For those of you that don't know, Fox's "Gotham" (which premiered its second season last night) is a Batman story without a real Batman. Instead of Bruce Wayne, the series follows the adventures of another well-known DC character, albeit one with considerably less eye shadow. Detective Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is the focus as he climbs the ranks of Gotham's police force.
But even though "Gotham" is Gordon's story, that doesn't mean that Batman isn't present. Fourteen-year-old actor David Mazouz plays a young Bruce Wayne and McKenzie has already admitted that "the last frame of the last shot of the last scene of the last episode of Gotham, whatever season that may be, is Bruce putting on that cape."
But why, exactly, does Bruce become Batman? The murder of his parents is the obvious catalyst in every Batman story. But I believe "Gotham" showrunner Bruno Heller has another trick up his sleeve; I believe Jim Gordon's death in the series finale will be the reason Bruce Wayne ultimately puts on the cape.
Let's break this theory down.
Bruce Wayne & Jim Gordon
The seeds of mutual respect, collaboration and even a slight father-son dynamic between Jim and Bruce were planted in season one. Although the characters ultimately went their separate ways, it was clear that a strong bond had been struck.
Occasionally revisiting and developing that relationship throughout the second season not only adds a fan service-y element to the show, but also sets up the emotional toll Gordon's potential death would have on Bruce. A Dark Knight attempting to fill the void left by his parents and one of his mentors would be a force to be reckoned with.
Crime in Gotham
In just one season, Gordon locked up multiple serial killers and also helped to engineer the downfall of the two major mob syndicates in Gotham. Bottom line: the guy gets results.
He's also a natural born leader. His steadfast moral compass helped sway his ethically ambiguous partner Det. Harvey Bullock (played with gleeful abandon by Donal Logue) to his side. Over time, Gordon's influence will grow and more of Gotham's corrupt cops will either be rooted out or get with the program.
By the time Bruce Wayne is even old enough to don the cowl, Gotham's crime rate will have likely plummeted to safe levels thanks to Gordon. That is, until his murder springs the long-dormant criminals of Gotham into activity.
With Gordon dead, Bruce may feel compelled to create the Batman to keep the rising threat at bay. It would be a logical cause-and-effect situation that could begin to take form this season.
Established Canon
As a prequel show, we know that the majority of villains Heller is introducing will eventually become the super villains Batman goes toe-to-toe with. That means that despite Gordon's efforts, The Riddler, Joker, Penguin, etc. will escape capture and wreak havoc in season two. In any Batman story, Bruce sees this and realizes that there are just some things you can't change within the confines of the law. Thus, a vigilante is born.
That point would only be hammered home with the death of a good, law-abiding man such as Gordon. Bruce would view his murder as a sign that Gotham's citizens need someone who isn't beholden to the law to protect them.
New Mythology
Heller has a tendency to blaze his own path, as evidenced by his reconfiguration of countless back-stories ("Gotham" is not afraid to ignore previously established canon). So what better way to kickoff his own Batman mythos and set the show apart from previous iterations than by killing off a major character? Hell, even the DC Extended Universe is considering it.
I know Gordon has a long and varied history in the comics. But ending the show with his death could serve as the final motivating factor for Bruce to become Batman
Does any of this mean that it will actually happen? No. I can't tell you what Fox's endgame for "Gotham" is, just like I can't tell you why no one in Gotham City has ever suspected the mysterious billionaire with endless resources to be a well-equipped crime fighter. In all likelihood, we won't even get the cape and cowl on the small screen thanks to a deal signed by Fox and Warner Bros. But I can say that this theory would be a bold storytelling device and I won't rule it out until all is said and done.
