Gotham: Rise of the Villains is the second season of the television series Gotham, which originally aired in 2015. This season continues the exploration of the origin stories of iconic characters from the Batman universe, focusing on the rise of various villains and the early days of Gotham City’s transformation into a haven for crime.

In this season, the show delves deeper into the backgrounds and motivations of several key villains, including the emergence of characters like the Penguin (played by Robin Lord Taylor), the Riddler (played by Cory Michael Smith), and a new character, Theo Galavan (played by James Frain), who is a wealthy and powerful businessman with his own nefarious agenda. Theo Galavan seeks to take control of Gotham and exact revenge on the city’s elites.

The season also continues to follow the development of young James Gordon (played by Ben McKenzie), a detective working to clean up the corrupt city, and his complicated relationship with Bruce Wayne (played by David Mazouz), who is still grappling with the trauma of his parents’ murder and beginning to take steps toward becoming Batman.

Gotham: Rise of the Villains features darker and more complex storylines, with significant focus on the criminal elements of Gotham and the origins of its most notorious villains. The season is known for its intense action sequences, dramatic character developments, and the introduction of new and returning characters who contribute to the ever-evolving landscape of Gotham.

Overall, the second season of Gotham builds on the first season’s foundation, offering a deeper exploration of the iconic characters and themes from the Batman mythology, while providing a fresh take on the city’s transition from a place of relative order to one dominated by chaos and villainy.