10 Ways Gotham Has Redeemed Itself
5. The Fall Of James Gordon
One of the three pillars of the show (along with Penguin and Bruce Wayne), James Gordon started off as straight-laced cop who was going to change the corrupt culture of the GCPD (as he did in the comics). Because that narrative was too predictable, Gotham’s showrunners decided to tear him down before they build him back up.
After refusing to kill the Penguin in the first season, his morality made him a target of criminals and other police officers. Over time, he began to see the hopelessness of his cause and even turned to Oswald Cobblepot for help with the department. With Penguin’s help never coming free, James was forced to murder a rival crime boss in return for Penguin’s favor. Further incriminating himself, he helped Penguin kill Mayor Theo Galavan before eventually being arrested and sent to prison.
Refusing to take back his badge after being exonerated, he became a bounty hunter and began dating Valerie Vale after his relationship with Lee Thompkins fell apart. After being put through hell by Jervis Tetch and losing his new lady love, Gordon finally returned to the GCPD more humble and driven than ever before.
While James Gordon’s terrible experiences from the last couple of seasons have completely changed his way of thinking, it makes his character much more interesting when he falls so far before his eventual rise.