Worse Than a Crime

Last updated
"Worse Than a Crime"
Gotham episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 11
Directed by Jeffrey Hunt
Written by Bruno Heller
Production code4X6211
Original air dateNovember 30, 2015 (2015-11-30)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
 Previous
"The Son of Gotham"
Next 
"Mr. Freeze"
Gotham season 2
List of episodes

"Worse Than a Crime" is the eleventh episode of the second season, 33rd episode overall and the mid-season finale from the FOX series Gotham . This episode is also the last episode to use the subtitle "Rise of the Villains". The episode was written by series developer Bruno Heller and directed by Jeffrey Hunt. It was first broadcast in November 30, 2015 in FOX. In the episode, Gordon has his final showdown against Galavan, who has kidnapped Bruce to end the legacy of his family.

Contents

The episode was watched by 4.51 million viewers, the highest ratings of the season since the second episode and received generally positive reviews. Critics commented on Gordon's morality change but criticized the episode's subplots and pace.

Plot

Alfred (Sean Pertwee) finds himself in a junkyard, hiding from Tabitha (Jessica Lucas) and her crew. Lucius Fox (Chris Chalk), having fixed Thomas Wayne's computer, arrives at Wayne Manor but Bruce (David Mazouz) is nowhere to be found. Bruce is brought to Theo Galavan's (James Frain) penthouse where Theo and Father Creel tell him about the final sacrifice: Bruce himself.

Gordon (Ben McKenzie) wakes up in Nygma's (Cory Michael Smith) apartment where Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor) tells him he's now a fugitive for assaulting Theo in the courtroom and has "Wanted" posters with his face on them. Lee (Morena Baccarin) is shocked by Barnes (Michael Chiklis) ordering Gordon's arrest. Barnes questions Leslie about Gordon's whereabouts but she says she doesn't know anything. Nygma overhears and tells Leslie his location. She arrives just when Gordon, Cobblepot, and his henchmen are planning on killing Theo. Gordon tries to convince Leslie to leave Gotham City, but she reveals instead that she's pregnant.

Silver, not wanting to witness Bruce's death, makes an excuse to Theo stating she's feeling unwell. Theo thinks Silver is weak and tells her to make Bruce fall in love with her again to prove she is worthy of the Dumas' name or else be thrown out of the family. Silver visits Bruce in his cell, apologizing and blaming Theo for everything, but Bruce doesn't listen. Even though he hates her, they talk about their lives and experiences. Silver has a change of mind and tries to help Bruce escape, but their attempts are thwarted by Theo, and they're both jailed.

Alfred tries to hitchhike, but he's arrested for trying to take a man's car. While talking with Barnes and Bullock (Donal Logue), Fox tries to tell them Theo is behind Bruce's disappearance, but Barnes points out that Alfred broke into Theo's penthouse, so that it could be claimed that Tabitha was just defending her home without further proof. Nygma reveals Gordon's location to Fox, Alfred, and Bullock.

Just when Gordon and Leslie are saying goodbye to Penguin, and getting ready to leave Gotham, Alfred, Bullock, and Fox appear and convince him to help them find Bruce. They, alongside Cobblepot and Selina (Camren Bicondova), head to Bruce's location. Bruce, knowing about Silver's motivations for trying to get him to love her, kisses her in front of Theo and forgives her. Bruce is then tied to a stake, where Father Creel prepares to kill him. Gordon and Cobblepot arrive with their henchmen and they engage in a fight with the Order. When Father Creel tries to attack Gordon, Bullock kills him. Selina and Alfred release Bruce.

Theo and Tabitha try to escape using parachutes. Before they go, Theo expresses his disappointment in Silver and appears as though he might kill her, but instead is knocked unconscious by Tabitha, saying she is tired of Theo's bullying. The women escape using the parachutes but leave Theo in the penthouse. Gordon arrives and arrests Theo. Barnes arrives and arrests both Theo and Gordon. Cobblepot arrives and knocks out Barnes. He convinces Gordon that Theo won't ever be convicted for his crimes and needs to be killed. They go to the docks where Cobblepot slowly beats Theo to death with a baseball bat before Gordon puts him out of his misery and shoots him dead. The next day, Gordon meets with Leslie in a park and he proposes to her. Theo's corpse is brought to Indian Hill where scientists state his body will be experimented on by Hugo Strange. In the background, Fish Mooney's corpse is seen.

In the final scene, a man flees from someone and hides behind a dumpster. The follower finds him, revealed to be Mr. Freeze and freezes the man with his cold gun.

Reception

Ratings

The episode was watched by 4.51 million viewers with a 1.6/5 share among adults aged 18 to 49. [1] This was an increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 4.00 million viewers. [2] This made Gotham the most watched program of the day in FOX, beating Minority Report , and also the 29th most watched of the week in the 18-49 demographics. [3]

With Live+7 DVR viewing factored in, the episode had an overall rating of 6.93 million viewers, and a 2.6 in the 18–49 demographic. [4]

Critical reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)71% [5]
Rotten Tomatoes (Average Score)7.0 [5]
IGN 7.5 [6]
The A.V. Club C+ [7]
Paste Magazine8.0 [8]
TV FanaticStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [9]
The Young Folks 8/10 [10]
JoBlo 9/10 [11]
Pop Matters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
New York MagazineStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]

"Rise of the Villains: Worse Than a Crime" received positive reviews from critics. The episode received a rating of 71% with an average score of 7.0 out of 10 on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with the site's consensus stating: "'Worse Than a Crime' is an effective, action-packed mid-season finale that ties up loose ends and makes room for neglected characters while leaving the future wide open." [5]

Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a "good" 7.5 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "'Worse Than a Crime' may have wobbled a bit when it came to the monks and the blood sacrifice and how Theo actually got apprehended, but Gordon's final decision to coldly put a bullet in Theo (after Penguin had mangled him with a bat) was a nice, dark move. And one that I hope is expanded upon." [6]

The A.V. Club's Kyle Fowle gave the episode a "C+" grade and wrote, "Gotham's fall finale, 'Rise Of The Villains: Worse Than A Crime,' wants to be the BIG episode that sees Jim Gordon finally cross that line. It wants to feel important; the whole structure of the episode gives away the motive, which is to build to a shocking climax that, ideally, pays off a half-season's worth of character development, of Jim slowly slipping away from the morals that once defined him and becoming something else. That's a potentially compelling character arc, but Gotham fails to follow through with it for a number of reasons. [7]

Related Research Articles

Jim Gordon (<i>Gotham</i>) Fictional character in the Fox TV series Gotham

James "Jim" Gordon is a fictional character adapted to the screen by Bruno Heller. He serves as the main protagonist of the Warner Bros. and DC Comics television series Gotham, portrayed by Ben McKenzie.

"Mommy's Little Monster" is the seventh episode of the second season and 29th episode overall from the FOX series Gotham. The episode was written by Robert Hull and directed by Kenneth Fink. It was first broadcast in November 2, 2015 in FOX. In this episode, Penguin and Butch release Penguin's mother, but is killed by Galavans, forcing the Penguin into his vengeful conquest against them. Gordon, Bullock and GCPD are forced to protect Theo Galavan from him, but Gordon learns the truth behind Galavan's machinations.

"Damned If You Do..." is the 23rd episode overall and second-season premiere of the FOX series Gotham. The episode was written by series developer Bruno Heller and directed by Danny Cannon. It was first broadcast on September 21, 2015, in FOX.

"Tonight's the Night" is the eighth episode of the second season and 30th episode overall from the FOX series Gotham. The episode was written by Jim Barnes and directed by Jeffrey Hunt. It was first broadcast in November 9, 2015 in FOX. In the episode, Galavan sends Barbara after Jim Gordon, while trying to make a business deal with Bruce Wayne. Nygma has a run-in with Oswald Cobblebot.

"A Bitter Pill to Swallow" is the ninth episode of the second season and 31st episode overall from the FOX series Gotham. The episode was written by Megan Mostyn-Brown and directed by Louis Shaw-Milito. It was first broadcast in November 16, 2015 in FOX. In this episode, Tabitha sends a group of hitmen to kill Gordon after Galavan's arrest. Gordon and Barnes investigate Galavan's penthouse for clues until they're ambushed by Tabitha's hitmen.

"The Son of Gotham" is the tenth episode of the second season and 32nd episode overall from the FOX series Gotham. The episode was written by John Stephens and directed by Rob Bailey. It was first broadcast on November 23, 2015, in FOX.

"Scarification" is the fifth episode of the second season and 27th episode overall from the FOX series Gotham. The episode was written by Jordan Harper and directed by Bill Eagles. It was first broadcast in October 19, 2015 in FOX. In this episode, the alliance between Galavan and Cobblepot needs the help of a group of family arsonists. Cobblepot then discovers the reason behind Galavan's intentions.

"Mad Grey Dawn" is the fifteenth episode of the second season, and 37th episode overall from the Fox series Gotham. The episode was written by Robert Hull and directed by Nick Copus. It was first broadcast on March 21, 2016. In the episode, Gordon and Bullock investigate a pair of clues in a museum, unaware that Edward Nygma is the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Bruce continues living in the streets with Selina and Cobblepot meets a man who knew about his mother.

"Into the Woods" is the seventeenth episode of the second season, and 39th episode overall from the Fox series Gotham. The episode was written by producer Rebecca Perry Cutter and directed by Oz Scott. It was first broadcast on April 11, 2016. In the episode, Gordon tries to clear his name after having escaping from Blackgate Penitentiary with help from Nygma, not knowing Nygma is the one who set him up.

"Unleashed" is the twentieth episode of the second season, and 42nd episode overall from the Fox series Gotham. The episode was written by executive producer Danny Cannon and directed by Paul Edwards. It was first broadcast on May 9, 2016. In the episode, Azrael continues his killing spree across Gotham City while Dr. Strange tries to evade arrest for his experiments.

"Better to Reign in Hell..." is the first episode of the third season, and 45th episode overall from the Fox series Gotham. This is also the first episode in the series with the subtitle "Mad City". The episode was written by executive producer John Stephens and directed by Danny Cannon. It was first broadcast on September 19, 2016. In the episode, after seeing that Lee has been moving on with another man, Gordon leaves her. 6 months later, he has been working as a bounty hunter dedicated to catch Indian Hills' monsters. After an offer of a million dollars from Cobblepot for Fish Mooney, Gordon sets out to find her as she is leading the monsters. Meanwhile, Bruce and Alfred return after laying low and prepare to confront Wayne Enterprises about their role in Indian Hills.

"The Primal Riddle" is the seventeenth episode of the third season, and 61st episode overall from the Fox series Gotham. The show is itself based on the characters created by DC Comics set in the Batman mythology. The episode was written by co-executive producers Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt and directed by Maja Vrvilo. It was first broadcast on May 8, 2017.

"All Will Be Judged" is the nineteenth episode of the third season, and 63rd episode overall from the Fox series Gotham. The show is itself based on the characters created by DC Comics set in the Batman mythology. The episode was written by executive producer Ken Woodruff and directed by John Behring. It was first broadcast on May 22, 2017.

"Light the Wick" is the eighteenth episode of the third season, and 62nd episode overall from the Fox series Gotham. The show is itself based on the characters created by DC Comics set in the Batman mythology. The episode was written by Tze Chun and directed by Mark Tonderai. It was first broadcast on May 15, 2017.

"Heavydirtysoul" is the twenty-second episode of the third season, the second part of the two-part season finale, and the 66th episode overall from the Fox series Gotham. The show is based on the characters created by DC Comics set in the Batman mythology. The episode was written by co-executive producer Robert Hull and directed by Rob Bailey. It was first broadcast on June 5, 2017. The episode marks the introduction of Solomon Grundy to the show. In the episode, Gordon decides to search for Lee after receiving her call, while Nygma and Barbara want to get antidote and Jervis Tetch from prison, clashing with Butch, Tabitha and Cobblepot, the latter who Nygma wants to kill him. Bruce makes a fateful decision about his role in Gotham after his encounter with Ra's al Ghul.

"Destiny Calling" is the twenty-first episode of the third season, the first part of the two-part season finale, and 65th episode overall from the Fox series Gotham. The show is itself based on the characters created by DC Comics set in the Batman mythology. The episode was written by executive producer Danny Cannon and directed by Nathan Hope. It was first broadcast on June 5, 2017.

"Pretty Hate Machine" is the twentieth episode of the third season, and 64th episode overall from the Fox series Gotham. The show is itself based on the characters created by DC Comics set in the Batman mythology. The episode was written by co-executive producers Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt and directed by Danny Cannon. It was first broadcast on May 29, 2017. The episode is named after the 1989 studio album by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails of the same name.

Selina Kyle (<i>Gotham</i> character) Fictional character on Gotham

Selina Kyle, nicknamed "Cat", is a fictional character on the Fox TV series Gotham. Based on the DC Comics character of the same name who goes on to become Catwoman, Selina is a morally ambiguous street thief who becomes an ally and later love interest to Bruce Wayne, the orphaned son of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Camren Bicondova portrays Selina Kyle for the majority of Gotham's run, but is replaced by Lili Simmons as an adult in the series finale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beginning...</span> 12th episode of the 5th season of Gotham

"The Beginning..." is the series finale of the American television series Gotham, based on the DC Comics characters Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne. It is the twelfth episode of the fifth season and the 100th overall episode of the series. The episode was written by showrunner John Stephens and directed by Rob Bailey.

References

  1. Porter, Rick (December 2, 2015). "Monday final ratings: 'Superstore' adjusts down but still solid, 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  2. Porter, Rick (November 24, 2015). "Monday final ratings: 'The Voice' adjusts up, 'Castle' adjusts down to season average". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  3. Porter, Rick (December 8, 2015). "Broadcast weekly Top 25: Football takes Top 3 spots, plus 'Empire' fall finale, 'The Wiz Live'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 9, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  4. Porter, Rick (December 21, 2015). "Broadcast Live +7 ratings, week 11: 'Empire' fall finale on top, 'Vampire Diaries' leads percentage gains". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Rise of the Villains: Worse Than a Crime". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Fowler, Matt (November 30, 2015). "Gotham: "Worse Than a Crime" Review". IGN . Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  7. 1 2 ""Rise of the Villains: Worse Than a Crime" · Gotham · TV Review Gotham's fall finale suffers from a lack of tension · TV Club · The A.V. Club". avclub.com. December 2015.
  8. "Gotham Review: "Worse Than a Crime"". pastemagazine.com. December 2015.
  9. "Gotham". TV Fanatic. 30 November 2015.
  10. "Gotham". The Young Folks.
  11. "Gotham". JoBlo. 30 November 2015.
  12. "Gotham". Pop Matters. 26 January 2021.
  13. "Gotham Recap: Oh No, Barbara's Evil Now". Vulture.