Headhunter's Holosuite Wiki
Headhunter's Holosuite Wiki
Advertisement
"Better to Reign in Hell..."
Series Gotham
Season 3, Episode 1
Gotham 3x01 001
Air date September 19th, 2016
Writers John Stephens
Director Danny Cannon
Producers Annabelle K. Frost; Thomas J. Whelan; Denise The; Steven Lilien; Bryan Wyndbrandt; Robert Hull; Scott White; Ken Woodruff; John Stephens; Danny Cannon; Bruno Heller
Starring Ben McKenzie; Donal Logue; David Mazouz; Morena Baccarin; Sean Pertwee; Robin Lord Taylor; Erin Richards; Camren Bicondova; Cory Michael Smith; Jessica Lucas; Chris Chalk; Drew Powell; Michael Chiklis
Episode guide
Previous
"Transference"
Next
"Burn the Witch"

"Better to Reign in Hell..." is the title to the first episode from season three of the crime drama series Gotham, which is billed under the subtitle of "Mad City". It is the forty-fifth episode of the series overall. It was directed by Danny Cannon with a script written by John Stephens. It first aired on the FOX Network on Monday, September 19th, 2016 at 8:00 pm. In this episode, James Gordon is now a bounty hunter, and the dollar signs light up when the Penguin puts a $1,000,000 reward out for the capture of Fish Mooney. Bruce Wayne returns from Switzerland and openly accuses members of the Wayne Enterprises board of directors of being part of some secret society. A Bruce Wayne look-alike stumbles about the alleys of Gotham. Fish has all of Hugo Strange's experimental freaks under her command, and Barbara Kean goes a little crazier as she stakes a claim on the Sirens night club. Just another day in Gotham City.

Synopsis[]

Cast[]

Principal Cast[]

Actor Role
Ben McKenzie James Gordon
Donal Logue Harvey Bullock
David Mazouz Bruce Wayne
Morena Baccarin Lee Thompkins
Sean Pertwee Alfred Pennyworth
Robin Lord Taylor Oswald Cobblepot
Erin Richards Barbara Kean
Camren Bicondova Selina Kyle
Cory Michael Smith Edward Nygma
Jessica Lucas Tabitha Galavan
Chris Chalk Lucius Fox
Drew Powell Butch Gilzean
Michael Chiklis Nathaniel Barnes

Guest Starring[]

Actor Role
Jada Pinkett Smith Fish Mooney
Richard Kind Aubrey James
Clare Foley Ivy Pepper
Tonya Pinkins Ethel Peabody
James Carpinello Mario Falcone
Leslie Hendrix Kathryn
Jamie Chung Valerie Vale

Co-Starring[]

Actor Role
Victor Pagan Marv
Mike Cannon Tweaker
Radu Spinghel Scale skin man
Nikolai Tsankov Boris
Brian Cade Board member
Bianca Rutigliano Nancy
Kevin Michael Murphy Plant worker
Kenny Wong Pharmacist
Bobby Beckles Security guard
Michael Montgomery Ridgeback monster
Michael Lorz Sid
Stephanie Sasso Sirens club singer

Crew[]

Notes & Trivia[]

  • This episode is production code number T13.19901.
  • This episode had a viewership of 3.897 million people, which is up by .279 from the previous episode.
  • Beginning with this episode, actors Chris Chalk and Michael Chiklis are added to the main cast list. They play Lucius Fox and Captain Nathaniel Barnes.
  • This is the fifth episode of Gotham directed by Danny Cannon. He previously directed the season two premiere, "Damned If You Do...". Both episode titles are notable ending with ellipses. His next episode is "Burn the Witch".
  • This is the seventh episode of Gotham written by John Stephens. He previously wrote "The Son of Gotham" from the "Rise of the Villains" serial.
  • Morena Baccarin only makes a cameo appearance at the beginning of the episode; no dialogue.
  • This is the 11th and final appearance of Ethel Peabody; dies in this episode.

Allusions[]

  • The title of this episode is taken from lines 258-263 from the poem Paradise Lost by John Milton. The full line is, "Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven". The poem was first published in 1667.
  • The song that Stephanie Sasso is performing at Sirens is "I Know What Boys Like", which was written by Chris Butler in 1978. It was released as a single in 1980.
  • Reference is made to Hugo Strange in this episode. Hugo Strange is the former administrator of Arkham Asylum, and is now in prison. It was his experiments that physically altered the Arkham escapees. Ethel Peabody worked as his assistant.

Comic connections[]

  • Valerie Vale is this show's analog to Vicki Vale, who is a character featured in the comics. Vicki Vale was introduced in Batman #49 in October, 1948 and is a contemporary of Bruce Wayne, and a former love interest. Like Valerie Vale, Vicki was also a reporter. Vicki Vale appeared in the 1989 Batman feature film where she was played by actress Kim Basinger.
  • The freak that James Gordon fights with who jumps out the window is likely intended to reflect the character of Man-Bat. In the comics, the Man-Bat was a scientist named Kirk Langstrom who developed a serum using bat gland extract to improve hearing loss. Experimenting upon himself, the serum gave him bat-like physical features. He has served as both an antagonist and an occasional ally of Batman. He first appeared in Detective Comics #400 in June, 1970.

Quotes[]

  • Fish Mooney: James Gordon.
  • James Gordon: [Drawing his weapon] Hands where I can see them.
  • Fish Mooney: So, what? You're here to collect the bounty Penguin has over my head? What is it, a million dollars? And to think I let that punk live. Well then, I think you better cuff me.

....

  • James Gordon: How many others you have with you?
  • Fish Mooney: They're all with me. Every wretched soul that Hugo Strange experimented on.

....

  • Alfred Pennyworth: Right, once this alarm is set, Master Bruce, no coming downstairs till the morning, is that clear?
  • Bruce Wayne: Yes, but was a new alarm system really necessary?
  • Alfred Pennyworth: I don't know, was it really necessary offering a challenge to a shadowy cabal? Yes, it was necessary, Master Bruce.

See also[]

External Links[]

Advertisement