[SPOILERS for Gotham season 1 ahead.]
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It’s fair to say that FOX’s revisionist history of the Batman mythos – aka Gotham – was far from generally-beloved by the time its first season wrapped. However, the show for sure has its fans and it did well enough ratings-wise to earn a season two renewal form the network. A number of established characters are already confirmed to return for the show’s sophomore year, but there’s one prominent season 1 figure whose presence remains a big question mark (and it’s not the Riddler).
Jada Pinkett Smith has expressed her doubts about returning as mob boss Fish Mooney for a while now, even before the character was shown plunging to a watery death (or was she?) in the Gotham season one finale. Gotham‘s creators remain adamant that the door remains open for Smith to reprise her role down the line – something that wouldn’t require a huge leap in logic, since (as indicated) it wasn’t made clear if Fish did indeed drown after her scuffle with Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor).
During a recent appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Pinkett Smith was again faced with the question of whether or not she will be coming back to Gotham. Here’s what she said about why she signed just a one-season contract:
“[I signed on for one year] because I really felt like Fish was there to be in service for that year, to give Penguin something to do… I love [Penguin actor Robin Lord Taylor]. I love him. He’s phenomenal, and he’s such a pleasure to work with. I’m going to miss him. I’m going to miss the whole cast. It was such a great team.”
The tone of finality in Pinkett Smith’s words here seem to indicate that she has no plan to return to Gotham in the future. However, during the same interview, she also maintained that her decision to come back or not has nothing to do with the terms of her contract. She specifically mentioned that it is difficult to commit to a series, as “you just want to make sure that you’re committing to one that makes sense” – suggesting that she might well be taking a wait and see approach right now, regarding Fish’s future.
One can hardly blame Pinkett Smith for not wanting her schedule bogged down by Gotham. After all, the show has received a divisive response at best from fans, and there’s a great deal of truth to her discussion that Fish’s purpose was largely to serve as a launchpad for the Penguin’s storyline (it seems like she was created exclusively for that purpose, really). Fish making a guest appearance isn’t outside the realm of possibility, but it seems safe to say: her days as a series regular on Gotham are probably over.
That’s just as well, though, since such characters as Dr. Leslie Thompkins (Morena Baccarin), Harvey Dent (Nicholas D’Agosto), and Lucius Fox (Chris Chalk) are all being promoted to series regular status on Gotham season two. There will also be additional future Batman super villains added to the mix next season, so the show’s going to be more crowded than ever in the episodes ahead – even with Fish seemingly out of the picture, for good.
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Gotham season 2 will premiere on FOX in Fall 2015.
