As season 4 of Gotham progress, Bruce Wayne will lose himself more and more in his various personas. The theme for this season of Gotham so far has clearly been transformation. In fact, that may be what the show is about in general. As a prolonged origin story for a slew of heroes and villains, we’ve seen characters like Bruce, Gordon, Penguin, and Selina all shift and change over the years. Season 4, however, is pushing all of that to the forefront.
Last week saw Bruce finally suit up as a vigilante, while Selina did the same thing as a thief. We’ve also been teased with big changes for Barbara and Ivy, Jonathan Crane came back after a number of seasons to become Scarecrow, and Butch will soon become Solomon Grundy. But last episode also showed us a few other sides of Bruce. With the character finally stepping into the center of the storytelling, we saw young Bruce channel his acting skills at the behest of Alfred and attempt to do some good old-fashioned detective work. But as the season continues, his future self will begin to consume him.
During New York Comic Con this past weekend, Gotham star David Mazouz teased the dark transformation awaiting Bruce once he reconnects with Ra’s al Ghul.
That dark change, of course, is necessary for Bruce to become Batman. Luckily, it won’t be all doom and gloom. Last week’s debut of the ‘billionaire brat’ persona gave Mazouz the chance to really stretch as an actor. Luckily, that persona will continue to be a part of Bruce’s toolkit.
“Bruce’s relationship with Ra’s is going to be the most important relationship he has actually this year. Ra’s is going to take the last strand of boyish innocence that Bruce possesses and snap it in two - very soon actually. You’re not going to have to wait long to see that…Because of a very tragic episode that happens with Bruce and Ra’s, he’s going to transform as a human and he’s never going to be the same ever again. He’s really going to lose all of his naivety, all of his innocence, and he’s going to see the world for what it is, this unforgiving, disgusting place and especially Gotham — it’s 10 times that.”
The tease of even Alfred not liking who Bruce turns into is interesting. Though Bruce’s guardian has certainly held him back at certain points, he’s also enabled his tendencies. In fact, he goes out with Bruce to run missions. Hopefully, the rift between them won’t grow too big as Mazouz and Sean Pertwee have remained the secret weapon of Gotham for these past few seasons.
“What we saw in the last episode…that was just a tease. It’s going to go six hundred million times that in coming episodes and coming scenes. Bruce is going to become a different person. Because of a tragedy that happens, it’s going to change him and it’s going to turn him into that person. He becomes somebody that nobody should be proud of, and that Alfred definitely isn’t proud of, and it gets really dark but it’s been so much fun to play.”
Gotham continues this Thursday with ‘The Demon’s Head’ on FOX.
