by a speech that Bullock gives to Gordon that really goes over the point of hour, but also foreshadows something to come.

Gordon’s journey is the most solid part of the episode, as the other half focuses on Fish and her ather odd journey. She deals with Dulmacher, but where that storyline is going, I seriously can’t tell. It better pay off, and right now I’m not confident it will.

The episode was a bit of a cliffhanger in a way, as the show is taking a month break. It’s not a shocking cliffhanger, but it is setting up what looks to be a solid final four episodes of the first season.

Overall Score: 8

Following several bank robberies, Gordon and Bullock investigate the Red Hood gang. Selina Kyle continues to bond with Barbara, and Fish Mooney tries to reclaim her position in the underworld.

Gotham‘s latest episode is full of surprises in this episode which gives us a bit of a twist on the Red Hood from DC’s comics. Along with a new familiar villain, we also have a friend of Alfred show up, and movement in Fish’s storyline.

But, really the night is about surprises, especially surrounding Fish and Alfred. Both take a bit of a grisly spin, especially Fish who does something eye didn’t see coming. Her storyline is the most interesting in the fact I have no idea where it’s going. It’s a bit odd overall, and what they do with her, I seriously have no idea. But, through her we get yet another villain, the Dollmaker, who was mentioned in earlier episodes.

The episode’s strangest spin is at the end giving a twist to what happened to Alfred and why. The series is getting good at taking you in one direction, the quickly shifting it another way.

The Red Hood story is fun too, adding something for the police to do, and gives long time comic fans something to giggle about, especially at the end.

Overall, I think it’s safe to say, the series has found its groove.

Overall Score: 8

The circus comes under attack while Gordon and Dr. Thompkins are in attendance.

Gotham has done an interesting thing tonight, it may have given a new origin to one of Batman’s greatest villains, and improved upon it in some ways.

This episode takes Detective Gordon to Haley’s Circus where a fight between the Flying Graysons and the clowns breaks out over a long time feud. For fans of Batman, this location has such meaning it’s hard to not get excited about it. All of that leads to the discovery of a dead body and nice whodunit. Gordon and Dr. Thompkins wind up teaming up to solve the murder, which all leads us to an interesting individual…. one who thinks things are a bit of a joke. Is this our much anticipated Joker? If so, there’s something frightening about the individual, that’s almost as disturbing as the force of nature we’ve dealt with in so many other versions.

In another story, Penguin is having some issues running his business. Zsasz pays him a visit to discuss how he’s not quite up to snuff. The fact he’s not succeeding in this venture is actually nice, especially for a character who’s played the game so well up to this point. We all know he succeeds at some point in the future, so how he gets there should be rather interesting.

Overall, the episode is a really solid one, moving various relationships forward, and giving long time Batman fans lots to squeal about. There’s five episodes to go, and I can’t wait to see them all!

Overall Score: 8.25