The official episode title of Gotham season 4 finale teases an adaptation of the ‘No Man’s Land’ comic book storyline.
If you hadn’t heard of it before, ‘No Man’s Land’ is one of the most acclaimed Batman story arcs that ran through all of DC Comics in 1999. The story followed up the ‘Cataclysm’ run, which was when Gotham was leveled by a 7.6 earthquake. We also got to see the U.S government try to save the city. ‘No Man’s Land’ was this and Gotham’s villains trying to establish their own territories with the likes of Batman and Jim Gordon trying to stop them.
It has recently been confirmed that the Gotham season 4 finale’s titles is indeed ‘No Man’s Land’. Unfortunately the network refused to comment on what this could mean. This will leave audiences to spend the next few months speculating on what could happen in the episode. If Gotham stays true to form with a loose adaptation of the apocalyptic comic book story, expect it to transform the landscape of Gotham City and the show as it moves into season 5.
Since the first four seasons of Gotham have introduced the good and great of Batman’s rogues gallery, there are certainly enough bad guys out there to adapt a story like ‘No Man’s Land’. Don’t forget that Cameron Monaghan has promised that a huge Joker twist is coming to the show, so it would make sense to tie that up with a season finale and keep going with a big cliffhanger. Perhaps the “real” Joker has something to do with the creation of No Man’s Land.
In season 4, comic book arcs like Year One and The Long Halloween have been given the Gotham treatment. Viewers shouldn’t expect a direct adaptation of ‘No Man’s Land’, they could see it handled the way previous Batman projects have. Rocksteady’s Arkham City had Gotham divided into territories after Hugo Strange took over, while Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises had the GCPD try and keep order after Bane’s attack. No matter what they decide, expect showrunner Bruno Heller to have something equally imaginative in store when Gotham season 4 reveals its endgame later this year.
Gotham continues on March 15 with “Reunion” on FOX.
