Gotham – Allegations Of Thomas Wayne’s Corruption

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This week, Bruce Wayne was finally able to get some answers regarding Wayne Enterprises’ corruption from scheming executive Sid Bunderslaw. In the twenty-first episode, The Anvil or the Hammer, Bruce is caught by Bunderslaw trying to open the executive’s office safe. Surprising the audience and Bruce, Bunderslaw reveals that he’s been waiting for Bruce to arrive. Bunderslaw then candidly divulges to Bruce that his father, Thomas Wayne, was complicit in Wayne Enterprises’ darker activities. As Bunderslaw is about to go deeper, Bruce is saved by junior executive Lucius Fox (a character every Batman fan knows is a future ally to Bruce). Lucius then tells Bruce that Thomas was a good man and that he pretended to bend to the will of the corrupt board. At the end of the episode, we see Bruce believe Bunderslaw more than he does Fox, and he ends up pinning Thomas’s picture to his investigation board.

These revelations raise an eyebrow to every fan. We’ve always known the Wayne family to be stoic and ethical. There’s no way Thomas Wayne was involved with Wayne Enterprises’ cooperation with Gotham City’s underworld. And why would Gotham‘s writers retcon the legend this way? You’re probably thinking, “If they really want to throw a curve ball for Season Two, find another avenue.” Well, with some digging, it appears that Gotham may be taking inspiration from the comics — the Batman R.I.P. story arc.

Batman R.I.P. is the story arc name given to Batman #676 – #681 (May 2008 – November 2008) where the Black Glove organization attempts to destroy Batman by damaging his mind and psyche. In the story, allegations are brought up that both Thomas and Martha Wayne were not the good citizens the world saw them to be. The two were actually corrupt individuals who lived a secret life of debauchery — drug use, orgies, and criminal perversion. At the end of the story, it’s revealed that the evidence was fake and part of a plan to destroy Bruce Wayne’s reputation.

Could Gotham be creating a Batman R.I.P.-type storyline? The evil board of Wayne Enterprises could easily be Gotham‘s version of the Black Glove organization. And destroying a young Bruce Wayne’s reputation may be the only way to discredit the young billionaire’s investigation and evidence. The board most likely can’t kill him. The death of Thomas and Martha Wayne may have been seen as a random act of violence, but having Bruce killed off would definitely raise some red flags. Also, the board may need some things from the heir to the Wayne dynasty. That’s what it seemed like when Bunderslaw was talking to Bruce in his office. Bunderslaw sounded like he was trying to show Bruce that if his father was corrupt, it’s okay for him to be corrupt also. And that’s probably also why Lucius Fox stepped in to reassure Bruce that Bunderslaw’s recollecting of Thomas’s cooperation was a lie.

With only one more episode to go, Bruce will most likely find another thread to pull on. The reasons for Thomas and Martha Waynes’ murders may be as simple as them wanting to go public about Wayne Enterprises’ dealings. But I have a feeling that things may be a bit more complicated than that. After all, why would Bunderslaw so openly admit the company’s corruption to Bruce? Maybe Bruce’s reaction is exactly what the board wants and needs for the next stage of their plan.

The season finale of Fox’s Gotham airs this Monday, May 4, 2015 at 8:00PM EST.

Next: Catch up on Gotham with a review of The Anvil or the Hammer