The season finale of the crime-drama "Gotham," "All Happy Families Are Alike," was met with increased ratings, as the war between mobsters Falcone and Maroni escalated, and death and mayhem arose in the series' other storylines.

The Batman prequel series was the highest-rated scripted series of Monday evening, likely due to the rabid drama on the final episode.

The episode saw the aftermath of Ogre's death, where Barbara decided to seek trauma counseling following the near-death encounter.

Don Salvatore Maroni (David Zayas) was shot dead by Fish Mooney following his flagrant disrespect toward her. Also, Oswald Cobblepot and Butch Gilzean nearly sent Don Carmine Falcone to his maker, also, but they were stopped by James Gordon. Meanwhile, Falcone and his men are kidnapped and held hostage by Mooney and her gang, which includes Selina Kyle. However, Mooney is eventually rescued by Gordon and Bullock.

Later, during a rooftop pursuit, Gilzean accidently shoots Cobblepot and Mooney when suffering from mental pain. Cobblepot then managed to subdue Gilzean and throw Mooney off of the rooftop into the water below.

However, most importantly, Edward Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova) and Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) moved toward their true destinies as the Riddler, Catwoman and The Dark Knight himself, Batman. In fact, Wayne discovered a device in one of his books that revealed a secret stairs behind the fireplace, leading to a cave, which, in time, will become his superhero lair after transformation into Gotham's most renowned superhero.

Jada Pinkett-Smith announced months ago she would not return to the series for Season 2. Following that announcement, series creator Bruno Heller explained that Mooney's departure was necessary.

"She's such a domineering, powerful, imperious person that Penguin can't possibly be the crime lord in Gotham while Fish is around, especially if she has anything to say about it," Heller told Deadline. "[However,] it is Gotham, and death isn't a barrier to return (for its characters), not saying that she'll definitely return."

In the upcoming season, Nygma aka the Riddler will become a larger, more villainous character in the upcoming season and there will be a very big villain. Heller teased that it might be the Joker.

"We're going to answer a lot of questions about The Joker that were raised this season," said Heller, referring to "The Blind Fortune Teller" episode.

Executive producers John Stephens and Danny Cannon told Deadline they began working on the second season storyline just one week ago, and production will begin on June 22 at the Brooklyn Navy Yards, the same production locale for HBO's "Boardwalk Empire."

Related