Ever since it debuted on television, Gotham has seem some interesting villians make their presence felt. Here's a look at some famed DC Comics villains
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Jerome Valeska (Cameron Monaghan)
Ever since Jerome (Cameron Monaghan) first debuted on Gotham in season one, the Fox drama has made it a point to never actually call him "Joker." Two seasons later, the question has finally been answered: Jerome really is the famed villain. Joker.Monaghan crafted a vivid villain, perhaps best evidenced this time around during his Wayne Manor reunion with Bruce. Wearing a face that had been removed and then stapled back on perhaps a bit too tight, Jerome looked more mad than ever as he closed in to kill the “prince” of Gotham. Capping the hour’s manic performance was the brawl in the circus’ Hall of Mirrors, where Jerome taunted and then took on Bruce, and then paints Bruce Wayne's face as Gordon and Bruce's butler Alfred try to rescue the future Batman. Monaghan's powerful display does justice to the Batman's most famous adversary at a time when Joker is playing the villain in the movies like The Lego Movie, Suicide Squad as they all try to match the award winning role of Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight. From his gleefully sinister attitude to his penchant for theatricality, it was a masterstroke to bring Jerome back to life in the current season after having being killed by Theo Galavan in season 2.
Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor)
Many villains have come and gone on Gotham, but amidst the chaos, Oswald Cobblepot — better known nowadays as the Penguin, is easily one of the most intriguing villains. In season 1, he was the master puppeteer who twisted the city’s criminal underworld in a successful effort to become “the king of Gotham,” and season 2 saw him suffer great personal loss with the murders of his beloved mother Gertrude and his long-lost father Elijah, only to once again wind up the victor. In season 3 Penguin is the mayor and is facing a rebellion from Edward Nygma who is out for revenge after Penguin killed his girlfriend Isabelle out of jealousy. Meanwhile Gordon's former girlfriend Barbara Kean is out to usurp Penguins reign as crime boss. Robin Lord Taylor’s consistently strong performance makes him a villain viewers simply can’t take their eyes off of. Gordon and Bruce may be the show’s heroes, but Penguin is one of Gotham’s best all-around character thus far. His battle with Nygma is this shows other main duel and fans are hopeful that Penguin stays on till the end even though the season so far has shown Penguin losing his mind and betrayed by his colleagues.
Edward Nygma/Riddler (Cory Michael Smith)
According to the trailers of season 3, Edward Nygma will finally suit up as his alter ego - the Riddler in this season. Distraught after the murder of his girlfriend Isabelle who bears an uncanny resemblance to his former girlfriend , Nyma's character appears to be the most cunning when he is plotting revenge. The story of Edward Nygma, debuted in the very first episode of Gotham, establishing the character as a nerdy, socially awkward forensic scientist for the GCPD. Yet, by the end of season 1, he’d already committed and covered up his first murder, albeit one done in defense of his unrequited love, Kristen Kringle. Throughout season 2, this single act spiraled out of control, as Cory Michael Smith' character become more erratic and demonstrated signs of multiple personalities. When he finally accidentally murders Kristen, the event sees him fully embrace his dark side. After his arrest he is admitted to the Arkham asylum for the criminally insane where he meets Penguin and after they leave asylum,Nygma goes on to assist Penguin in his rise as Mayor only for Penguin to develop fatal attraction for Nygma.
Hugo Strange (BD Wong)
The Tony-winning veteran of stage and screen B D Wong was brought on board to play the main villain in season 2. With a genius-level intellect and a thoroughly bizarre scientific background, Hugo Strange lacks the supernatural abilities of his many creations in Indian Hill. But what he lacks as a physical threat, he more than compensates for with his psychological prowess.In the latter half of season 2, Strange evades the suspicions of Gordon, Bruce, and the show’s other heroes as he works towards the secret of reanimation. This culminates in the return of several recurring villains by season’s end, as Strange loses control of Arkham Asylum where he is running experiments and it is revealed that he is operating under orders from the mysterious Court of Owls. Fish Mooney another popular villain tracks Hugo Strange down to save her life and powers while Hugo still appears to be the smartest character around other than Wayne Enterprises' scientist Lucius Fox
