Mwahaha! This week we’re taking a deep dive into the world of villains. What does it truly mean to be a bad guy? We’ll take a look into robberies and heists, including this one from earlier this month at the Renoir Museum.
And, check out this preview of Crime and Punishment in America, the new four-part documentary from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick premiering November 16, to see how the United States has defined justice over the past 250 years.
Yours in media,
Elizabeth He, Visual Communications Editor
This is a web edition of GBH's The Deep Dive, a weekly newsletter bringing you the best GBH has to offer.
True Stories: Robbers and Their Heists
The Photos That Made Bonnie & Clyde Famous
In the depths of the Great Depression, Americans became transfixed by the criminal exploits and illicit romance of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Watch AMERICAN EXPERIENCE’s Bonnie & Clyde to learn about the most famous outlaw couple in U.S. history.
And We’ve Got Even More Villainous Content from AMERICAN EXPERIENCE...
Writer Mark Lee Gardner performs a ballad about Billy the Kid during his interview for the film about this famous outlaw. Watch Billy the Kid for a fascinating look at the myth and the man behind it.
Next, start by checking out an appraisal of Butch Cassidy wanted posters on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. Then, watch Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid to learn about the duo’s methodical approach to robbery.
The Gold: Why This New Heist Drama Is a Don’t-Miss
Go behind the scenes of the MASTERPIECE drama The Gold and learn about the true story it is based on.
The Louvre Heist
The Culture Show takes a look at the 2025 heist at The Louvre with Elaine Sciolino, former Paris bureau chief for The New York Times.
35 Years Later, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist Remains a Mystery
Anthony Amore, the museum’s director of security, says they’re still focused on finding the paintings — even if online sleuths are focused on the day of the heist.
Villains on the Screen
The Man Behind Batman’s Archnemesis
Read about Cesar Romero who brought Batman’s greatest villain ever – the Joker – to life.
NPR Presents a Roundup of Heist Movies
Looking for a little escape? Cue up a heist movie that’s just fun. NPR explains why they are such a crowd favorites.
The Count of Monte Cristo: Baron Danglars
Despicable, dishonorable, and downright dastardly are just a few descriptors that come to mind when thinking about the villainous Baron Danglars.
Poldark’s Villains, Ranked
Revisit five seasons of cads, rogues, scoundrels, and just plain evildoers in the definitive, highly subjective scientific ranking of the big bads of Poldark, from the absolute worst to the only slightly awful. How do you rank them?
Sherlock Holmes Faced No Greater Villain Than Moriarty
In what may be the climatic case of his career, Sherlock faces Moriarty’s diabolical plot to “get Sherlock,” which begins innocently enough when the criminal mastermind breaks into the Tower of London to steal the Crown Jewels.
Agatha Christie Poirot Jewel Robbery
While Poirot vacations in Brighton to boost his health, the beautiful pearl necklace of the theatre actress staying at his hotel is mysteriously stolen.
Recipe of the Week
Cracked Potatoes with Vermouth, Coriander, and Fennel from Milk Street Television
Instead of safecracking, how about some cracked potatoes? You can crush the coriander and fennel seeds with a mortar and pestle or with the side of a heavy chef’s knife or cleaver. Let’s get cracking!
What Can We Learn from Villains?
* How do novels featuring our favorite villains and monsters help us understand why people behave badly? The Great American Read explores.
* What makes us love flawed characters? Find out with the voices behind movies like The Devil Wears Prada.
* In the book Starter Villain, a divorced substitute teacher inherits his uncle’s supervillain business. Hear from the author about how a good guy turns bad.
* Edgar B. Herwick III and the Forum Network discuss what makes a villain.
Off Topic
1. CAI talks with horticulturist and entomologist Roberta Clark about your fall garden.
2. Hosted by WNYC’s Brian Lehrer and GBH News’ Paris Alston, Haiti On The Line: The TPS Emergency addresses the fallout from the end of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians.
3. Register and start reading Somewhere Soft to Land by Kai Alonté for the NEPM Book Club!
