Gotham Review: No Man’s Land (Season 4 Episode 22)

Gotham Season 4 Episode 22, “No Man’s Land,” isn’t your typical season finale. It bucks the norm — and does so with flare.

Most season finales often oversimplify problems that take all year to close. Instead, Gotham chooses to avoid tying almost every storyline up. What we are left with is a big, beautiful (yet messy) knot, that will take at least another year to unravel.

Fortunately, FOX has given us 13 more episodes to do just that.

To clarify, there are one or two stories that do conclude, but they really just lead us into the next chapter of these character’s lives.

The first one of these is Selina Kyle. Fortunately, we find out that young Selina doesn’t bleed out on the way to the hospital. At first it is a relief, until the doctor’s confess her spinal column is possibly permanently damaged. Looks like they are sticking with the Batman: The Killing Joke theme here.

I am disappointed that Camren Bicondova didn’t get to show off more of her acting chops to end the season. It seems Selina has fallen a bit more on the wayside throughout Season 4, and they couldn’t find a spot to fit her in comfortably.

Let’s hope this doesn’t continue next year.

Speaking of disappointments, Solomon Grundy’s transformation back to Butch seems to be the oddest choice of the episode.

The whole storyline not only seems rushed, but doesn’t even have a satisfying payout. Even Tabitha seems to be confused by this muddled mess, as she watches Butch die. I cannot admit to shedding a tear for one of my favorite characters, because I’m still processing what really happened.

“One question. Who do I get to kill?” – Oswald Cobblepott

So Oswald was planning this the entire time? Are you sure about this? Cure Butch just to kill him a scene later?

This seems like a botch job for having Oswald in the background for the second half of the season. Not to mention, if Butch is really dead now, then what was the point of bringing him back in the first place?

Dumb Grundy was a blast to have around for a couple of episodes. His interactions with Nygma were quite hilarious when they teamed up. I think the character would have been better put to use, if he lingered in the background and popped out now and again when convenient — much like Mr. Freeze has.

Of course, the other character death is the less than intimidating Ra’s Al Ghul.

I am a huge Ra’s Al Ghul fan when it comes to the comic books. I am NOT a fan of the the small screens interpretation of Ra’s Al Ghul thus far. Arrow’s portrayal of the character was bad enough, but Gotham’s version is closer to an actual train wreck — I smell a Razzie being freshly baked.

The choice Bruce makes — to heed the words of Ra’s Al Ghul — is also very troubling to me. A dying nut job tells you to become the Dark Knight? Okay, seems legit — let me get on that.

Hasn’t Bruce been down this road before with the Court of Owls?

Alright already, enough complaining! Jeez! On with the good stuff!

Jeremiah’s devastation of Gotham’s bridges is great when it comes to fruition. I hate nothing more, than when we are teased with many diabolical plans and have none of them succeed. Leave it to Mr. J to come through with his well- planned chaos.

His calm demeanor stays intact the complete episode, never once cracking even the slightest smile. A non-laughing Joker seems strange, but Cameron Monaghan sells it. His performance chills to the bone.

And the chill continues, when Lee and Edward’s romance takes the only turn it can take. A lusty betrayal is quite poetic as the two fall to the ground in heaps of blood. So tragic, yet so suiting.

Who knows what Hugo Strange has in store for the couple, as he hooks them up to machines to keep them alive. Could we end up with Lee and Ed getting superpowers like Fish Mooney did?

But enough tiptoeing around the true beauty of this episode, let’s talk about the ending!

The last 15 minutes is where every letdown of this season is washed away. The emergence of all things, evil thrusts me into pure unadulterated joy.

Nearly every villain that stepped foot on-screen this season, has a few minute cameo as they take hold of their own corner of Gotham.

It was even a thrill to see a couple new faces in the mix, including Man-Bat. It appears they may have spent a little more on his special effects than they ever did on Grundy, but I’m assuming he won’t be a mainstay for that reason alone.

Strangely enough, there is no sign of Miss Ivy Pepper though. I’m not sure if this was just an oversight, or if there is some other underlying reason she doesn’t appear.

Needless to say, with Gotham only coming back for one more season — 13 episodes at that — all these evil doers won’t be able to make the cut. Some will most likely be a two-minute defeat, while others may never pop their head up at all.

It is sad to know that our show will soon be coming to an ultimate finale, but at least we get the very highly coveted final season arc. There is nothing worse than a great lead up to an already burnt bridge.

Things will luckily not have to be rushed or just left for dead. Unless of course, someone else wants to pick up the reins and steer Gotham on to a new network — I’m looking at you CW!

What did you think of this episode of Gotham? Did the finale meet your expectations? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Gotham airs Thursdays at 8/7c on FOX.

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