Kathryn Monroe was a major antagonist in the third season of Gotham. She was one of Gotham City's wealthy elite and a high-ranking member of the Court of Owls, a secret society that has been ruling Gotham from the shadows since its foundation.
History[]
Season 2[]
First appearing in the episode "A Legion of Horribles", Kathryn acted as a medium between the Court and Professor Hugo Strange. After Strange (who has been tasked by the Court to find a way to achieve immortality) had failed to provide any useful information, he was contacted by Kathryn, who was wearing an owl mask. Strange was visibly intimidated by the woman and tried to reason with her. Although Kathryn told him that in the eyes of the Court, Strange had failed his mission as he was not able to revive dead people with their memories intact, Strange told her that just that day, he was able to bring back Fish Mooney who was still aware of her past life. Surprised, Kathryn gave Strange additional time after he told her that he was likely able to repeat the process.
However, as Strange was being investigated by Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne, Kathryn ordered Strange to move his subjects to another upstate facility and to destroy Indian Hill. She also told him that both Gordon and Wayne needed to die. However, the plan failed and Strange was arrested by the GCPD. Some of his revived patients, led by Mooney, were able to escape into Gotham.
Season 3[]
Dealing with Bruce Wayne[]
Months later, Kathryn was informed by someone on Wayne Enterprises' board of directors that Bruce Wayne was continuing to investigate the Court, having arrived at the company to the board of being influenced by the Court. Bruce threatened them that he had proof and would give it up to the media should the Court not step forward to meeting him. After Kathryn heard this, she arranged to meet Bruce, sending a Talon to retrieve him.
Bruce was brought before Kathryn who removed her mask. Bruce recognized Kathryn and claimed to know her, saying he had seen her at company events. Kathryn introduced herself to Bruce and that she represented the group Bruce had been investigating. When she asked what Bruce knew about the Court, he admitted he hadn't known anything until that moment.
Bruce tried to make a deal with Kathryn, attempting to ensure the safety of himself and his friends. Kathryn wanted to know what Bruce was offering and shrugged off his offer of Wayne Enterprises, claiming that she already owned it. Bruce told her that he wasn't finished and said that in case of his death, every aspect and file of Wayne Enterprises would be searched and that the existence of Kathryn's group would thus become public. Kathryn did not seem especially bothered by this, stating that the Court would weather the storm. She nonetheless agreed not to make any move against him or his friends, so long as Bruce promised to cease all investigation into the Court's affairs. She then had a Talon render Bruce unconscious before taking him home.
Days later, Kathryn met with 501A, an Indian Hill test subject who looked exactly like Bruce Wayne. She had her car stop next to him and rolled down the window, addressing him as Bruce Wayne, but the boy told her that he wasn't Bruce. Kathryn replied that he could be before a Talon snuck up behind the doppelganger and drugged him.
Further business[]
Kathryn was present at the Founder's Dinner at the mansion of current mayor Oswald Cobblepot. She had a brief conversation with Oswald, telling him that she came from one of Gotham's oldest families and represented a group that 'controls'. She told Oswald that her group had taken an interest in him and that they might contact him soon, before leaving the party.
After Kathryn had left the party, Jervis Tetch and the Tweeds attacked. After the threat was eliminated by the GCPD, Kathryn met with a mysterious person and mused over how she got away just in time. The man asked her about her assessment of Cobblepot and Kathryn replied that Cobblepot was still a criminal despite his reputation and current status as Mayor of Gotham City.
For reasons unknown, the Court sent assassins after Mario Calvi, the son of crime boss Carmine Falcone. However, the assassins failed and when Falcone found out, he arranged a meeting with Kathryn and demanded to know why the Court was attacking his son despite his loyalty. Kathryn refused to give him any information, so an angry Falcone threatened her, vowing to wage war against the Court if they tried to harm his son again. However, Kathryn was unmoved by Falcone's threat, further explaining that Gotham was on the brink of chaos and that Falcone's son was safe as long as he proved loyal when called upon.
During Jerome Valeska's night of terror, Kathryn discussed the situation with Frank Gordon, another member of the Court. Kathryn claimed that the Court might need to step in should the city further plunge into anarchy, but Gordon told her to wait, as he had faith in the GCPD and his nephew Jim Gordon. After Jerome was captured and the danger had passed, the two intended to continue with their plans. While Frank was supposed to recruit Jim for the Court's cause, Kathryn had the Bruce Wayne lookalike brought before her, revealing that he had been groomed to impersonate Bruce. After 504A managed to convince Kathryn that he could pose as Bruce, she informed Frank about their progress.
Recruiting Jim Gordon[]
After Frank's suicide, Kathryn eventually called at Frank's apartment in order to find out whether Frank had killed Jim. It was Jim who picked up the phone. According to what Frank ordered him to do before his death, Jim revealed that he killed Frank, to which Kathryn replied that she understood. Jim proposed a meeting and Kathryn agreed, revealing that she had already sent a car to pick him up. Jim was delivered to the Court's headquarters where Kathryn demanded to know whether Jim held the Court responsible for the death of his father. Gordon replied that Frank acted alone and Kathryn seemed to be appeased. She claimed that in that case, they could continue and revealed to Jim that great things would happen in Gotham soon. However, she claimed that Gordon had to prove himself to the Court first, before he could be trusted with more information. She stated that they would call upon him when the time is right and that the Court had already taken care of Frank's body.
After her meeting with Gordon, Kathryn was called by 504A who asked to meet her. Kathryn agreed and the clone revealed to her that his nosebleeds had flared up. Kathryn had the clone examined by a doctor, who informed them that the clone would die because the creation process he resulted from was flawed. Kathryn did not hide this truth from the clone, who accepted his fate as the Court gave him purpose. The clone asked Kathryn whether he would die before Bruce returned to Gotham, but Kathryn assured him that Bruce would be back long before that. The clone then claimed that many people would die once Bruce returned. Kathryn confirmed this but also stated that the number of deaths was inconsequential to their greater goal.
When the Riddler threatened to expose the Court on live television, Kathryn called Gordon, stating that the Court could not be exposed and that this was Gordon's chance to prove himself. When Gordon protested and stated that Nygma belonged in prison, Kathryn stated that the choice is up to him. However, she made it clear that if Gordon refused, they would not speak again, implying that Gordon would be silenced if he did not carry out the Court's will. Gordon indeed managed to stop Nygma by promising to arrange a meeting between him and the Court. Nygma and Gordon drove towards a meeting point where Kathryn arrived in a limousine. Although Nygma was skeptical at first that Kathryn was part of the Court, claiming she could be an impostor set up by Gordon, Kathryn soon convinced him. She told Nygma to enter her car and all his questions would be answered. Nygma entered Kathryn's car and before he was driven away, Kathryn approached Gordon's car. She claimed that Gordon had made her proud and that he would be a true benefit to the Court. Gordon asked her what she planned to do to Nygma and Kathryn replied that the Court would surely find a purpose for a man of his intellect. However, Nygma was instead hung up in a cage in the Court's headquarters.
The Tetch virus[]
After her meeting with Nygma, Kathryn arranged for Nathaniel Barnes to be broken out of Arkham Asylum and to be delivered to the Court of Owls. Once Barnes had arrived, Kathryn welcomed him and remarked that the two of them finally had the opportunity to meet. Barnes asked Kathryn what she wanted from him and she claimed that both of them shared the same goal: cleansing Gotham. However, Kathryn replied that her plan for cleansing Gotham was on a far greater scale and that in order for the plan to work, the Court needed Alice Tetch's virus that ran through his veins. She assured Barnes that her scientist had been instructed not to drain Barnes completely and to Barnes' horror, the scientist was revealed to be Professor Hugo Strange.
In a meeting of the Court, Kathryn revealed to the leaders that all Court activities were suspended in order to focus completely on the preparation of their project. She told the council that the leaders should hand in their "lists" for inspections if they hadn't done so already. She then dismissed the council but Gordon managed to witness where Kathryn stored her mask. He later snuck back into the room and investigated the mask for fingerprints.
After the council meeting, Kathryn headed back to the lab where Strange was experimenting on Barnes. After a short conversation about Fish Mooney, whom Strange successfully saved, Kathryn asked Strange whether he succeeded in what Kathryn asked of him. Strange led her to another section where a test subject was imprisoned in a glass cell. Strange activated a vent in the chamber which pumped in an aerosolized version of the Tetch virus. As the subject inside was driven mad by the virus, Kathryn stood in awe and congratulated Strange for his success.
Home invasion[]
From the fingerprints Gordon took from Kathryn's mask, Harvey Bullock was able to find out her last name and her address. Gordon then planned to break into Kathryn's house because she seemed to be the only one who knew what the Court's weapon was. When Jim did break into Kathryn's house, he found a box with the Court's insignia engraved in it. He also found a Wayne Enterprises access card which contained a shipping number. However, at that same moment, Jim realized that Kathryn was inside the house and that her butler was coming upstairs.
Realizing he was trapped, Jim made a plan. He openly revealed himself to Kathryn and acted as if he had just come to inform her about Oswald Cobblepot's return to Gotham. Kathryn coldly asked him if that was all and Jim, still trying to explain his presence, acted as if he was furious for being kept in the dark. He stated that he wanted a position on the Council and that he wanted to know what their plans were. Still doubting Jim's reasons, Kathryn asked what would happen if Gordon did not like the plans, but Gordon told her to just try him. Kathryn then stated that Gotham had been plagued by crime and corruption for far too long, so long that its citizens had gotten accustomed to it. In order to change the city, the Court would show the citizens their own darkest selves. She then revealed that she would take Gordon's demand into consideration, but also ordered him to leave her house at once. When Gordon left, Kathryn coldly watched him from the window.
After Gordon, who has used the card he found at Kathryn's house to track down the lab where Strange is located, returned from his conversation with Strange, he was called by Kathryn who stated that she had time to think about Gordon's demand. She told him to meet her at an address but did not reveal more than that. When Gordon arrived, Kathryn told him to hand over his gun and his phone. After Gordon handed both over to a Talon, Kathryn beckoned him to come closer. Gordon headed to the window where Kathryn was standing and realized that they were looking onto a party of young socialites, whom Kathryn stated believe they hed the power in Gotham. She then brought Gordon to a table, revealing that she had a bomb containing the Tetch virus brought with her. She claimed that what was about to happen was only a test for the final cleansing and activated the bomb. She had one of her Talons bring the container down to the party and told Gordon that he was to watch as the bomb went off, assuring him that he would be safe from the dispersal at their vantage point but also warning him that the Talon was instructed to kill him if he did anything to try and stop the detonation.
The Sensei later called Kathryn and informed her about the progress he had been making with Bruce. He revealed to Kathryn that he and Bruce would leave their location that very night and that they would be returning to Gotham. When Kathryn then headed to her desk, she noticed the drawer Jim busted open and furiously slammed it shut. Realizing that Gordon had deceived her from the start, Kathryn had Barnes brought to her and employed him to kill Gordon before he could threaten the Court.
Death[]
Barnes managed to capture Gordon and delivered him to Kathryn in an abandoned mansion outside of Gotham. Once Jim regained consciousness, he was confronted by Kathryn and Barnes, the former stating that Jim had made a fool of her and must pay the price. When Gordon tried to speak, she coldly stopped him, demanding he not insult her further by lying. She revealed that she knew that Gordon took her keycard and that, oddly enough, Strange did not mention Gordon's visit. Implying that she would deal with Strange as well, Kathryn then asks to whom Gordon spoke about the Court. Gordon, however, stated that the Court killed his father and drove his uncle into suicide before telling Kathryn and the Court to go to hell. Gordon tried to convince Barnes to turn against Kathryn, but his attempts were fruitless. Kathryn told Jim that Barnes hadn't been ordered or coerced by her into hunting him down, but was helping her because they both regarded Jim as an enemy of Gotham. Kathryn then left the building, leaving Gordon at the mercy of the psychotic Barnes.
Gordon, however, would manage to escape Barnes and return to the GCPD, alerting Bullock and the Strike Force, who then headed to Kathryn's home and arrested her. She was brought into the police precinct where Gordon himself interrogated her. However, Kathryn acted dumb, pretending to know nothing about any bomb and causing Gordon some frustration. When Gordon stated that some other member of the Court will surely talk after the Court realized their leader was behind bars. Kathryn laughed, claiming that she wasn't the Court's leader at all.
During Kathryn's interrogation, Alfred Pennyworth arrived at the precinct to report Bruce's disappearance. Hearing from Bullock that Kathryn was in custody, he stormed into the interrogation room and demanded to know where Bruce was. Kathryn brushed Alfred off, amusedly stating that the "Good cop-Bad cop" routine wouldn't work on her, but Alfred reminded her that he wasn't a cop and drew a knife, which he then rammed into her hand. Despite her immense pain, Kathryn did not reveal any information. Furthermore, the interrogation was compromised when Barnes stormed the GCPD, taking out all the officers in the bullpen with knockout gas.
To escape the chaos, Bullock, Alfred and Jim walked into the main lobby with Kathryn as their hostage. Realizing that she was the key to finding Bruce, Jim ordered Alfred and Bullock to walk out of the precinct with Kathryn, who in turn screamed for Barnes to help her. Barnes, however, seemed to be more focused on taking down Jim, Bullock and Alfred. He jumped at them from the rafters and attacked them, overpowering them all. When Kathryn furiously told Barnes to stop with this nonsense and get her to safety instead, Barnes coldly stated that it was not nonsense but justice. He then raised his axe gauntlet and beheaded Kathryn with one swift stroke.