The Boatman (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The Riddler targets corrupt officials who are part of Carmine Falcone's criminal network. Both Mitchell and Savage were on Falcone's payroll through the Gotham Renewal program, using their political power to benefit the mobster's operations. Riddler sees himself as exposing the rot in Gotham's leadership by eliminating these compromised public servants.

Foreshadowing: Riddler leaves cryptic messages hinting at corruption among Gotham's elite from the very first murder.

• riddler
• mitchell
• savage
• corruption
• falcone
• gotham renewal

The "rat" refers to corrupt officials working within Gotham's political and law enforcement systems who are on Falcone's payroll. Kenzie, a police officer at the station who was seen at the 44 Below club, is one confirmed rat. The term represents the informants and moles Falcone has embedded throughout Gotham's institutions to protect his criminal empire.

Foreshadowing: Riddler's cipher 'el rata alada' (the winged rat) appears early, hinting at the pervasive corruption he intends to expose.

• rat
• corruption
• kenzie
• falcone
• police
• gotham

Thomas Wayne once asked Falcone to handle a reporter who was investigating Martha Wayne's history in mental asylums. Falcone killed the reporter, making it appear Thomas had ordered the hit. Additionally, Falcone was the one who actually put a hit on Thomas and Martha Wayne - Thomas was going to confess to the police about his involvement with the reporter's death, so Falcone had them murdered to keep his silence.

Foreshadowing: The viral video revealing the dark history between Wayne and Arkham families directly sets up this revelation.

• falcone
• thomas wayne
• martha wayne
• reporter
• murder

Annika was found dead in the trunk of a car after being kidnapped from her apartment. Falcone killed her because she knew too much about his involvement in the Maroni case and his connections to corrupt officials. A recording from the murder scene captures her confronting Falcone about these dealings before he kills her.

Foreshadowing: Annika's disappearance drives much of the investigation, with Selina desperately searching for her friend.

• annika
• falcone
• murder
• selina
• missing

Colson chose to die because giving up the rat would endanger his family. Falcone had people embedded throughout Gotham's power structure, and revealing the informant would have put his family at fatal risk. Rather than sacrifice his family to save himself, Colson accepted his fate and the bomb exploded.

Foreshadowing: This sacrifice foreshadows the extent of Falcone's corruption and reach within Gotham's institutions.

• colson
• rat
• bomb
• family
• sacrifice

Riddler's final plan involved planting explosives along Gotham Harbor's seawalls. When detonated on Election Night, these would flood the entire city. He invited his followers to join in the chaos, resulting in armed attacks at Gotham Square Garden during the evacuation. The flooding devastates most of the city.

Foreshadowing: Riddler's cryptic message about one last plan that Batman 'failed to find out about' foreshadows this catastrophic scheme.

• riddler
• flood
• explosions
• election night
• seawall

The Riddler killed Carmine Falcone. As Gordon was about to arrest Falcone at the Iceberg Lounge, Falcone pulled out a gun intending to shoot his way out. From his apartment window across the street, Riddler fired the fatal shot, killing the mob boss before he could be taken into custody.

Foreshadowing: Riddler's earlier statement that he wanted to 'clean up' Gotham by eliminating criminals foreshadows his execution of Falcone.

• falcone
• riddler
• killed
• shooting
• arrest

Batman realizes his vengeful identity has failed to save Gotham after the catastrophic flooding. During the rescue at Gotham Square Garden, he chooses hope over vengeance by using a flare to lead citizens to safety instead of fighting. This shifts his purpose from punishing criminals to inspiring hope in Gotham's people.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene establishes Batman's declaration 'I'm vengeance,' which he explicitly moves away from by the film's end.

• batman
• hope
• vengeance
• change
• rescue
• gotham

Selina is Falcone's biological daughter. Her mother Maria worked at the Iceberg Lounge and was murdered, but Falcone never acknowledged or took custody of Selina. This drives her motivation to steal from Falcone and get revenge for what he owes her and her mother.

Foreshadowing: Selina's suspicious behavior and access to Falcone's inner circle hint at a deeper connection throughout the investigation.

• selina
• falcone
• daughter
• mother
• maria
• revenge

Drop is a street drug being distributed by Falcone's criminal network through The Penguin. It connects directly to Falcone's control over Gotham's underworld and the corruption surrounding the Gotham Renewal program. The investigation into Drop leads Batman and Gordon to uncover the broader conspiracy.

Foreshadowing: Batman finds Drop addicts at the abandoned orphanage, connecting the drug to Falcone's influence over vulnerable populations.

• drop
• drug
• penguin
• falcone
• addiction

Riddler's real name is Edward Nashton, an accountant who was also an orphan in Gotham but received none of the attention or privilege that Bruce Wayne did. Nashton envied Wayne and believed Batman would be an ally in his crusade against corruption. The orphanage projector reveals Bruce is Riddler's target, linking their parallel childhoods.

Foreshadowing: The riddle 'What does a liar do when he's dead?' leads to 'He lies still' - establishing the cryptic communication style.

• riddler
• bruce wayne
• nashton
• orphanage
• jealousy

Alfred is injured when a message bomb intended for Batman explodes at Wayne Manor. The explosive device was left by Riddler as another clue. Alfred survives but is hospitalized, preventing him from helping Bruce during the critical investigation into Riddler's final plan.

Foreshadowing: Riddler's pattern of using explosive messages escalates throughout the film, culminating in this attack on Alfred.

• alfred
• explosion
• hospital
• injury
• riddler
• bomb