From cold-blooded manipulators to charismatic killers, these unforgettable characters worm their way into our nightmares — and sometimes our hearts — by showing us just how terrifying the human mind can be.

Whether they’re charming, ruthless, or hiding their darkness behind a perfect smile, these villains kept us glued to the screen, wondering what horrifying move they’ll make next.

So, let’s dive into the chilling world of TV’s most unforgettable psychopaths.

And here’s a word of warning: you might want to leave the lights on for this one!

Leland Townsend (Evil)

Evil’s Leland Townsend is the kind of psychopath who gets his kicks from playing with people’s darkest instincts. He’s not your typical knife-wielding villain — oh no, Leland’s much sneakier.

He shows up as a charming, harmless guy, but underneath? He’s a full-blown vessel of pure evil.

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One of his creepiest moments comes when he casually convinces a young boy to embrace his violent tendencies, all while keeping that unnerving smile plastered on his face.

But Leland doesn’t stop there — he’s got his sights set on Kristen’s mom, Sheryl. He seduces her and slowly pulls her into his twisted world, using her as a pawn in his larger scheme to torment Kristen and dismantle her family.

The way he plays Sheryl, exploiting her insecurities and isolating her from her daughter, is classic Leland.

He’s a master at turning people against each other while maintaining the appearance of a caring, concerned partner.

What makes Leland so terrifying is his ability to make evil look almost reasonable. He doesn’t need a weapon — he’s got words, manipulation, and charisma to cause destruction.

Leland’s real power is psychological, and he uses it to wreck lives, especially Kristen’s, one twisted move at a time.

Watch Evil Online

Lucy Butler (Millennium)

Lucy Butler is one of the most underrated TV psychopaths ever. Her obsession with Frank Black on Millennium goes far beyond mere torment — she’s determined to break him.

Testing his morality and pulling him into the darkness, Lucy doesn’t just kill — she corrupts. Her psychological torment warps reality, leaving her victims trapped in a nightmare, especially Frank.

Whether she’s posing as a grieving mother or shifting into a sinister form, Lucy’s blend of manipulation and supernatural menace makes her unforgettable.

In one of Butler’s most brutal moments, she murders Lt. Bob Bletcher in Frank Black’s own home. What makes this scene particularly chilling is the way she first appears as an unassuming woman, standing calmly at the top of the stairs.

As Bletcher approaches, she suddenly transforms, taking on a demonic form that leaves him paralyzed with fear before finally killing him shortly thereafter.

Lucy isn’t your typical psychopath. Instead, she’s a master manipulator and shapeshifter, slipping between seductive charm and pure evil with ease. She doesn’t just bring horror — she is the horror that lingers long after she’s off-screen.

Jerome Valeska (Gotham)

Jerome Valeska made his unforgettable debut on Gotham Season 1, and from the moment he stepped on screen, it was clear we were dealing with a special kind of psychopath.

Played with chaotic brilliance by Cameron Monaghan, Jerome first appeared as a seemingly harmless circus worker.

But when he revealed his true nature — after murdering his mother, no less — the transformation from an innocent facade to a chilling, gleeful maniac was jaw-dropping. That creepy grin and maniacal laugh? Instant classic.

Jerome’s psychopathic tendencies were rooted in his love for chaos and destruction. He thrived on creating disorder and fear, often toying with his victims as if life itself were a twisted game.

Unlike some villains with grand schemes or personal vendettas, Jerome simply enjoyed watching the world burn (which is why everyone thought he was the Joker).

His unpredictability made him all the more terrifying, as he could switch from a calm conversation to violent hysteria in the blink of an eye.

His penchant for violence wasn’t driven by logic or even personal gain — it was pure entertainment for him. His psychopathy was raw, untamed, and dangerous, making him one of Gotham’s most electrifying villains.

His first major act of psychopathy was orchestrating an escape from Arkham Asylum and then going on a killing spree just for the thrill of it.

Jerome lived for the shock value, loving the fear and confusion he could evoke in others.

And it wasn’t just about killing — he had a flair for theatrics, whether hijacking a live broadcast to terrorize Gotham or leading a cult of followers who worshiped his madness.

Jerome embodied the chaotic, anarchic side of the Joker archetype. He wasn’t a master planner; he was a ticking time bomb, always ready to explode in ways no one could predict.

Watch Gotham Online

Villanelle (Killing Eve)

Killing Eve’s Villanelle is the kind of psychopath who makes murder look like an art form.

With her killer fashion sense and an even deadlier grin, she moves through life with a chilling detachment from human life.

Who else can kill a man with a poisoned hairpin while still looking like she’s ready for a night out?

Her charm is part of what makes her so terrifying. Not only does Villanelle kill, she enjoys it, like a game where she’s always in control.

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Her playful psychopathy is on full display in her “relationship” with Eve, who she toys with like a cat batting around a mouse.

She can go from flirting to stabbing in the blink of an eye, and her obsession with Eve adds an extra layer of craziness. Even her handler isn’t safe from her whims — she’s equally likely to blow him a kiss or blow him away.

Watch Killing Eve Online

Hannibal Lecter (Hannibal)

Can you imagine if Hannibal Lecter hosted Gordon Ramsay for dinner? Would Ramsay marvel at the “bold flavors” or call it a culinary disaster, unknowingly signing his death warrant?

And would Hannibal reveal his secret ingredient? Spoiler: it’s human flesh.

Hannibal is the most elegant psychopath to ever grace the screen — a refined psychiatrist, gourmet chef, and cold-blooded predator. His victims? Often served up as the main course at his lavish dinner parties.

Guests sip fine wine and savor dishes, completely unaware that their entrée was once someone’s neighbor.

One of Hannibal’s most chilling moments was when he served Abel Gideon his own leg, perfectly cooked and plated (on a lotus leaf!), all while maintaining his signature icy composure.

It’s not just the act that’s horrifying; it’s the way he turns murder into an art form, with his clinical detachment making the scene even more disturbing.

What makes Hannibal truly terrifying is his ability to blend in. As a respected psychiatrist, he manipulates the people around him, turning trust into a deadly trap.

With a charming smile and a beautifully crafted meal, Hannibal turns dinner into a nightmare — securing his place as one of TV’s most unforgettable psychopaths.

Watch Hannibal Online

Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)

Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones is the ultimate TV psychopath, a king whose cruelty knows no bounds. Drunk on power and with an unchecked thirst for violence, Joffrey’s reign is one of sadism and terror.

From the moment he gleefully orders Ned Stark’s execution, it’s clear Joffrey is not just ruthless — he’s psychopathic.

He takes pleasure in the suffering of others, especially when forcing Sansa Stark to stare at her father’s severed head on a spike, smiling as she’s emotionally shattered.

But Joffrey’s cruelty isn’t just limited to political enemies. His twisted mind revels in tormenting for sheer entertainment, particularly when he tortures prostitutes for fun.

In one of his most disturbing moments, Joffrey orders the execution of Ros, a young woman with a crossbow, grinning as she dies in agony, her body left as a grisly display.

This scene is the perfect example of Joffrey’s complete lack of empathy and his delight in cruelty. He doesn’t just want power — he wants to dominate and humiliate everyone around him.

Joffrey’s psychopathy isn’t about calculated power moves; it’s about the pleasure he gets from causing pain.

Watching Joffrey’s descent into darker, more sadistic acts makes him a character who embodies everything terrifying about unchecked power in the hands of a true psychopath.

Watch Game of Thrones Online

Brady Hartsfield (Mr. Mercedes)

Brady Hartsfield from Mr. Mercedes may look like your friendly neighborhood ice cream man, but behind that innocent smile lies a dangerous and disturbed mind.

Brady uses his seemingly harmless job to get close to his victims, especially retired detective Bill Hodges, all while masking his dark obsessions.

His ability to blend into the everyday world while stalking Hodges is chilling and it makes his twisted cat-and-mouse game even more unsettling.

Brady’s real talent lies in his tech-savvy genius. He uses technology to hack into Hodges’ devices, leaving taunting messages and psychological traps that push the detective to the edge.

What makes Brady truly terrifying is how he enjoys breaking his victims mentally; he’s not just looking for blood; he wants to control them.

Another layer to Brady’s disturbing character is his complicated and unhealthy relationship with his mother, which adds depth to his psychopathy.

It’s this twisted family dynamic that further shapes Brady’s dark persona, making him even more dangerous.

The contrast between Brady’s friendly, harmless appearance and the evil lurking beneath is what makes him stand out. He’s a manipulator and killer who turns ordinary moments into nightmares.

Be careful the next time you hear that catchy jingle, you might be getting more than just a tasty treat.

Watch Mr. Mercedes Online

Norman Bates (Bates Motel)

Norman Bates may seem like the quiet, awkward kid next door, but underneath that facade lies one scary dude.

His deeply dysfunctional relationship with his mother, Norma, mixed with his pre-existing mental illness, is the perfect storm that drives Norman into a full psychotic breakdown on Bates Motel.

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From the start, it’s clear Norman has serious issues, and Norma, despite knowing something is wrong, never seeks professional help for him.

Instead, her possessiveness and control only tighten the grip on Norman’s fragile mind, leading him to dissociate and take on her personality.

As Norman’s mental state deteriorates, he begins killing women he believes are coming between him and his mother, like his teacher, Blaire Watson, and his high school crush, Bradley Martin.

In Norman’s twisted mind, “Mother” is the one committing these murders to protect him from “bad” influences, but it’s really Norman in a delusional state, completely unaware of his actions.

Norman’s final break with reality comes when Norma starts a relationship with Sheriff Alex Romero. Unable to cope with the thought of sharing his mother, Norman orchestrates a murder-suicide by tampering with the gas in their home.

While Norma dies, Norman survives — and from that moment, his transformation is complete. He keeps his mother’s corpse in the house, dresses in her clothes, and continues his killing spree, convinced “Mother” is still in control.

Even Romero, who loved Norma, becomes one of Norman’s victims, proving that no one could come between him and his “Mother.”

Norman Bates is a tragic mix of obsession and delusion, making his descent into madness both heartbreaking and terrifying.

Watch Bates Motel Online

Joe Goldberg (YOU)

YOU‘s Joe Goldberg is another psychopath hiding in plain sight — this time right behind a bookstore counter. On the surface, Joe appears to be the perfect guy: charming, romantic, and just looking for love.

But beneath that calm exterior is someone far more dangerous. His obsessive, controlling nature emerges as he stalks those he fixates on and eliminates anyone who gets in the way of his “perfect” relationships.

One of Joe’s most chilling moments comes when he murders his girlfriend, Beck, after she discovers his hidden box of trophies from past victims.

In Joe’s warped mind, he sees this murder not as an act of violence but as something necessary to protect their love.

His ability to justify these heinous acts to himself, convincing himself he’s doing it out of love or protection, makes Joe especially unsettling.

Watch You Online

Nurse Ratched (Ratched)

Nurse Mildred Ratched is the epitome of a cold, calculating psychopath who hides her dark nature behind the mask of a caregiver.

In her pursuit of power, she manipulates, tortures, and kills anyone who threatens her control, all while maintaining a veneer of compassion.

Her most disturbing actions often come under the guise of treatment — whether it’s forcing a lobotomy on an innocent patient or using electroshock therapy as a method of punishment rather than healing.

What makes her truly terrifying is her ability to rationalize her cruel actions as “helping” her patients. She doesn’t see herself as a villain but rather as someone who is justified in her methods, no matter how brutal.

Her icy calm and meticulous approach to manipulation make her especially chilling — she can smile while planning someone’s destruction.

Mildred’s quiet, methodical cruelty is a chilling reminder that sometimes the most terrifying monsters are the ones who hide behind a mask of care and authority.

Watch Ratched Online

Bev Keane (Midnight Mass)

Bev Keane from Midnight Mass is a walking nightmare wrapped in a church dress. No fangs, no claws –her weapon is blind faith, and she wields it with terrifying precision.

Bev is a cold, calculating force hiding behind a pious smile, twisting scripture into a tool of control.

Whether she’s casually suggesting mass poisonings or standing smugly as chaos erupts, Bev’s moral superiority makes her even more dangerous. She doesn’t flinch because, in her twisted mind, she’s not the villain — she’s the savior.

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The scariest part? Bev truly believes she’s on a divine mission, which means she’s capable of anything. While others on Crockett Island face supernatural horrors, Bev sees herself as the righteous judge, jury, and executioner.

Her fanaticism knows no bounds. When Bev condemns you, it’s with the certainty that she’s delivering you to salvation – even if that salvation comes in the form of death.

She’ll smile sweetly as she leads you to your doom, which makes her all the more terrifying. Bev Keane isn’t just preaching the end — she is the end.

Watch Midnight Mass Online

James March (American Horror Story: Hotel)

James March, one of American Horror Story: Hotel’s most terrifying characters, is the perfect mix of charm and sadism.

A serial killer with a love for the macabre, March designed the Hotel Cortez to be his personal murder playground, complete with secret passageways and hidden rooms where he could trap and torture his unsuspecting guests.

But it’s not just the elaborate murders that define March — it’s the gleeful way he goes about them. He doesn’t just kill; he turns each murder into an art form, taking pride in the intricacy of his methods.

What makes March truly horrifying is the way he balances charisma with pure evil. Played masterfully by Evan Peters, March exudes a twisted kind of charm, delighting in his own wickedness.

One of his most chilling moments comes when he hosts a dinner party for some of history’s most infamous serial killers, including John Wayne Gacy and Aileen Wuornos.

This nightmarish gathering sees March casually swapping murder stories over dinner as if discussing the weather, his nonchalant attitude making the scene all the more disturbing.

James March isn’t just a psychopath; he’s a villain who enjoys every sickening moment of his crimes. His charm makes him even more dangerous, turning horrific acts into almost casual, everyday events.

Whether he’s tormenting guests or reminiscing about his kills, March’s sophistication and savagery blend into one of TV’s most unforgettable and terrifying characters. His evil lingers long after you leave the Hotel Cortez.

Watch American Horror Story: Hotel Online

Homelander (The Boys)

Homelander from The Boys is the ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing — America’s golden superhero with the heart of a psychopath.

Behind that perfect smile and patriotic suit lies a volatile, power-hungry monster who doesn’t just demand respect — he expects worship.

His sense of entitlement is terrifying, and when things don’t go his way, he doesn’t throw a tantrum obliterating anyone in his path.

Whether he’s casually murdering innocents with his laser vision or threatening his own team with a smirk, Homelander thrives on control and destruction.

What makes him truly frightening isn’t just his god-like powers but his complete lack of empathy. He doesn’t see people as lives worth protecting; to him, they’re disposable tools or obstacles to crush.

His charming speeches and faux heroism only mask the true predator lurking underneath, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash his brutality.

Homelander doesn’t just kill — he dominates, manipulates, and terrorizes with gleeful ease, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

And the worst part? He believes he’s always right, making him not just dangerous but unstoppable. With Homelander, the real terror is knowing he can do whatever he wants — and no one can stop him.

Watch The Boys Online

Errol Childress (True Detective)

Errol Childress from True Detective is the embodiment of relentless, quiet terror.

He hides behind the mask of an unassuming handyman, but beneath that exterior is a man driven by twisted rituals and a hunger for violence. His eerie calm and casual cruelty make him all the more disturbing.

Childress doesn’t just kill; he transforms murder into a grotesque art, operating with chilling precision.

When Rust Cohle and Martin Hart finally confront him at his home, the depths of Childress’s twisted worldview are fully revealed.

His secret underground lair, complete with an altar made out of his decaying victims, serves as a nightmarish reflection of his disturbed psyche.

With the sinister cult as a backdrop, Childress stands out as the ultimate predator — one who revels in the slow, creeping terror he instills. He’s not simply a killer; he’s a monster who thrives on turning fear into a living, breathing reality.

Watch True Detective Season 1 Online

Alice Morgan (Luther)

Alice Morgan from Luther is the type of psychopath who makes chilling seem elegant. A brilliant astrophysicist with a killer instinct, she’s as intelligent as she is deadly.

What makes Alice so terrifying isn’t just her ability to manipulate everyone around her but the fact that she enjoys it. She doesn’t just outthink her enemies—she plays with them like a cat toying with its prey.

Her calm, almost flirtatious demeanor when discussing murder is enough to send chills down your spine. One minute she’s flashing a charming smile, and the next, she’s hinting at the dark, twisted thoughts lurking beneath the surface.

Alice’s obsession with Luther and the mind games she plays make her especially dangerous. She’s not just a killer; she’s a master manipulator who finds joy in every ounce of chaos she creates.

With Alice, it’s never just about the murder — it’s about control, power, and enjoying the game. You never know what she’s going to do next, but one thing’s for sure: she’s always ten steps ahead, and that’s what makes her so terrifying.

Watch Luther Online

Kilgrave (Jessica Jones)

Kilgrave from Jessica Jones is the kind of psychopath who doesn’t just control people — he makes them beg to obey.

With nothing more than a whisper, he bends others to his will, forcing them to commit unspeakable acts without a second thought. And he enjoys every second of it. He doesn’t just manipulate; he makes you love it while he’s doing it.

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The worst part? Kilgrave doesn’t see himself as the bad guy. He strolls through life with a twisted sense of entitlement, convinced the world — and everyone in it — exists for his amusement.

Whether he orders someone to leap off a building or torments Jessica with mind games, his nonchalant attitude only makes him more terrifying.

Kilgrave’s charm is as dangerous as his power. He can make you feel safe one second, then rip away your free will the next, all while acting like he’s doing you a favor.

His total lack of remorse, combined with his god-like control, makes every encounter a chilling reminder that with Kilgrave, there’s no escape.

Watch Jessica Jones Online

The Trinity Killer (Dexter)

Arthur Mitchell, better known as the Trinity Killer on Dexter, is the kind of psychopath that gets under your skin and stays there.

This guy isn’t your typical serial killer — he’s a chilling blend of calculated ritual and terrifying unpredictability.

With his twisted, meticulous killing cycle tied to traumatic events from his childhood, Trinity isn’t just hunting victims — he’s reliving his pain over and over again, dragging others into his nightmare.

One of the most terrifying aspects of the Trinity Killer is his ability to balance two lives: as a loving father and charitable community leader while secretly being a cold-blooded murderer.

But don’t let the nice guy act fool you. This is a man who ritualistically murders to “cleanse” himself of his inner demons, each kill performed with almost religious precision.

His confrontation with Dexter is the stuff of nightmares — especially when Dexter realizes just how deeply disturbed Arthur really is.

Trinity’s calm, methodical demeanor makes his sudden, brutal violence even more horrifying.

And unlike other killers Dexter encounters, Trinity leaves a lasting scar, both on the show and on the audience. His blend of charm, control, and sheer madness makes the Trinity Killer one of TV’s most bone-chilling psychopaths.

Watch Dexter Online

Lorne Malvo (Fargo)

Fargo’s Lorne Malvo is chaos incarnate, wrapped in polite small talk. This is a guy who doesn’t just kill for money — he enjoys it.

His calm, eerily soft-spoken demeanor only cranks up the terror as he unleashes a twisted sense of humor and a taste for destruction. Malvo doesn’t just ruin lives — he shatters them, turning chaos into a twisted game.

One of his most chilling moves? Manipulating meek Lester Nygaard into killing his own wife, all with a devilish whisper and that unsettling smile.

Malvo never needs brute force; he plants the seeds of violence and sits back to watch the carnage unfold.

What makes him even scarier? He kills not because he has to but because he loves watching people crumble. Whether he’s tormenting FBI agents, obliterating crime families, or dropping philosophical bombs before his next kill, Malvo is a storm of destruction.

This is a psychopath who doesn’t just take lives — he dismantles them, piece by piece, with chilling delight.

Watch Fargo Online

Ben Linus (Lost)

Ben Linus from Lost is the kind of mastermind who can make your skin crawl with just a smile. This man doesn’t need brute force — he controls with whispers, lies, and an eerie calm that sends chills down your spine.

Every move is calculated, every word a trap, and before you know it, you’re dancing to his tune, whether you want to or not.

One of Ben’s most chilling qualities is how effortlessly he shifts from quiet manipulation to ruthless action.

He’s the type of character who will calmly offer you tea one minute and then, without a flicker of emotion, watch your world crumble the next.

Whether he’s staging betrayals or pulling strings behind the scenes, Ben doesn’t just outthink his enemies — he outmaneuvers them at every turn.

With those deadpan stares and carefully chosen words, Ben Linus is always two steps ahead, proving that the scariest thing on the island isn’t the smoke monster — it’s him.

Watch Lost Online

The Reaper – Criminal Minds

George Foyet, better known as The Reaper, is one of the most terrifying killers on Criminal Minds. Unlike many of the show’s “unsubs,” Foyet doesn’t just kill for satisfaction — he enjoys the game of it all.

His reign of terror began with a series of brutal murders, but it’s his relentless, personal vendetta against FBI Agent Aaron Hotchner that truly sets him apart.

Foyet manipulates, stalks, and tortures with chilling precision, and his ability to outsmart the FBI for so long makes him all the more dangerous.

One of Foyet’s most horrifying moments is when he fakes his own death, a twist that leaves everyone, including the FBI, believing he’s gone.

But the real nightmare begins when Foyet resurfaces and brutally attacks Hotchner’s family, culminating in one of the series’ most gut-wrenching episodes when he murders Hotchner’s wife, Haley, while forcing Hotch to listen on the phone.

Foyet’s cruel mind games and sadistic pleasure in watching his victims suffer make him not just a killer but a true embodiment of terror.

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Negan (The Walking Dead)

Negan from The Walking Dead is the kind of psychopath who doesn’t just command fear — he revels in it. Armed with his trusty barbed-wire bat, Lucille, and a twisted sense of humor, Negan is all about power and control.

When he first saunters onto the scene, he makes sure everyone knows who’s boss by delivering one of the most gut-wrenching moments in TV history: brutally bashing in the heads of two fan-favorite characters.

His swagger, combined with his sadistic charm, makes him both terrifying and oddly captivating.

Negan doesn’t just kill — he delivers speeches, plays mind games, and somehow makes you laugh right before he commits unspeakable acts of violence. The worst part? He’s always smiling while doing it.

His whole persona is designed to break people mentally and physically, leaving them too scared to even think about rebelling.

He’s a master manipulator who can make you think you’re in control, all while tightening the noose around your neck.

Whether he’s cracking jokes while cracking skulls or monologuing about his twisted philosophy of survival, Negan makes it clear that the apocalypse isn’t for the weak — and he’s more than happy to teach you that lesson with Lucille if needed.

Negan isn’t just a villain — he’s a nightmare you can’t wake up from.

Watch The Walking Dead Online

Forever in Your Mind

From cunning masterminds to unhinged killers, these unforgettable psychopaths remind us why villains often steal the show. They toy with our emotions, keep us on the edge of our seats, and leave a lasting impression long after the credits roll.

As much as we fear them, we can’t help but be fascinated by their dark minds.

So, the next time you find yourself binge-watching a series, remember — it’s not always the hero who makes it memorable. Sometimes, it’s the psychopath lurking in the shadows.

Who’s your favorite TV psychopath? Share yours in the comments below!

The post TV’s Most Unforgettable Psychopaths appeared first on TV Fanatic.

A dark and depressing alley. The gunshots. The falling pearls from a broken necklace. A need to take down criminals and a fascination with bats.

Bruce Wayne's journey to become Gotham City's protector has been everywhere, from film to gaming to TV. But it was the series on FOX that has a special place in our hearts: Gotham.

Gotham ran for five seasons from 2014 to 2019. The show, which you can watch online via TV Fanatic, followed many iconic characters in Batman lore years before Bruce put on the mask.

You got the seriousness of The Dark Knight mixed in with some fun comic book campiness. It was a best of both worlds that left passionate Batman fans divided over which tone they wanted.

The great thing about Gotham is that it fully embraced the antics of Gotham City.

The city itself was a character. From its dark and grey aesthetic to the many overdramatic characters prone to crime, the infamous town never felt like a forgotten idea.

As a viewer, you get a real sense of this town's corruption.

Gotham never tried to make the city feel bright and clean-cut like Smallville's Metropolis or idyllic like Stargirl's Blue Valley. Right from Gotham Season 1 Episode 1, the tone was clear that Gotham City was every bit the backdrop that needed a Batman.

Plus, we're talking about DC's comic book city, where villains took on names like The Penguin, The Riddler, and Mr. Freeze!

Speaking of those villains, Batman has one of (if not THE) best Rogues Gallery across all comics. Names like Catwoman, The Joker, Poison Ivy, and Two-Face are some legendary characters you know by name.

Gotham gave its supervillains the spotlight and room to steal the show!

For five seasons, we were hooked on these stories, like Penguin's journey toward becoming a mob boss, Edward Nygma's transformation into The Riddler, and the introduction of new villains like Fish Mooney.

And even when naming rights became an issue, Gotham still didn't deprive us of The Joker's story, starting on Gotham Season 1 Episode 16.

17 Ways Jim and Barbara’s Love on Gotham Is the Most Epic Ever!

Open List

Gotham wasn't only an origin story about Bruce Wayne/Batman or Commissioner Gordon at the GCPD, but about the villains who emerged from the darkness. And the nuances that gave them depth and character.

For example, one of the best new storylines out of Gotham was Commissioner Gordon's (ex-) fiancée Barbara Kean, played by Erin Richards.

The character started as the typical love interest trope before transforming into a deadly supervillain.

And I do mean transform!

Starting with Gotham Season 2, Barbara let loose and embraced her villainy. She made many devilishly fun decisions in her pursuit to take over Gotham City, especially with Tigress and Selina Kyle's Catwoman by her side.

And we can't forget she was the first tease of "Harley Quinn" set in Gotham's world. As a Harley Quinn fan, I loved this!

Even though her storyline differed from the comics, it allowed the show to explore something new. And compared to other villains, Gotham still kept their arcs closer to their archetypes, like Scarecrow or Carmine Falcone.

Barbara was having a great time. All the villains were having a blast!

When they were having fun, we were right there with them.

The heroes and anti-heroes were also great draws too! Gotham had a strong balance between the duality of good and evil.

As James Gordon, Ben McKenzie provided the noble and logical hero we could always rely on and trust. And his straight-laced, stern demeanor whenever he bantered with anyone gave us many unexpected laughs.

Like whether he was having a buddy cop moment with Harvey Bullock, getting his flirt on with Lee Thompkins (his real-life wife, Morena Baccarin), or one of the many villains at his door.

Throughout the five seasons, his story kept us hooked on whatever new danger popped up at the Gotham City Police Department.

When an entire city falls under its chaos, we need someone we can depend on. James Gordon was our guy.

And we can't forget the main thread throughout Gotham: young Bruce Wayne's turn to Batman.

One of the early concerns about Gotham was that Bruce was a young child, and it would be years before he would become Batman. The same goes for other villains and essential characters, like the equally young Selina Kyle (aka. Catwoman).

But Gotham easily and quickly squashed any of those concerns.

Bruce was a mainstay character throughout the five seasons. Sometimes, he played the part of the orphaned rich kid; other times, he grew into a secretive vigilante. Bruce never stood on the sidelines as a figurehead.

By the series finale on Gotham Season 5 Episode 12, Bruce's growth into Batman felt natural and ready.

Sure, he didn't have the Batmobile or any of the cool gadgets yet, but he made do with what he had. He started combat and could hold his own, especially against any shady organization or villain.

Plus, with allies like Alfred, Selina, and James Gordon by his side, Bruce's storyline kept us coming back for more.

Gotham wasn't a case of Bruce Wayne being overshadowed by the villains week-to-week. There was a method to the madness, and it worked well.

Gotham wasn't the typical superhero origin story.

Granted, it didn't follow DC Comics' tale beat by beat. However, the TV series still honored that story's legacy and had fun being its own thing.

We had rootable heroes and anti-heroes, action-packed fights, special effects, an alluring city, and lovable supervillains. What more could you ask for?

It was a Batman TV series unlike anything else. Gotham did that.

Now, over to you, Fanatics!

What was your favorite thing about Gotham? Which character or storyline did you love the most?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Gotham is available to stream now on Max.

The post Gotham: Why You Should Love Batman’s Outrageously Fun TV Origin Story appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Hate must usually be checked; otherwise, it can become someone's downfall. But sometimes, it can be a driving force that helps someone better themselves.

Characters hate each other on TV all the time, and it's what makes for good drama and storyline.

We have compiled twenty characters who hated another character or each other so much that it had our hearts racing every time they interacted.

20. Ray Donovan vs. Mickey Donovan on Ray Donovan

Some people have no business bringing new life into this world, and if there was ever such a person, according to Ray, it was his dad, Mickey.

Mickey was the walking definition of a bad father. He was abusive, promiscuous, and a total deadbeat grifter.

All these qualities affected his children so much that each one had a huge tragedy befall them. What irked Ray the most was how he was forced to grow up quickly to protect the other children.

It would escalate quickly when they were near other Ray had to be stopped multiple times before he killed Mickey.

19. James St. Patrick vs. Kanan Stark on Power

Both characters were not good people by most means, but James hated Kanan passionately.

Growing up together in Queens, they were boys, but it all went south when Kanan was arrested because of James.

James hated that Kanan was impulsive and very casual about committing murder.

It all came to a head when Kanan tried to recruit James' son into their trade — drugs.

18. Benji vs. Rahim on Love, Victor

This was just a classic tale of romantic rivalry.

Both were in love with Victor, but Benji felt like he had a bigger claim because he was there first. He once saw Rahim kiss Victor, which was the nail in the coffin.

Although they made up later, it was fun to see Benji reach the end of his rope every time he saw Rahim or he was mentioned.

17. Leonardo Da Vinci vs. Michelangelo on Leonardo

Yes, it is those people. A few shows have featured these characters, but we will focus on Leonardo (2018) because it highlights the rivalry perfectly.

Leonardo and Michaengelo existed in times when art was the thing.

It didn't help that society was constantly comparing them, and with Michangelo being younger, Leonardo felt like unfair standards were judging him.

16. Hope Mikaelson vs. Malivore on Legacies

Hope was one of her kind. In the show's universe, no one like her had existed. She was a hybrid who was also immortal and a living weapon of mass destruction for all factions.

Malivore was some aberration that could destroy Hope without dying.

Effectively, Hope's prerogative was to make sure Malivore didn't exist. It required some fear and a lot of hate.

15. Villanelle vs. Eve on Killing Eve

Villanelle's thing was that she was an assassin, and Eve's thing was that she was a really good cop.

Eve had foiled multiple assassination attempts by Villanelle, which was bad for business.

With all the hate she could muster, Villanelle went after Eve but found the tables turned when she fell for her.

14. Bruce Wayne vs. The Joker on Gotham

Bruce had designated himself the resident vigilante in Gotham. The Joker had designated himself the resident villain.

Bruce had spent his entire life trying to find out who murdered his parents, and the joker knew that was a sore spot. He kept pressing on it.

This resulted in hate developing organically in Bruce, and his hunt for The Joker was a tale that spun multiple seasons.

13. Saul Goodman and Hamlin on Better Call Saul

Saul was a lowly lawyer whom the more upscale lawyers didn't like. Hamlin was one such upscale lawyer.

Hamlin took every chance to embarrass Saul, whether in front of colleagues or Saul's brother.

Saul developed a lot of hate for Hamlin, and it was almost satisfying when Hamlin was murdered right in front of his eyes.

12. Baba Voss vs Tamacti Jun on See

Set in a world where sight was deemed an abomination, the world set these characters on an epic collision course.

Tamacti Jun's life's work was finding and killing sighted people. Baba Voss' children were some of the most famous sighted children.

Although the universe later aligned their cause, the hate Baba Voss had for Tamacti Jun and the witchfinders, in general, couldn't be quantified.

11. Uncle Clifford vs. Hailey on P-Valley

Uncle Clifford must have a rule number somewhere for the girls who betray them.

And no one betrayed Uncle Clifford more than Hailey. She wanted to sell the inheritance their mother had left them.

That was reason enough to hate the heifer, and chile did Uncle Clifford read her the house down.

10. Nicky Shen and Zhilan on Kung Fu

Nicky had fought many bad people before, but none were as powerful as Zhilan.

Nicky was dedicated to saving people's lives in her community, whether literally or otherwise. And Zhilan was an assassin who murdered her Shifu.

A Shifu is important to their student, and the act Zhilan committed rocked Nicky's world.

She developed so much hate for Zhilan it nearly consumed her.

09. Layton vs. Wilford on Snowpiercer

Class was the definitive divider in this epic tale set inside moving trains.

Layton was the leader of the lower class, while Waterford had lorded himself over everyone. Wilford was an awful person who made an even worse leader.

Layton could not stand most of the things Wilford did, and he developed so much hate for the man. It was what pushed him to try and bring equality to the classes.

08. Bette Porter vs. Carrie on The L Word Generation Q

Everyone knows it. It's Bette and Tina forever. And subconsciously, Bette and Carrie knew it.

Bette was not perfect by any means, and it hurt her when Tina divorced her and was engaged to Carrie. Carrie could feel hate emanating from Bette every time she was around.

On being confronted about it, Bette made her feelings known. But was it Carries fault she couldn't be a better wife to Tina?

07. Major Stanislaus vs. Frank Sobotka on The Wire

Some hate comes from a stupid place, and Major's hatred for Frank was so childish it was almost hilarious.

Catholics take their offerings seriously; no one did it more than Stanislaus. He donated a gift to the church only to discover Frank had donated a much more expensive gift.

He was angry at why a mere dock worker could afford such an expensive gift than a police major, and he developed some hate for Frank.

He channeled that hate into uncovering where Frank's irregular wealth came from, and even when Frank wasn't associated with corruption at the docks, Major still wanted him arrested for something.

06. Sam LaRusso vs. Tori Nichols on Cobra Kai

Many characters in Cobra Kai are driven by hate. It started as a subtle rivalry between dojos and escalated to bullying.

Sam and Tori were viewed as the Queen Bee of their respective dojos, but there could only be one queen in the valley.

Hate started developing between them when boys came into the mix, and every interaction resulted in a small fight or an epic brawl.

Sam had a point to make, and Tori was not one to back down.

05. Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin on Joe Vs. Carole

Joe's hate for Carole could also not be quantified.

Based on the true story of Joe Exotic — a big cat owner — and Carole Baskin — an animal rights activist — is something anyone with a Netflix account knew of in the 2020s.

Joe hated Carole so much that he would make up stories about her killing her husband and broadcasting it to the internet.

Hate was his undoing when he hired someone to murder Carole and was caught red-handed.

04. Miguel Diaz vs. Robby Keene on Cobra Kai

The hate between Miguel and Robbie was a complicated affair.

Like Sam and Tori, it started as a dojo rivalry that escalated with each season until it became hate.

In one of the many fights between the dojos, Robbie broke Miguel's backbone resulting in an injury that set Miguel back years. Miguel developed a lot of hate for Robbie, who reciprocated the feelings, and to hash it out, they fought. 

Even though they became half-brothers later on, their hate for each other will always blemish their relationship.

03. Beth Dutton vs. Jamie Dutton on Yellowstone

It always seemed unfair how much Beth hated Jamie.

Her hatred stemmed from many reasons, but the primary one was how Jamie had her sterilized without her knowledge.

Apart from ruining lives, making Jamie's life a living hell might be the only reason Beth got up in the morning.

02. Bobby Axelrod vs. Chuck on Billions

There was always something about billionaires that rubbed Chuck the wrong way. And having a political office behind him, he made it his mission to throw Bobby behind bars.

Bobby couldn't stand Chuck's holier than though attitude, and he also sought to uncover skeletons in Chuck's closet.

This gave birth to an epic rivalry spanning years as each tried to best the other.

01. June Osborne vs. Selena Waterford on The Handmaid's Tale.

Even in a world that sought to ensure women were powerless, some had more power than others.

June was the maid to the Waterford, and with Selena's little power, she ensured that June knew her position. She oversaw multiple atrocities committed on June and was even the instigator of some. 

June developed a hate for Gilead but particularly for Selena, who stole her child. Words cannot quantify how much June wanted to see Selena and Gilead burn to ashes.

•••••

19 Most Inappropriate Relationships In TV History

Open List

What do you think? Are there some characters whose behavior annoyed you?

Did we leave out some juicy ones?

Let us know in the comment section.

The post TV’s Best Hate-Driven Relationships appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Some of those villains made it to the list of our favorite big bads of the decade.  

Please remember that with have almost two dozen favorites lists that we couldn't showcase every show on every list, so we parsed them out a bit to make it more fun.

And these lists are not in any particular order. They're in the order the entries were received by TV Fanatic staff, so don't read into them!

To qualify, a show that began in another decade had to be airing during the decade, run a larger number of seasons from 2010 through 2019 if it started before 2010 or run the entire decade. Here we go!

Red John, The Mentalist – CBS (2008-2015)

No one who watched The Mentalist will ever forget Red John, the sadistic serial killer who murdered Patrick Jane’s wife and daughter and then, as with all of his other victims, left a smiley face on the wall above them drawn in their own blood.

Red John had his own personal flair, using the William Blake poem, “Tyger, Tyger” as his calling card. From the very first episode, Red John drove the series as he tormented Jane and outwitted law enforcement.

The mystery surrounding Red John’s identity was at a fever pitch by season 6 when his identity was finally revealed.

With so many fan theories over six seasons, some still argue whether the “real Red John” was Sheriff MacAllister, but whether you agree with the final outcome or not, the Red John saga won’t easily be forgotten.

Gustavo Fring, Breaking Bad – AMC (2008-2013)

It can be argued that Walter was the true villain of the show, but given that he was the protagonist I will guess we will go with his main adversary instead.

What made Gus such a great villain was how layered he was. The man had two faces, which is ironic given his demise. To the rest of the world, he was the charming, albeit dorky, entrepreneur who created a chain of fast-food chicken restaurants.

Who would have ever guessed he was a drug king-pin who developed a distribution network that made him virtually untouchable, even to the Mexican cartel.

Throughout the majority of his time on the show, you were left questioning if he was really all that bad. It was only in his most desperate moments where his true dark side came out.

The Mind Flayer, Stranger Things – Netflix (2016-present)

While Stranger Things has featured creatures such as the Demogorgon and Demodogs, the Mind Flayer is the real mastermind behind the chaos imposed on our favorite group of kids.

The Mind Flayer has been plotting for years on how to take over the real world as it hides in the Upside Down and has been the indirect cause of some of our favorite characters deaths (though we still believe Hopper is alive).

Who knows what the Mind Flayer has in store for Hawkins residents next, all we know is that as long as they have Eleven, the Mind Flayer will never win.

Jerome Valeska, Gotham – FOX (2014-2019)

There were many villains on Gotham who could have made the grade for big bad of the decade, but Jerome Valeska was the most memorable and scariest of the bunch.

When we first met Jerome, we knew he was special. Everything about him reeked of insanity and although he left our screens for a short time, when he returned full force, he made a huge impact on Gotham's world — and not in a good way.

He was played to perfection by Cameron Monaghan and despite his evil nature, quickly became a fan favorite. Jerome was at his prime as leader of the Maniax who wreaked havoc on the citizens of Gotham — from hijacking a bus full of high school cheerleaders to corrupting Barbara Kean to killing a beloved police commissioner, Jerome had everyone on edge.

His first death at the hands of Theo Galavan was shocking and devastating, but he later returned thanks to experiments by Hugo Strange. Then, he became a more evil, calculating nightmare setting his sights on Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon until his ultimate demise.

Katherine Pierce aka Katerina Petrova – The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)

Elena Gilbert’s doppelganger was her polar opposite. Katherine popped up and caused carnage before slipping off into the night for a few seasons.

Her return on the series finale, after becoming the Queen of Hell was the perfect arc for her. The person she loved the most taking her down was the icing on the cake to complete this plot.

Fiona Goode – American Horror Story FX (2011-Present)

Fiona is the supreme for a reason. She is a bad-ass woman, and one would not recommend getting on her bad side. Her reign of madness, in an effort to keep her abilities, made Fiona such a delicious character to watch on screen.

Her power, sharp tongue, and complete selfishness puts her in the category of a great baddie, but she also had a great vulnerability and fear of death that made an audience empathize with her choices.

Those choices being to kill several witches and send another with a vodoman in an effort to remain the supreme. We can’t all be perfect.

I’d even say she could be considered a character to the decade.

Killgrave – Jessica Jones Netflix (2015 – 2019)

The power of persuasion is one thing, but this villain was on another level. His ability to get anyone to do anything he said was terrifying.

He had such unlimited capabilities because he could control almost anyone with just a word. Add to that his complete lack of responsibility for his actions, he was really a loose cannon.

He killed his parents. Granted, his parents did cause this by experimenting on him, but still. His poor mental state definitely puts him higher in the terror range.

Blaine DeBeers – iZombie – The CW (2015 – 2019)

As much as Liv Moore was the lovable protagonist of iZombie, the series wouldn’t have been the same without the undeniable talent of David Anders as Blaine De Beers.

He took a character who could have been a one-note evil villain and added layers and textures to him, and somehow made a child killer an endearing character. The fascinating part of Blaine was how he managed to flow in and out of being a villain, antagonist, and an anti-hero throughout the course of the season.

He was mostly self-serving from beginning to end, but at times, his interests would align with the supernatural scooby-doo gang, and he would become a begrudging ally. Blaine’s villainy had depth, and he was witty, sarcastic, and fun to watch. A villain you hated to love and loved to hate.

White Rose – Mr. Robot – USA (2015-2019)

White Rose and the Dark Army proved to be a formidable opponent for Elliot.

The reach of which she had made her menacing and ever-present. She via the Dark Army could reach anyone, anywhere, at anytime, which put many people in her crosshairs, and left a trail of bodies through the course of the series.

She had power, prestige, and she was as much of a mental opponent as she was a physical one. She used every tactic in her repertoire with success to reign terror down upon Elliot and his allies.

Keeping along with the theme of this series being groundbreaking and radical in everything it has done and explored, White Rose also had a depth and was an interesting character study as a powerful transgender woman who while terrorizing Elliot to the best of her abilities was not devoid of the pressures and pitfalls of a transphobic society who doesn’t embrace her.

Her vulnerability made her a compelling villain despite what she was doing, and BD Wong was exceptional in the role.

Lucious Lyon – Empire – FOX (2015- Present)

As the head of the Lyon family, Lucious more often than not was the Lyons worst enemy. He’s greedy, conniving, manipulative, and self-serving.

He was emotionally abusive to those around him, and he stopped at nothing to get what he wants. He was relentless and had no limits.

When he’s on your side, he’s the best type of ally, but when he’s against you, he’s a hell of an opponent. Every Lyon has experienced both sides of Lucious. The list for Decade “Big Bad” wouldn’t be complete without him.

Victoria & Conrad Grayson – Revenge – ABC (2011-2015)

For ABC’s soapy and intriguing drama Revenge to succeed, we needed a ruthless villain to root against as we cheered on Emily Thorne. That villain turned out to be the dastardly married pair of Victoria and Conrad Grayson.

The Graysons were the final goal in Emily’s long-standing revenge plan of returning to the Hamptons. They were responsible for framing Emily’s father for the plane crash and they purposely ruined her life when she was still Amanda Clarke.

In addition to that, Conrad and Victoria were both cold-hearted people who would easily destroy anyone who got in their way of happiness. Conrad utilized more of a business approach while Victoria played the coldest mind games.

It may have taken seasons, but we cheered on when Emily/Amanda could finally get the opportunity to sharpie their faces from her hit list. These are two big bads that have earned their spot on the list!

Jamie Moriarty, Elementary- (2012- 2019)

Natalie Dormer absolutely killed the role of a female Moriarty, Sherlock's infamous nemesis on Elementary.

She was alluring, mysterious, and sexy. She had a fascinating hold on Sherlock — manipulating him into falling in love with her — that made her a worthy adversary with dimension.

Who is YOUR favorite big bad of the decade?

The post Our Favorite Big Bads of the Decade appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Sure, we got to see Batman and all the villains.

We saw a new Barbara and saw a glimpse of what Batgirl would become, but if I had my choice, Gotham Season 5 Episode 11 would have been a better ending.

At least we could have imagined what the new Gotham City would have been like which would have been a lot more fun than what was laid out for us.

After 10 years of peace, everything once again went haywire in Gotham all because Bruce Wayne was set to return.

Related: Gotham Season 5 Episode 10 Review: I Am Bane

It was a weird setup, but it was what it was.

It was nice that Gotham gave fans a few Batman classic nuggets like Jim having a mustache, but what was the point of it if he was going to shave it off two minutes after we saw it?

Did he do it just because Barbara made fun of him? 

He's had it for a while, and it couldn't have been the first time she commented on the "caterpillar" he had on his face, so why shave it off now?

Related: Enjoy UNLIMITED access to thousands of Movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video. WATCH ANYWHERE. CANCEL ANYTIME!

It's a small, silly detail, but it just seemed to be a goofy way to make fans happy at the end.

Jim wanting to retire was also weird, but thanks to Jeremiah and Bruce's return he decided to hang on for a little bit longer.

Speaking of Jeremiah, perhaps his reintroduction as non-Joker was the biggest disappointment of all. 

I don't know why he couldn't be called Joker, but his word games with Jim at Ace Chemicals were dumb.

I also don't get why Harley Quinn was killed off — by Jeremiah no less. 

Was it because he's not the Joker and just Jeremiah?

If that's the case, what fun is there in that? Why go through all the trouble of throwing out Batman nuggets if it's not going to be done the right way?

If Gotham gave us Harley Quinn then she should have stayed by Jeremiah's side, not been killed off like a rag doll. 

Related: The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 17 Review: The Third Estate 

Otherwise, she shouldn't have been introduced in the first place.

The other thing about Jeremiah was how he was able to plan the bombs. 

I can't believe no one ever noticed that he was functional enough to figure out how he was going to return.

And if he were going to return, it would have been nice to have had him face off against Batman at least once.

The way it was done wasn't very exciting. 

Batman made an appearance at Ace Chemicals, but it was too brief.

He let Jeremiah know he was in town and who he was (even throwing a batarang in his hand), but some sort of conversation, like a warning of some sorts, would have been better.

And the weird way Bullock handled Jeremiah's return was just odd and out of character. 

Why wouldn't Bullock tell Jim about Jeremiah's return? 

Related: Supernatural Season 14 Episode 19 Review: Jack in the Box

Jim would have been the first person he told so they could do something to stop Jeremiah.

And I didn't get the whole "don't say his name" thing at all.

Oswald going full form classic Penguin was great, and his reunion with Riddler was another highlight.

I loved their introduction to Batman and how they decided not to wreak havoc for the night because they saw the Dark Knight fly through the sky.

The only thing missing was that they didn't know about Jeremiah and how they fit into his plans.

It would have been nice to see Jeremiah sit them all down and talk about how the future of the City would run, but I guess that was to be left up to our imagination.

Bruce had been working with Alfred and Lucius on his costume and gadgets, but all of them standing on the roof of the GCPD unveiling the soon-to-be Bat signal was dumb.

I was waiting for Batman to show up on the roof with them, but it never happened so why would Jim have thought to use a Bat signal to call on Batman?

Related: Last Man Standing Renewed at Fox

I wasn't too fond of the new Selina, and although we know she's a villain, it didn't make any sense that she helped Barbara take down Riddler to save the mayor.

Barbara was reformed, and I loved her new red hair, but I hope that because she helped out with Riddler's take down that it doesn't mean she's going to turn back to her badass ways.

Barbara Lee was fun, and I enjoyed seeing her future as Batgirl. 

She's got spunk and some kickass moves which she'll be using at some point as an ally of Batman.

Maybe everything had to be smooshed because the finale only ran an hour, but the whole thing was disappointing.

Still, it's sad to say goodbye to Gotham and all our favorite characters.

They all will be missed.

17 TV Characters Who Turned to the Darkside

Open List

Over to you!

What did you think of the series finale?

Did it meet your expectations?

What was your favorite part?

What did you like least?

Hit the comments and share your thoughts!

If you need to catch up, you can watch Gotham online right here via TV Fanatic!

The post Gotham Season 5 Episode 12 Review: The Beginning… appeared first on TV Fanatic.

As such, fans are wondering how the Batman prequel will conclude its five-season run.

Camren Bicondova, who plays Selina Kyle on the series took to social media over the weekend to drop a bombshell on fans:

She will not appear on Gotham Season 5 Episode 12 aka the series finale.

That means Gotham Season 5 Episode 11 marked Bicondova's final installment as Selina. While the actress is not appearing, the character will still be featured.

Lili Simmons (Banshee, Ray Donovan) has been tapped to appear as Selina. The reason for this is that there is a ten-year time-jump between the penultimate episode and the series finale.

Related: Gotham Ending After Five Seasons

"It’s important to me that I’m the one to tell you this because it was a choice that I made,” Bicondova wrote on Twitter.

“I wanted to give (the character) Selina Kyle as much respect as possible. Some will say that giving her respect would include seeing the character through to the end of the show, which I understand."

"But, I firmly believe that part of leaving a legacy and being part of a legacy means knowing when to pass the torch to someone else," the actress continued.

"I was blessed to be the vessel for Selina Kyle for her formative teen years, and it only felt right to give someone else the torch for her adult self."

“The woman who will be playing the older Selina Kyle is the glorious Lili Simmons, who, when I met for the first time, made me cry tears of joy,” her statement continued.

“She is perfect for this role, and she really wanted to do Selina right. We spoke about Selina Kyle for hours; I shared journal entries and scenes that were prime examples of Selina’s characteristics, and she shared thoughts of backstory for the 10 years that the audience didn’t see."

"I want to clearly express how much thought and care went into this decision, as well as how much respect for the character and legacy of Selina Kyle there is within it."

"I was blessed to be the seventh female actor to play Selina Kyle, the first to play her in Gotham‘s adaptation — and now, there will be an eighth woman part of DC Comics’ Catwoman legacy. That makes me proud.”

#Gotham
My heart. 🙏🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/0TopulDoHK

— Camren Bicondova (@camrenbicondova) April 19, 2019

Gotham Season 5 Episode 12 airs this coming Thursday.

"The series flash-forwards 10 years into the future, as Bruce is set to return to Gotham for the opening of the new Wayne Tower," according to the official description.

Related: Gotham Season 5 Episode 11 Review: They Did What?

"A series of crimes leads Gordon to believe Penguin and The Riddler are up to their old tricks."

"However, when Bullock is framed for a murder, Gordon begins to piece together an even more sinister plot targeting the city, and a new figure emerges from the shadows to be the hero Gotham desperately needs in the all-new ‘The Beginning…’ series finale episode of Gotham."

What do you think of this news, Gotham Fanatics?

Hit the comments below.

Remember you can watch Gotham online right here via TV Fanatic.

The post Gotham Recast Twist: Who Will Not Appear on the Series Finale? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

10 years later Jeremiah and Riddler escape from jail.Oswald is supposed to be released.

Barbara Lee is with Lee and Jim. Jim wants to retire. Mayor isn't happy. Barbara is a CEO.

Bullock goes to a place where he's held at gunpoint and gets a phone call. 

Jim comes to see Bullock in an office who tells him what happened but it's not really what happened. Bullock is lying and Jim know it.

The GCPD are on the hunt for Nygma who is in a basement. No one is there. There's a letter for him from Oswald.

Oswald has a fake eye. He's getting dressed in full Penguin costume. Media is waiting for him outside as he's released from jail.

He gives an exclusive interview to a reporter.

Batman is at the murder scene when Jim and Montoya come in to invesigate.

Batman talks to him but doesn't reveal himself. He leaves through a window.

Penguin is waiting for Jim when he gets in the car. He orders Jim to drive. He takes Jim to the dock. Penguin is fat.

Penguin denies trying to bomb Wayne Tower. Penguin is pissed that Jim put him in jail. 

Jim jumps into the pier to escape Penguin's bullets.

There's a fundraiser at Wayne Tower. Selina shows up. She wants to see Bruce.

Selina sees Ed. Barbara runs into Selina. The mayor is hostage.

Alfred gives a speech. Barbara finds Ed.

Selina knocks him out.

Jim comes in to evacuate hte building and the mayor comes out with Ed.

There's a bunch of C4 under the Gotham city table display.

The bombs will have to be defused.

Bullock is being taken to Blackgate but Jim interferes and Jim learns that Jeremiah is free.

Ed is put in a car with Penguin. They're trying to figure out who's behind it all. 

Someone jumps on the roof and the car crashes. It's Batman.

Alfred and Lucius know about Bruce and Lucius wants to tell Jim but Alfred says no. Penguin and Riddler are tied up for the GCPD.

Barbara is at the club with Barbara Lee when the music goes off. Jeremiah is there. 

Barbara Lee throws asomething at Harley. Jeremia grabs the girl. Jeremiah shoots and kills her.He wants her to deliver a message to Jim.

Jim finds Barbara and she tells him he took their daughter. Jim goes to Ace Chemicals.

Jeremiah says that he was pretending until Bruce came home.

The girl is saved. Batman makes an appearance and knocks Jeremiah out.

Jim tells Bullock about Batman. They're on the roof with he spotlight. Alfred shows up.

Selina is on the roof and Batman is there. She knows he's there.

Penguin and Ed see Batman flying.

Bullock, Jim and Alfred see Batman watching them.

The post Gotham Season 5 Episode 12 Recap: The Beginning… appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Gotham Season 5 has moved fast as we prepare to say our final goodbye and Gotham Season 5 Episode 11 was no different.

It was an incredible hour where issues were resolved to set up the Gotham of the future with Batman as the City's Dark Knight.

Bane and Nyssa were intent on destroying Gotham and weren't about to let anything get in their way.

But they didn't realize that the people of Gotham weren't going to sit back without a fight — and that includes Oswald and Ed.

Related: Gotham Season 5 Episode 10 Review: I Am Bane

Ed didn't want to help at first. He had every intention of leaving Gotham in the submarine.

But Penguin's heart and soul are deeply embedded in Gotham, and he was staying to fight.

He was disappointed in Ed, but he understood why Ed wanted to leave.

And he was pleasantly surprised when Ed changed his mind after hearing Oswald's stirring speech to Jim about why he was staying behind to fight.

Related: Knightfall Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Equal Before God

Ed probably wasn't going to leave anyway after he and Penguin said their goodbyes on the dock. Ed wouldn't want to venture into a new world by himself.

Besides, Penguin had a point. Gotham is their city. Their home.

Jim was surprised but needed every man available to fight Bane and the army, but they were outnumbered.

What was great was how organic Penguin's eye injury happened so that he would eventually become the classic Penguin with the eyepatch.

Jim: Surprised you’re still here. Figured you’d be long gone by now. That storm you’ve warned me about for so long? It’s finally here.

Oswald: We’ve shared some turbulent times you and I.

Jim: That we have.

Oswald: When you spared my life on the pier that day, banished me from Gotham, that was the most lost I’ve ever been. Because I was away from the City, you see? It’s part of me. You know what I’m talking about because it’s part of you, too. Sure, I could escape, with money, I might add, but then what? Stand on the shores and then watch the army burn it to the ground? Then watch tasteless industrialists and vapid politicians rebuild it? No. My life is etched on the walls of every alley and dirty warehouse here. My blood lives in its broken concrete. I’m staying to fight. For my legacy.

_{🔗 permalink: When you spared my life on the pier that day, banished me from Gotham, that was the most lost…}

Neither expected the grenade that went off close by them in the middle of the firefight, and Ed's reaction to Penguin's eye injury was hilarious.

Poor Penguin. He had no idea that his eye was completely gone.

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But what was more irritating for them both was that after everyone retreated, Penguin and Ed were left behind. 

They were abandoned by Gordon and the GCPD.

Penguin didn't take kindly to the fact. He knew they would never receive the recognition or the respect they deserved after Gotham finally got saved from ultimate destruction.

And, of course, they blamed it all on Jim Gordon.

Not only that, but Nyssa had stolen their submarine and their money. They knew they'd have to start over again and neither of them were thrilled.

Ed didn't give two flying hoots about recognition. He's been there, done that, and he only wanted power.

Nyssa: My father made his name destroying empires. Now it’s my turn.

_{🔗 permalink: My father made his name destroying empires. Now it’s my turn.}

He's still uneasy about Penguin and his flakiness, but the tide is going to turn.

While Ed learned much of his trade from Penguin, it's now time for Oswald to learn from Riddler how a real criminal acts.

They formed an uneasy pact which will put them front and center in Gotham's criminal underworld.

Jim finally became commissioner after successfully defeating Bane and Wade's army.

Jim deserved the position as he never gave up hope for Gotham, something Penguin reminded him of earlier.

It's hard to believe that he and Bullock will no longer be partners, but Jim will have a new partner once Bruce returns as Batman.

Related: What We Do in the Shadows Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Werewolf Feud

Bruce and Selina did their part to save Gotham by destroying Wayne Enterprises to buy the good guys time to prepare for the final fight.

Plus, we got to see one of Batman's new gadgets in action when he used the transponder to summon the bats that attacked Bane. It was a very cool scene.

If Bruce hadn't left, he and Selina would have become a thing, but then the crazy dance of Catwoman and Batman in the future would never take place.

Selina wasn't too happy that Bruce left, and she'll make him pay at some point.

But we all know they'll eventually get together because that's just the way it is and rightfully so.

I'd love to see how Catwoman enters into the criminal underworld with Penguin and Riddler, and hope we see how it comes about on the final episode.

Jim: What should I call her.

Barbara: Barbara.

Jim: Oh.

Barbara: Barbara Lee Gordon. In this city, it’s important she knows who she can rely on.

_{🔗 permalink: Barbara Lee Gordon. In this city, it’s important she knows who she can rely on.}

To my surprise, Barbara didn't die. And I hope she doesn't, either.

What was surprising was that she had decided to name her and Jim's daughter, Barbara.

But Babs wasn't egotistical, even if Jim might have thought it but left it unexpressed. 

Baby Gordon's name is Barbara Lee Gordon. Barbara's tribute to Lee was beautiful, and so were her words to Jim that their daughter will know who on whom she can rely.

While I always wanted Jim and Barbara to end up together, the story got crafted perfectly.

Barbara understood how valuable Lee was and realized that she was the perfect woman for Jim.

Maybe it was motherhood that changed Babs, but bravo on how she handled herself with Lee.

And I love the idea of them all being a happy family together. 

Related: The Blacklist Season 6 Episode 16 Review: Lady Luck

Hopefully, Barbara changes her ways. It's always possible with Lee's guidance.

It was amazing how in awe Barbara was of Lee when she decided she was going to stand by Jim's side and fight.

It inspired Barbara enough to move her to convince all the refugees that they too should fight for their city.

How great was it when the army turned on Bane? It gave me chills.

Bane and Nyssa are still in the game and will be sure to cause Jim problems in the future, but they're going to have a bigger challenge to deal with when Bruce returns as Batman.

Penguin and Riddler won't tolerate Nyssa in their midst either considering she took what was theirs. They'll be seeking revenge for sure.

Alfred is alive but didn't have much to do this hour except recover from the injuries he sustained from Bane. He was sad to see Bruce go, but somewhere deep inside he knows Bruce will be back.

And so do we. 

19 TV Deaths That Made Us Jump For Joy

Open List

Over to you!

How do you feel about Gotham coming to an end?

How do you want it to end?

Will all our favorites survive?

Are you looking forward to the Joker making his appearance?

Hit the comments and share your thoughts.

If you need to catch up, you can watch Gotham online right here via TV Fanatic!

The post Gotham Season 5 Episode 11 Review: They Did What? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Bruce and Selina are talking to a very injured Alfred in a clinic.

Nyssa has Barbara hostage and the baby next to her. She wants to destroy the city, kill Babs, and raise the baby as her own.

The General orders his army to destroy Gotham when Bane arrives to take over.

Penguin tries to convince Riddler that they have business to do to help them save Gotham. Riddler wants to leave but Penguin wants to stay.

Jim and Bullock plan a strategy to stop General Wade and his army. Then Jim wants to leave to find Babs but another officer volunteers so Jim can stay at GCPD.

Lucius gives Bruce some tools to fight for the city.

Oswald visits Jim. They talk about old times. Oswald talks about his loyalty to Gotham.

Bullock tells Jim about the army. Then Riddler shows up and says he's ready to fight for Gotham too.

The GCPD prepares to fight. Oswald, Penguin, Bruce, Bullock and all the rest.They take their stand at the GCPD where Bane and his army is waiting for them.

The firefight begins.

Selina finds Lee to get her out and hears the bombing of The Narrows.She's going to go there to help.

Firefight continues. A grenade goes off and Penguin gets struck in the eye. The army breaches and Bane wants Jim and Bruce brought to him.

The GCPD retreats and Jim gets a message from Lucius that Barbara and the baby were kidnapped by Nyssa.Jim is going to City Hall.

Oswald doesn't realize how bad his eye is.

Lee is helping at GCPD. Bruce comes up with a plan to use Jeremiah's bombs starting with one at Bruce Wayne Tower. Selina and Bruce take off.

Jim shows up at City Hall to resuce Barbara. Nyssa shows up with the baby. They're both hostages now.

Bruce and Selina make it to Wayne Towers. Bruce gives a speech about destroying Wayne Enterprises to save Gotham and sets the bomb. The Tower explodes taking out some of the army.

Nyssa hands over he baby to a guard. She attacks Jim and takes him down. She gets a phone call about the Tower to block the army's approach.

Nyssa and Jim go at it again and Babs joins in. Finally Barbara stabs Nyssa and she tells Wade to execute failsafe. He kills himself and Nyssa takes off. 

Bane finds Bruce and Selina. Selina stabs Bane.

Bruce uses his bat beacon to call bats to attack Bane.

Barbara has the baby and Jim sees her for the first time and holds her.

Babs and Jim arrive back at GCPD and Jim learns about Wayne Enterprises. Jim makes a plan to get Babs and the refugees to safety. He wants Lee to go with.

Lee tells the refugees she's not going with and her and Babs hug. Babs thanks Lee for everything she's done for her. Babs is in charge of the refugees.

Jim faces off against Bane. Lee shows up at his side. Bane tells them it's a firing squad and then a boatload of people show up in support, including Babs and the baby. Bane orders them to fire and nothing happens. The army turns against Bane. Bane throws down his gun and surrenders.

Nyssa goes to the submarine.

Jim comes and talks to Barbara and to hold the baby. Barbara tells him the name of the baby. Barbara Lee Gordon.

Penguin and Riddler are upset about Nyssa stealing thier money and sub. Penguin says he felt nothing standing next to everyone to fight for Gotham. And goes off.

The two talk about how Gordon doesn't respect them. They both want to rule the city and make a pact to take what they want when they want. Together. Yet both of them were going to atttack the other but decide against it. They're partners now.

There's a ceremony at City Hall. Jim is now commissioner Gordon. Oswald has his eyepatch.

Bullock says his goodbyes to Jim since he won't be at the GCPD anymore.

Bruce tells Jim he's leaving the city. Selina shows up at the GCPD looking for Bruce and there's a letter for her from him.

Alfred is up and about and is there with Bruce as he prepares to leave.

Bruce leaves. Selina is too late. She's upset.

The post Gotham Season 5 Episode 11 Recap: They Did What? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Gotham suffered a massive setback on Gotham Season 5 Episode 10 and one from which it may never recover.

Just when Jim thought all his troubles were starting to fade away, Nyssa al Ghul appeared to wreak more havoc on the city, and this time it was much worse than the bombing of Haven.

Nyssa wanted to avenge the death of her father by not only punishing Gotham but also by punishing those responsible for killing him, namely Barbara and Bruce.

Related: Gotham Season 5 Episode 9 Review: The Trial of Jim Gordon

And she didn't do it alone. Bane was born, and he quickly became Jim's worst nightmare.

With only two episodes of Gotham left, we couldn't expect a happy ending would come so soon. A happy ending might not come at all.

Barbara certainly isn't going to have a happy ending.

It's clear now that the events on Gotham Season 5 Episode 9 weren't a nightmare of Jim's but a reality. He and Lee are married.

And Lee hasn't become a crazy woman green with envy because her husband is having a baby with another woman who happened to be his ex-fiancee.

What Lee showed (and I admire her for it) is that she's willing to move past the events of the past for the sake of the baby, and she has no intention of becoming Barbara's enemy.

She and Barbara bonded and laughed about their sordid history as baby Batgirl was born. It was sweet as hell, but also telling in that this is how it happens in the television world when a character is about to die.

There was no way that the Gotham writers would have tortured us with Bane killing Barbara. It would have been too brutal, even if there's still a possibility it could happen.

Instead, we were treated to Penguin and Riddler saving the day even though they had shown up at the clinic to get back the regulator Barbara stole to prevent them from leaving Gotham without her.

Penguin and Riddler working together were brilliant, and it's too bad we won't be able to enjoy any more of their amusing antics that would have come about had Gotham gotten renewed for more seasons.

Barbara and Lee made it safely to the Sirens club, but their joy was shortlived because Nyssa was waiting for them. Besides that, Wade's helicopters started bombing Gotham which didn't help their situation either.

Related: Explore Hundreds of Hours of Curated Historical Videos with History Vault via Prime Video Channels!

I can't imagine that Nyssa will die in the bombings, but I can see Ra's al Ghul's daughter murdering Barbara while Lee and the baby escape.

Jim isn't going to stand by knowing that his daughter is in danger even though he doesn't know Nyssa is holding them captive. He'll show up at the right time to bring them to safety.

Alfred's situation, on the other hand, is up in the air. One would think his time isn't at an end just as the Dark Knight is about to be born, but Gotham has always been full of surprises. 

Bane did a number on him.

If Alfred is dead, it might be one more reason Bruce puts on the cape. But how will Batman get the job done without Alfred by his side to guide him?

I had a hard time understanding what Bane said to Jim and thought he might have mentioned Jerome. Did anyone catch that?

It would fit if Jerome is working with Nyssa, but it doesn't make sense. If Nyssa is successful in destroying Gotham, what does that leave Jerome?

What would be insanely cool is if Jerome shows up to mark his territory and save Gotham in the process, or at least contribute to the process.

If you remember on Gotham Season 5 Episode 1, Jim, Bullock, and the GCPD teamed up with Penguin and Riddler to take a stand against an army. That might have been Wade's army.

Related: Enjoy UNLIMITED access to thousands of Movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video. WATCH ANYWHERE. CANCEL ANYTIME!

It could be that Nyssa recruited some of Gotham's criminal element, but it doesn't seem plausible that the good guys would be fighting off a Jerome army. 

Jerome doesn't want Gotham destroyed because without Gotham, he has no city to rule and no Bruce Wayne to fight.

There are only two episodes left. We know the Joker is coming as are Catwoman and Batman.

Events have been moving fast because of the limited amount of time left for the series, but who knows what other villains will make a final appearance to help in preventing Gotham from becoming a pile of rubble?

It's an exciting prospect!

Over to you!

Other Tidbits

• Barbara blasting away at Bane while Lee was wheeling her to safety was one of the best moments of the hour.

• I got teary-eyed when Lee assured Barbara that Jim wasn't going to take her baby away. Auntie Lee? Love.

• Barbara giving birth in heels shows what a badass she is.

• I love Alfred and Selina's new partnership. Alfred's vicious slap in the early seasons of Gotham is forgotten and forgiven.

• Is it possible that another Lazarus Pit got created that might save Alfred if he died?

• Jim knocking out those two guards is the kind of Jim Gordon I like. My, how he's changed.

• Bullock getting super excited about Jim becoming a father was epic.

19 TV Characters Who Would Stab You In The Back

Open List

What did you think about "I Am Bane"? 

Will Gotham be destroyed?

Which characters won't make it out alive?

Hit the comments and share your thoughts!

If you need to catch up, you can watch Gotham online right here via TV Fanatic!

The post Gotham Season 5 Episode 10 Review: I Am Bane appeared first on TV Fanatic.