The Beginning...

Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City after ten years of globetrotting. Police commissioner Jim Gordon plans on retiring. Meanwhile, Oswald Cobblepot is set to be released from Blackgate after a decade, on the same day as the gala celebrating the opening of the new Wayne Tower. Mayor Aubrey James tells Gordon he cannot retire until after the gala.

For the last decade, Edward Nygma has been imprisoned in Arkham, and Jeremiah Valeska is seemingly brain-dead. Two men smuggle Nygma out, while Ecco frees Valeska. While searching for Nygma, Harvey Bullock encounters a guard who hands him a phone. Harvey is shocked by who is on the phone and the guard kills himself. Bullock is framed for the murder, but vehemently claims responsibility regardless; unconvinced, Gordon decides to investigate. Nygma finds a box of C-4 and believes it was left for him by Cobblepot. While investigating Bullock's case, Gordon encounters a vigilante dressed in a bat-themed suit, who tells him he is not his enemy.

Cobblepot tries to kill Gordon for arresting him a decade earlier, but Gordon escapes. At the Wayne Tower gala, Selina Kyle and Barbara Kean thwart Nygma's plot to blow up the tower and Gordon, who upon arriving realizes that there is a second bomb. Leslie Thompkins defuses the bomb, and Gordon realizes that Valeska set up Nygma and framed Bullock.

Nygma and Cobblepot are captured by the vigilante, whom Lucius Fox and Alfred Pennyworth know is Bruce. Valeska kidnaps Gordon and Barbara's daughter Barbara Lee after a scuffle that results in Ecco's death. Gordon reaches Ace Chemicals, where Valeska reveals he was faking brain death while awaiting Bruce's return. Bruce arrives and subdues Valeska, saving Gordon and Barbara Lee.

Later, Bruce reconnects with Selina and apologizes for leaving her a decade prior. Meanwhile, Cobblepot and Nygma escape the police and plan revenge on the vigilante, even though they fear him. Gordon, who has decided against retirement, re-ignites the searchlight he put atop the Gotham City Police Department headquarters years earlier.{{efn|As depicted in the season four episode "No Man's Land".}} As he, Bullock and Alfred reminisce about their shared experiences, they notice the vigilante watching them from afar. When Bullock asks who the vigilante is, Gordon replies, "A friend".

In April 2019, Fox announced that the twelfth episode of the season would be titled "The Beginning...".{{Cite web |title=(GTH-510) "The Beginning..." |url=http://thefutoncritic.com/listings/20190403fox07/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190511042112/http://thefutoncritic.com/listings/20190403fox07/ |archive-date=May 11, 2019 |access-date=May 11, 2019 |website=The Futon Critic}} The episode, which is the series' 100th and finale, was directed by Rob Bailey, and written by showrunner John Stephens. It is set ten years after the season's previous episode.{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=April 26, 2019 |title='Gotham' EPs on Tonight's "Bittersweet" Series Finale, Potential of More Batman & Their Pride in the Show |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/gotham-spoilers-series-finale-batman-interview-danny-cannon-john-stephens-fox-dc-comics-1202602146/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430003338/https://deadline.com/2019/04/gotham-spoilers-series-finale-batman-interview-danny-cannon-john-stephens-fox-dc-comics-1202602146/ |archive-date=April 30, 2019 |access-date=May 11, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

Main cast members Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Morena Baccarin, Sean Pertwee, Robin Lord Taylor, Erin Richards, Cory Michael Smith and Chris Chalk return as Jim Gordon, Harvey Bullock, Bruce Wayne, Leslie Thompkins, Alfred Pennyworth, Oswald Cobblepot / Penguin, Barbara Kean, Edward Nygma / Riddler and Lucius Fox.{{Cite web |last=Boucher |first=Geoff |date=April 22, 2019 |title='Gotham' Trailer: Batman Begins As Fox's Prequel Series Ends This Thursday |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/gotham-trailer-batman-begins-as-foxs-prequel-series-ends-this-thursday-1202600012/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430003335/https://deadline.com/2019/04/gotham-trailer-batman-begins-as-foxs-prequel-series-ends-this-thursday-1202600012/ |archive-date=April 30, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} Camren Bicondova decided not to return as Selina Kyle because of her discomfort playing an older version of the character.{{Cite web |last=Fuster |first=Jeremy |date=April 20, 2019 |title='Gotham': Camren Bicondova to Exit Catwoman Role Before Series Finale |url=https://www.thewrap.com/carmen-bicondova-leaves-gotham/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421125125/https://www.thewrap.com/carmen-bicondova-leaves-gotham/ |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=TheWrap}} The guest cast for the episode includes Cameron Monaghan as Jeremiah Valeska, Kelcy Griffin as Vanessa Harper, Richard Kind as Aubrey James, Francesca Root-Dodson as Ecco, J. W. Cortes as Alvarez, Jeté Laurence as Barbara Lee Gordon, and Lili Simmons as Selina.{{Cite magazine |last=Highfill |first=Samantha |date=April 19, 2019 |title=Exclusive 'Gotham' first look: Lili Simmons replaces Camren Bicondova as an adult Selina Kyle |url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/04/19/gotham-series-finale-first-look-lili-simmons-adult-selina-kyle/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421025738/https://ew.com/tv/2019/04/19/gotham-series-finale-first-look-lili-simmons-adult-selina-kyle/ |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |access-date=May 11, 2019}}{{Cite news |last=Perigard |first=Mark |date=April 25, 2019 |title=A Dark Knight rises over 'Gotham' finale |work=Boston Herald |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/04/25/gotham-2/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427073955/https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/04/25/gotham-2/ |archive-date=April 27, 2019}}

Stephens compared the costume worn by Bruce in the episode to the Batsuit seen in the film The Dark Knight Rises (2012) due to being a matte, metallic short-eared battlesuit.{{Cite web |last=Lapin-Bertone |first=Joshua |date=October 10, 2018 |title=Gotham season 5: Details on Bruce Wayne's Batsuit |url=https://bamsmackpow.com/2018/10/10/gotham-season-5-details-bruce-waynes-batsuit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104003046/https://bamsmackpow.com/2018/10/10/gotham-season-5-details-bruce-waynes-batsuit/ |archive-date=January 4, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=Bam Smack Pow}} Lord Taylor said the episode would feature Cobblepot resembling the character as he did in the comics. To achieve Cobblepot's fat look, he wore a fatsuit. At Lord Taylor's request, the costume designer consciously avoided making Cobblepot resemble Violet Beauregarde's "blueberry girl" look from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) and instead went for a "little more monstrous" look, which included depicting the character with a hunch.{{Cite web |last=Mehmedova |first=Filiz |date=January 19, 2019 |title=Gotham star teases that fans will get a "glimpse of the Penguin we all know and love" |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a25961830/gotham-season-5-robin-lord-taylor-glimpse-penguin-we-all-know-love/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104210413/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a25961830/gotham-season-5-robin-lord-taylor-glimpse-penguin-we-all-know-love/ |archive-date=November 4, 2021 |access-date=March 14, 2022 |website=Digital Spy}} Additionally, Nygma's Riddler costume was designed to look exactly as in the comics, by having a green color scheme and being filled with question marks throughout.{{Cite web |last=Ridgeley |first=Charlie |date=November 19, 2018 |title='Gotham' Final Season Set Photos Reveal Penguin & Riddler in Classic Comic Costumes |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/11/19/gotham-riddler-penguin-classic-comic-costumes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207183415/https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/11/19/gotham-riddler-penguin-classic-comic-costumes/ |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |access-date=February 26, 2019 |website=Comicbook.com}} The final episode sees Selina established as a cat burglar; Bicondova said the costume for this episode eschewed the ears seen in most Catwoman costumes in order to look more grounded.{{Cite web |last=Ridgely |first=Charlie |date=January 18, 2019 |title='Gotham' Star Camren Bicondova Says Selina's Catwoman Costume Won't Have Ears |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/amp/2019/01/18/gotham-catwoman-suit-no-ears/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206062504/https://comicbook.com/dc/amp/2019/01/18/gotham-catwoman-suit-no-ears/ |archive-date=February 6, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=Comicbook.com}}

The episode was filmed in November 2018.{{Cite news |last=Priola |first=Victoria |date=November 14, 2018 |title='Gotham' films series finale on Staten Island |work=Staten Island Advance |url=https://www.silive.com/expo/life-and-culture/erry-2018/11/e5d53fd7993094/gotham-films-series-finale-on.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513043941/https://expo.silive.com/life-and-culture/erry-2018/11/e5d53fd7993094/gotham-films-series-finale-on.html |archive-date=May 13, 2019}} Before the season began filming, McKenzie began growing a moustache to accurately resemble Gordon as seen in the comics.{{Cite web |last=Arvedon |first=Jon |date=May 24, 2018 |title=Gotham: Jim Gordon's Mustache to Debut in Season 5 |url=https://www.cbr.com/gotham-season-five-jim-gordon-mustache/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227032954/https://www.cbr.com/gotham-season-five-jim-gordon-mustache/ |archive-date=February 27, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=Comic Book Resources}} However, since he had only two days to grow the moustache, it was ultimately decided that he sport a fake one.{{Cite web |last=Elvy |first=Craig |date=March 26, 2019 |title=Gotham: Jim Gordon's Iconic Mustache Won't Be Entirely Real |url=https://screenrant.com/gotham-gordon-mustache-real-fake/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513045439/https://screenrant.com/gotham-gordon-mustache-real-fake/ |archive-date=May 13, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=Screen Rant}} Mazouz provided the close up shots and voice for Bruce in his costume,{{Cite web |last=Whitbrook |first=James |date=February 6, 2019 |title=David Mazouz Will Become Batman Before Gotham Ends, But He Won't be the One in the Batsuit |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/david-mazouz-will-become-batman-before-gotham-ends-but-1832408570 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207115912/https://io9.gizmodo.com/david-mazouz-will-become-batman-before-gotham-ends-but-1832408570 |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=io9}} while stunt double Mikhail Mudrik filled in for distant shots to fit with the character's grown-up appearance.{{Cite web |last=Nolan |first=L.D. |date=April 27, 2019 |title=Gotham Set Video Reveals Best Look Yet at Batman Costume |url=https://www.cbr.com/gotham-set-video-batman-costume/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427223822/https://www.cbr.com/gotham-set-video-batman-costume/ |archive-date=April 27, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=Comic Book Resources}}

"The Beginning..." was first aired in the United States on Fox on April 25, 2019. It was watched by 2.19 million viewers with a 0.5/2 share among adults aged 18 to 49.{{Cite web |last=Rejent |first=Joseph |date=April 26, 2019 |title='The Big Bang Theory' adjusts up, NFL Draft adjusts down: Thursday final ratings |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/thursday-final-ratings-april-25-2019/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426215120/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/thursday-final-ratings-april-25-2019/ |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=TV by the Numbers}}{{Cite web |last=Pucci |first=Douglas |date=May 8, 2019 |title=Live+7 Weekly Ratings: 'Jane the Virgin' and 'Whiskey Cavalier' Each More Than Double Their Respective Same-Day Demos and Viewers |url=https://programminginsider.com/live7-weekly-ratings-jane-the-virgin-and-whiskey-cavalier-each-more-than-double-their-respective-same-day-demos-and-viewers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508181427/https://programminginsider.com/live7-weekly-ratings-jane-the-virgin-and-whiskey-cavalier-each-more-than-double-their-respective-same-day-demos-and-viewers/ |archive-date=May 8, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=Programming Insider}}

Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a rating of 8.3 out of 10, saying, "Gotham{{'}}s finale works way more than it doesn't, as a time jump allows both a Dark Knight and a Clown Prince to rise."{{Cite web |last=Fowler |first=Matt |date=April 25, 2019 |title=Gotham Season 5 Episode 12: "The Beginning..." Series Finale Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/04/26/gotham-season-5-episode-12-the-beginning-recap |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426133232/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/04/26/gotham-season-5-episode-12-the-beginning-recap |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=IGN}} Ben Travers of IndieWire gave the episode a "B" rating, saying, "Gotham always worked as a series you could tune in and out of; it held fast to its purpose as a broadcast drama. But for those who stuck with it, week after week, year after year, the end result is a spellbinding blend of genres, tropes, and characters."{{Cite web |last=Travers |first=Ben |date=April 26, 2019 |title='Gotham' Series Finale Review: Fox's Gonzo Cop Show Enlivens its Inevitable End |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/gotham-series-finale-review-season-5-episode-12-the-beginning-spoilers-1202127804/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502024147/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/gotham-series-finale-review-season-5-episode-12-the-beginning-spoilers-1202127804/ |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019 |website=IndieWire}} Brian Lowry of CNN said the finale "felt more obligatory than soaring, bringing the show to a landing that felt mildly satisfying, but more than anything, overdue."{{Cite web |last=Lowry |first=Brian |date=April 26, 2019 |title='Gotham' finale leaps into the Dark Knight |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/25/entertainment/gotham-series-finale/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928045625/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/25/entertainment/gotham-series-finale/index.html |archive-date=September 28, 2019 |access-date=September 28, 2019 |website=CNN}}

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• {{IMDb episode|id=8413474}}
• [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/gotham/s05/e12 The Beginning...] at Rotten Tomatoes

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Category:2010s American television series finales

Category:2019 American television episodes

Category:Gotham season 5 episodes