TELEVISION REVIEW

“GOTHAM”

Series finale tonight at 8 on Fox.

Grade: B

We’ve known the ending of “Gotham” since the show premiered back in 2014 — the prequel series must end with Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) taking on the cape and cowl of Batman, the Dark Knight of Gotham City.

(Also: Star Ben McKenzie, newly appointed Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon, told Jimmy Kimmel as much when he guested on his ABC late-night show earlier this month.)

“The Beginning …,” the 100th episode and series finale, gives us the hero we have been waiting for in a style that will remind some of the “Smallville” finale, but goes beyond it by establishing Batman’s most notorious rogues.

Ten years later, news spreads that Bruce is ready to return to the city for the inauguration of a new Wayne Tower. Jim is ready to retire, even if he does have some doubts.

“I was hoping Gotham would outgrow me, but it hasn’t exactly happened. No one has stepped forward,” Jim admits, unaware he’s about to get what he asked for in a way he never expected.

Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor) is finally released from prison and he’s gunning for revenge.

Edward Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) stews in a rancid mental hospital with He Who Must Not Be Named. When Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue) is framed for murder — a crime he confesses to — Jim, Leslie (Morena Baccarin), Barbara (Erin Richards) and others become ensnared in a plot that threatens the entire city.

There are some well-executed callbacks to previous episodes. One glaring drawback to the time jump: Selina Kyle is now played by guest star Lili Simmons of “The Purge.” Camren Bicondova decided to cede the role, according to her own lengthy post on Twitter, because she wasn’t comfortable playing a woman 10 years older. Simmons does an admirable job channeling her spirit as Selina struggles with her feelings toward Bruce, who dumped her in a letter. (Honestly, who does that? Who wouldn’t turn to a life of crime?)

Jim and Harvey prove to be, however unintentionally, hilarious, just the worst detectives ever by being unable to connect Bruce’s return to the identity of the new vigilante in town. (In that, the show is faithful to the comics.)

By hour’s end, the Batman universe of friends and foes is fixed in ways that could spin out stories for years.

One way this hour could be better: A closing tag announcing “Gotham: Season Six.”

In our Bat dreams.