“ | Bullock: Alright, genius. Any other insights? Gordon: Yeah. This is about the Arkham vote. Bullock: How so? Gordon: Arkham is more than just a land deal. It's a war between Falcone and Maroni. These councilmen were on opposite sides of that war. Bullock: So who did who? Gordon: The way I see it? Maroni struck first. He had Jenkins killed to change the vote his way, then Falcone retaliated and had Zeller killed to change the vote back. Burning the body was Falcone's way of sending a message. |
„ |
~ Jim Gordon about the plot involving "Richard Gladwell." |
An unnamed hit-man who assumed the alias of "Richard Gladwell" was an associate of mob boss Salvatore Maroni and a minor antagonist in Season 1 of Gotham.
He was played by Hakeem Kae-Kazim who also played Georges Rutaganda in Hotel Rwanda, Waraabe in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Krogan and Drago Bludvist in Dragon: Race to the Edge and Benatu Eshu in Vixen.
Biography[]
Past[]
The past of this assassin as well as his true identity is never revealed and anything that is known about him is up to debate as much of his identity was stolen. What is known is that he was a very skilled and cold blooded assassin who could act his way into approaching his targets and murdering them. His signature weapon was a long spiked stick that he would use to stab his enemies since it conveniently made his assassinations look like muggings gone wrong. If some of his off-handed remarks is to believed, he came up with it "years ago" and designed and built it himself because his father believed that simplicity was the ultimate way to look sophisticated.
Five years ago, he killed a man named Richard Gladwell so that he could steal his identity and take on his name. Since Gladwell sealed the room but continued to still play the landlord rent, the landlord never bothered to check and the corpse was only discovered when Harvey Bullock sent officers to check five years after the original Gladwell's death.
Gotham[]
As tensions between Carmine Falcone and Salvatore Maroni escalate out of control over a plan to redevelop Arkham Asylum in 2014, Maroni hires "Richard Gladwell" to kill politicians on Maroni's parole so that his own corrupt politicians can sway the vote to give him the contract to renovate Arkham Asylum. He is first seen meeting City Councilman Ron Jenkins and his aide, posing as one of thier constituents only to kill the aide by telling him to look through his telescopic spike and then stabbing Jenkins when he tries to run but ends up trapped in a phone booth. The next night, "Richard Gladwell" kidnaps Councilman Zellers and burns him to death in a barrel outside Arkham itself because, even though Zeller is under Maroni's payroll and not Falcone's, Falcone hired him to get revenge and "Gladwell" is double dipping.
With Zeller and Jenkins dead, "Gladwell" next plans to target Mayor Aubrey James but Detectives Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock manage to track him to his home thanks to information from another hitman that had heard of him so "Gladwell" hides with his spike but Gordon is called away. With a moment's break, "Gladwell" flees only to leave evidence of who his next target would be. Later that afternoon, "Richard Gladwell" arrives at the mayor's office to kill James only to find Gordon there as he deduced that the clue ("CLM") matched the officers guarding the mayor who had been paid off by Maroni. Although "Gladwell" manages to corner them and nearly kill Gordon with his spike, he is forced to back off at gunpoint by Harvey Bullock so he runs for Mayor James which forces Gordon and Bullock to shoot him dead.
Legacy[]
As a result of "Ricard Gladwell's" attempt on his life, Aubrey James decided to combine Maroni and Falcone's schemes by creating both additional housing, a dump site and a mental asylum. This gave Maroni the edge that he wanted which began the chain of events which led to his death, Falcone stepping down and Oswald Cobblepot becoming crime lord of Gotham. The Asylum itself would go on to play a major role in the life of Jim Gordon as Oswald Cobblepot and Edward Nygma would late take it over.
Personality[]
“ | Nygma: These are the coroner's reports on the murders of Councimen Jenkins and his aide. Both victims sustained fatal puncture wounds to the skull via the eye socket. The weapon was some kinda metal spike. Bullock: Okay, so? Nygma: Councilman Zeller also has wounds from a metal spike. It's a extremely unlikely coincidence, don'tcha think? Bullock: So you're saying Zeller, Jenkins and the aide were killed by the same person? Nygma: It would appear so, wouldn't it? Gordon: The same killer, working for both Maroni and Falcone? That's nuts. Bullock: Only in Gotham. |
„ |
~ Jim Gordon, Harvey Bullock and Edward Nygma about the type of assassin that "Gladwell'" was. |
"Richard Gladwell" presented himself as a gentleman who would politely greet his victims but then murder them in cold blood. Even though he was an assassin, he was extremely casual when committing murders such as when he took the time to calmly pick up his dufflebag after stabbing Councilman Jenkins. When he got the chance however, "Richard" would take the time to gloat and monologue as seen with Councilman Zeller which demonstrated a rather sadistic side. "Gladwell" had no qualms about double dipping between clients or with fighting the police as he attempted to kill Gordon and Bullock in cold blood.
Skills and Abilities[]
- Endurance: "Richard Gladwell" was almost completely unfazed by Jim Gordon breaking a chair over his head and multiple punches did not stop him.
- Expert Assassin: "Gladwell" was a skilled assassin who could kill even politicians and had an apparent immense reputation in the criminal underworld with even Fish Mooney being aware of his existence.
- Manipulation: "Gladwell" was a skilled manipulator and fast talker who quickly tricked Councilman Jenkins into doing exactly what he wanted.
- Forgery: "Gladwell" was a skilled forger since he was able to completely fabricate employee records, payroll data and contact information without any indication that he had help.
- Hand to Hand Combat: "Gladwell" was a skilled hand to hand combatant as he was more than a match for Gordon.
Arsenal[]
- Telescopic Spike: "Richard Gladwell's" signature weapon which consisted of a long metal cylinder with a blade hidden inside with which he could stab his victims. He carried it around in two parts, usually inside a leather dufflebag, and could be assembled just by twisting the two ends together.
- Pistol: During his fight against Jim Gordon, "Gladwell" tried and failed to kill him with his own pistol.
- Chair: "Gladwell" tried to injure Gordon with a chair during thier fight.
Quotes[]
“ | Excuse me. Councilman Jenkins? Yes, uh, I'm one of your constituents. Voted for you every time. I don't wanna take up too much of your valuable time. I just wanna show you somethin'. | „ |
~ "Richard Gladwell's" first words when confronting City Councilman Jenkins. |
“ | Sir, please. Just one second. Now, I got the idea for this years ago. Designed and built it myself. Here, take a look. Go head, just-just put your eye on the end. You'll see. | „ |
~ "Gladwell" about his telescopic spike. |
“ | You're next. Honestly sir, I really did vote for you. | „ |
~ "Gladwell" revealing his true colours. |
“ | You know, if this were up to me, this would be over quick without all the fuss. My father used to say "simplicity... is the ultimate sophistication." But it's not up to me and my customer specifically asked me tah... send a message/ And you know what they say. The customer is always right. | „ |
~ "Gladwell" before killing Councilman Zeller. |
“ | You know why they hire a professional? Because he finishes the job. | „ |
~ "Richard Gladwell's" last words. |
Trivia[]
- Richard Gladwell is notable for being the first of many antagonists to be killed in the series. All previous antagonists were either arrested or otherwise still alive (although some like Maroni would be killed after Gladwell's own death).
- Since Hakeem Kae-Kazim was born in Nigeria and raised in South London, Gladwell mainly speaks in a slight British but occasionally slips into a Nigerian one such as when he says "now, I got the idea for [my telescopic spike] years ago" to Jenkins. If anything, this makes Gladwell's backstory even more mysterious.