Introduction
DC's Gotham series featured quite a few deaths over the course of its five seasons, and some of them were more brutal than the rest. Gotham was the spiritual sister series to Smallville, with both of them telling the stories of how DC's two biggest heroes came to become who they were destined to be. Gotham's main difference from Smallville was that, although the series told the story of how Bruce Wayne would become Batman with David Mazouz suiting up as the Dark Knight in Gotham's series finale the show was centered on Ben McKenzie's Jim Gordon.
Jerome staring down a tied up Comissioner Sarah Essen in Gotham
While Bruce would only become Batman at the end of the series, following a massive 10-year time jump, Gotham had no problems with introducing most of Batman's iconic villains in the series. Gotham's Batman villain roster included popular names like Catwoman, Penguin, Riddler, Ra's al Ghul, Poison Ivy, and many more. With so many Batman villains making their way into the series, Gotham got quite bloody, as most of its characters had no qualms about killing. The series became one of DC's darkest and most violent, with several intense, bloody fights and deaths over five seasons. Here are the most brutal deaths throughout Gotham's five seasons.
Gotham's Kathryn Monroe wearing a Court of Owls mask next to another member in front of a fireplace
The Most Brutal Deaths
Commissioner Sarah Essen Is Tied Up And Shot By Jerome
The Fake Leader Of The Court Of Owls Is Decapitated
Alice Tetch Is Impaled On A Pole
Alice Tetch looking at her brother Jervis while tied to a chair, dressed like Alice in Wonderland in Gotham
Azrael Is Killed By An RPG
Azrael as seen in Gotham
Solomon Grundy Dies Twice
Solomon Grundy in Gotham
Nora Fries Is Frozen To Death
Butch becomes Solomon Grundy in Gotham
The Penguin's Mother Is Killed By Tabitha
The Most Brutal Deaths
The Riddler Chokes Kristen Kringle To Death
Butch Gilzean And Tabitha Galavan In Gotham
Grace Van Dahl Is Fed Her Children Before Being Killed
Drew Powell as Butch on Gotham
Barbara Kean Is Forced To Kill Her Own Parents
Nora Fries looking sick in Gotham
Analysis
The deaths in Gotham were not only shocking but also deeply impactful, shaping the characters and the narrative in significant ways. Each death revealed the dark and unforgiving nature of Gotham City, painting a grim and violent picture of the world in which these characters lived. The brutality of these deaths served to highlight the stakes and the cost of existing in a city overrun by crime and corruption. The series' willingness to explore such dark and intense themes set it apart as a truly gritty and uncompromising take on the Batman mythology.
Carol Kane as Gertrud Kapelput in Gotham
Gotham's portrayal of the most iconic Batman villains added a layer of complexity and darkness to the series, creating a world where no one was truly safe and where violence and death were constant companions. The series pushed the boundaries of what was expected from a superhero show, delving deep into the psychological and moral complexities of its characters.
Edward Nygma chokes Kristen Kringle to death
