The WORST episodes of Gotham

Every episode of Gotham ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Gotham!

The story behind Detective James Gordon's rise to prominence in Gotham City in the years before Batman's arrival.

Last Updated: 2/14/2024Network: FOXStatus: Ended
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The Trial of Jim Gordon
star
7.42
1652 votes

#1 - The Trial of Jim Gordon

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/7/2019

After Gordon is shot in an attempt to establish a cease-fire, he hallucinates a trial for his life that could have deadly real consequences. Meanwhile, Ivy returns and puts her spell on Bruce, leaving Selina to defend herself. Lee has a life-changing moment as Barbara and Penguin consider their next move.

Directors: Erin Richards
Writer: Ben McKenzie
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nothing's Shocking
star
7.46
1585 votes

#2 - Nothing's Shocking

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/28/2019

Bullock's past comes back to haunt him when he and Gordon investigate two murders at Sirens. Meanwhile, Bruce and Alfred explore the tunnels beneath the city, and Penguin and Nygma's plans to escape are thwarted by the least likely of suspects.

Directors: Kenneth Fink
Writer: Seth Boston
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rogues' Gallery
star
7.48
3503 votes

#3 - Rogues' Gallery

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/5/2015

Gordon’s assignment at Arkham Asylum gets off to a rocky start when the murder of a guard ignites an investigation, leading him to meet Dr. Leslie Thompkins. Meanwhile, Cobblepot continues to build his army.

Directors: Oz Scott
Writer: Sue Chung
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fearsome Dr. Crane
star
7.56
3115 votes

#4 - The Fearsome Dr. Crane

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/2/2015

Fish Mooney reveals a secret of Oswald Cobblepot's, prompting Maroni to take him on a trip to test his loyalty. Meanwhile, Gordon and Bullock hunt down a killer who targets victims with severe phobias and Bruce Wayne confronts Gordon for failing to make progress on his parents' murder case.

Directors: John Behring
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Everyone Has a Cobblepot
star
7.58
3340 votes

#5 - Everyone Has a Cobblepot

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/2/2015

While Gordon seeks information about the recent controversy with Commissioner Loeb, Fish’s allegiance with the prisoners is questioned when she appears to join forces with Dr. Dulmacher. Meanwhile, after an attack close to home, Bruce deals with the aftermath.

Directors: Bill Eagles
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Welcome Back, Jim Gordon
star
7.59
3276 votes

#6 - Welcome Back, Jim Gordon

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/26/2015

When the key witness in a homicide ends up dead while being held for questioning by the police, Gordon suspects that it’s an inside job and looks to an old friend for information. Meanwhile, Oswald Cobblepot takes control of one of Fish Mooney’s prized possessions, as she gets a small taste of her own medicine.

Directors: Wendey Stanzler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ruin
star
7.60
1701 votes

#7 - Ruin

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/24/2019

Gordon and Penguin are forced to work together and alliances are shaken when Lucius, Nygma and Barbara all have different ideas of the culprit behind recent events at Haven. Meanwhile, Selina continues her quest for revenge against Jeremiah.

Directors: Nathan Hope
Writer: Chad Fiveash
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pena Dura
star
7.61
1697 votes

#8 - Pena Dura

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/31/2019

A military task force, led by Eduardo Dorrance is called in to provide relief to Gotham. Meanwhile, Nygma looks for answers from Penguin, who leads him back to Hugo Strange. Then, Bruce is concerned about Selina's recent behavior.

Directors: Mark Tonderai
Writer: Iturri Sosa
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rise of the Villains: Scarification
star
7.61
3638 votes

#9 - Rise of the Villains: Scarification

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/19/2015

Galavan and Penguin join forces with a dangerous family in Gotham. Then, as the rivalry between the Waynes and the Galavans resurfaces, Gordon struggles to maintain order in the city.

Directors: Bill Eagles
Watch Now:Apple TV
A Dark Knight: Hog Day Afternoon
star
7.61
2943 votes

#10 - A Dark Knight: Hog Day Afternoon

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/26/2017

Gordon and Bullock are hot on a serial killer who has been assassinating cops and dressing his victims in the severed heads of pigs as his signature mark. Meanwhile, Sofia tries to win over Penguin, and Thompkins, Nygma and Grundy find themselves an unlikely home at Cherry's place.

Directors: Mark Tonderai
Writer: Kim Newton
Watch Now:Apple TV
Penguin, Our Hero
star
7.62
1767 votes

#11 - Penguin, Our Hero

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/17/2019

With the creation of Haven as a safe place for refugees, Gordon hopes to stop the gang-fighting in Gotham. Selina is determined to find Jeremiah and convinces Bruce to help her. Meanwhile, Penguin goes to Haven to reclaim his staff.

Directors: Rob Bailey
Writer: Tze Chun
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Red Hood
star
7.62
3243 votes

#12 - Red Hood

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/23/2015

Following several bank robberies, Gordon and Bullock investigate the Red Hood gang. Selina Kyle continues to bond with Barbara, and Fish Mooney tries to reclaim her position in the underworld.

Directors: Nathan Hope
Writer: Danny Cannon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
I Am Bane
star
7.62
1679 votes

#13 - I Am Bane

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/21/2019

On the precipice of Gotham’s reunification, Gordon and Bruce find themselves face-to-face with a newly transformed Eduardo, and discover the real mastermind behind the city’s current chaos. Meanwhile, a pregnant Barbara turns to Lee for help.

Directors: Kenneth Fink
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Blind Fortune Teller
star
7.62
3171 votes

#14 - The Blind Fortune Teller

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/16/2015

Gordon takes Dr. Leslie Thompkins to the circus, but the day turns quickly when the circus comes under attack. Then, Falcone enlists Butch Gilzean to help Penguin with the night club, while Fish Mooney is otherwise occupied. Also, Bruce Wayne schedules a meeting with the Wayne Enterprises board.

Directors: Jeffrey G. Hunt
Writer: Bruno Heller
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Scarecrow
star
7.63
3179 votes

#15 - The Scarecrow

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/9/2015

Gordon and Bullock set out to stop Gerald Crane, a biology teacher who has been harvesting the glands of his murder victims. Meanwhile, after finding herself in an unusual setting, Mooney continues plotting to gain power, and Falcone attempts to change Maroni's plan for the Penguin. Then, Bruce takes a treacherous hike.

Directors: Nick Copus
Writer: Ken Woodruff
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
13 Stitches
star
7.63
1659 votes

#16 - 13 Stitches

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/14/2019

Gordon assembles an unlikely team to protect Gotham from Eduardo Dorrance and his Delta Force. Just as Lee Thompkins resurfaces, Barbara reveals shocking news that will change Gordon's life forever. Meanwhile, Selina and Penguin team up to outsmart fellow villain Magpie.

Directors: Ben McKenzie
Writer: Seth Boston
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Beasts of Prey
star
7.64
3582 votes

#17 - Beasts of Prey

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/13/2015

Gordon and Bullock inspect a cold case involving the Ogre, a serial killer who targets young women in Gotham City. Meanwhile, Fish plots her escape from the Dollmaker, and Bruce and Selina confront Reggie.

Directors: Eagle Egilsson
Writer: Ken Woodruff
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
They Did What?
star
7.67
1670 votes

#18 - They Did What?

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/18/2019

As Bane enacts his final plan for Gotham’s destruction, Gordon rallies his former enemies to save the city. Meanwhile, Nyssa al Ghul kidnaps Barbara’s newborn daughter, with ambitions to raise her as her own. Then, Bruce’s decision to leave Gotham points him to his destiny, while devastating Selina.

Directors: Carol Banker
Writer: Tze Chun
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Dark Knight: Pieces of a Broken Mirror
star
7.67
2460 votes

#19 - A Dark Knight: Pieces of a Broken Mirror

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/1/2018

Gordon is called to the scene after The Toy Maker is hired to assassinate one of Gotham's doctors. Lee Thompkins begins to try to rebuild the Narrows, with Nygma as her partner. Meanwhile, Alfred's new life in the Narrows becomes complicated and Ivy reveals her new persona to Selina.

Writer: Danny Cannon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Dark Knight: A Beautiful Darkness
star
7.68
2406 votes

#20 - A Dark Knight: A Beautiful Darkness

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/8/2018

Ivy tracks a secret project on which Wayne Enterprises is working and begins to target anyone that can give her information. Meanwhile, Jerome becomes obsessed with Penguin in Arkham. Also, Gordon begins to second guess his deal with Sofia and an unsettling dream sequence shakes up Bruce.

Directors: John Stephens
Writer: Tze Chun
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mad City: Look Into My Eyes
star
7.69
4603 votes

#21 - Mad City: Look Into My Eyes

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/2016

Hypnotist Jervis Tetch/Mad Hatter arrives in Gotham to search for his sister, Alice, and hires Gordon to help find her. Meanwhile, Penguin decides to run for mayor and Bruce's doppelganger begins to channel him, causing some confusion around town.

Directors: Danny Cannon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Dark Knight: Reunion
star
7.69
2322 votes

#22 - A Dark Knight: Reunion

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/15/2018

Ivy picks her next target, leading Gordon and Lucius back to an old friend, as Selina tries to take matters into her own hands. Sofia wants full control of Gotham and turns to Lee about the state of the Narrows. Meanwhile, Bruce tries to make amends with Alfred, and Nygma visits Arkham.

Writer: Peter Blake
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Under the Knife
star
7.69
3691 votes

#23 - Under the Knife

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/20/2015

Gordon and Bullock continue their investigation of the Ogre, who begins to make his move on someone close to Gordon. Meanwhile, Bruce and Selina team up to expose a corrupt Wayne Enterprises employee and Nygma comes to Kristin Kringle’s defense.

Directors: T.J. Scott
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Trespassers
star
7.69
1776 votes

#24 - Trespassers

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/10/2019

Gordon and Bullock investigate a location where several kids have been kidnapped. Barbara proves to be an unlikely ally to Gordon. Meanwhile, Bruce looks into an alleged witch with healing powers for Selina, and Nygma deals with demons of his own.

Writer: Danny Cannon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Dark Knight: The Demon's Head
star
7.69
3237 votes

#25 - A Dark Knight: The Demon's Head

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/12/2017

Bruce Wayne puts the lives of Gotham Natural History Museum historian Niles Winthrop and his grandson, Alex, in danger in an attempt to uncover the meaning behind his prized knife from the auction. Meanwhile, Ra's Al Ghul proves he'll take deadly measures to achieve what he wants. Also, with Sofia Falcone in town, she is on a mission to win back Gotham from Penguin.

Directors: Kenneth Fink
Writer: Ben McKenzie
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV