To be honest, I haven’t been a fan of the whole superhero thing for very long. 

During the second half of my freshman year was when I was taken to my first superhero movie: Infinity War. It was definitely an odd place to start, and I was entirely skeptical as to whether or not I would actually like the movie. However, the events of Infinity War did end up completely intriguing and entertaining me, and I’ve been undeniably fascinated with the idea of superheros and villians and how their stories intertwine ever since. 

So, my fascination with the superhero universe brought me from the world of Marvel to the world of DC Comics with the hit TV show Gotham. Centered around the life of Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie), Gotham chronicles Gordon working tirelessly to stop crime in Gotham City while getting tangled in the dirty politics of the justice system. Gordon is the detective assigned to solving Thomas and Martha Wayne’s murder, and that is how young Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) and Gordon’s paths cross. 

However, season 5 of Gotham focuses more on the restoration and reunification of a damaged Gotham City. In the season four finale, Ra’s al Ghul (Alexander Siddig) and Jeremiah Valeska (Cameron Monaghan) detonate various parts of the city, including the Arkham Bridge. With no way in or out, the remaining GCPD officers and Gotham residents are tasked with an almost impossible challenge of ridding Gotham of crime so that it is safe enough to regain mainland reunification. 

Season 5 also acts as a soft reboot of the show: it only has twelve roughly forty-five minute episodes compared to each of its preceding season’s 20+. Likewise, the episodes rush towards setting up the story of Bruce Wayne leaving Gotham to become Batman, and the final episode of the series highlights Bruce returning to Gotham as Batman. 

As disappointing as it was to not receive a full season as the show’s final season, the fifth season of Gotham truly expands on the extent and extremity of crime, drama, and backstab that seems to constantly go on in Gotham. Alongside that, the final episode closes the stories of Gordon, Bruce, Lee Thompkins (Morena Baccarin), Barbara Kean (Erin Richards), Detective Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue), Cobblepot (Robin Taylor), Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), and Selena Kyle (Camren Bicondova) in a way that provides viewers with closure while showing that the stories of Batman and Gotham’s villains are far from over. 

Overall, the fifth season of Gotham provides a packed plot and a new look at some of the characters that appear in the Batman DC Comics. Knowing what I know now about Gotham City and the villians that roam its streets, I can’t wait to dive into the Batman movies soon.