Deaths coming quickly in ‘Gotham’ season 2, ‘sudden and unexpected’

Gotham TV series creator/showrunner Bruno Heller previewed the continuation of the Batman prequel series, now headed into season 2, which has been marketed as “Rise of the Villains.”

Fans can easily see the setup for a story which will naturally tie in with Robin Lord Taylor’s Oswald Cobblepot having become king of the eponymous city’s underworld during the Gotham season 1 finale, but the real catalysts behind the unification of Gotham City’s most dangerous crooks will be one Theo Galavan (James Frain) and his sister Tabitha a.k.a. Tigress (Jessica Lucas).

Robin Taylor Lord’s Oswalt ended season 1 in power, leaving the “puppet” status and life behind

Those watching at home won’t have to wait long for Gotham season 2’s plot machinations to kick into gear, either. A handful of previously-released Gotham season 2 clips – teasing some close encounters between established baddies on the show – have already proven as much, and now we’re hearing that the show will start racking up its body count faster than previously expected, too.

Season two will see the formation of the new gang called Maniax, comprised of escaped Arkham Asylum inmates, including the young version of the Joker, Jerome, played by Cameron Monaghan. TV Guide notes that there will be the death of two “significant” characters during its first few episodes, in order to get the over-arching season narrative

One is described as  being “sudden and unexpected,” while the other should wind up being a key factor behind the motivation for James Gordon’s (Ben McKenzie) actions over the course of the season ahead.

The Gotham City Police Department employee – and the current girlfriend to James Gordon – Dr. Leslie Thompkins (Morena Baccarin) remains perhaps the one central Gotham character in greatest danger of suffering a premature death, even now that Baccarin has been upgraded to series regular status for the show’s second season.

Even though Gotham has already proven that it’s wiling to play fast and loose with the Batman mythology, the death that rocks Gordon’s world in season 2 will not likely be his ex-turned Arkham inmate Barbara Kean (Erin Richards).

Another likely victim could be  GCPD Captain Sarah Essen (Zabryna Guevara), setting up the addition of Captain Nathaniel Barnes (Michael Chiklis), who  now arrives in Gotham City.