Bring the Crooked Man back alive and imprison him if you want an ending built around Bigby’s redemption. The Wolf Among Us also lets you kill him before the trial or execute him after Fabletown hears his case. Those decisions settle his fate, while earlier choices shape the community’s response to its sheriff. Below, you’ll find the routes through that final confrontation and an episode-by-episode plan for a more merciful Bigby Wolf, starting with the decision to visit Lawrence.
Which choices decide the endings?
The Crooked Man’s fate comes down to two decision points: your confrontation at the Foundry and, if you return with him alive, the punishment you choose after his trial. These produce four main outcomes for him.
| Outcome | How to get it | What it means for Bigby |
|---|---|---|
| Kill him before trial | Kill the Crooked Man at the Foundry | Can provoke a hostile response toward Bigby and Snow White, particularly after earlier brutal choices |
| Imprison him | Bring him back alive, then choose jail | Supports Bigby’s redemption by showing restraint after the hearing |
| Throw him down the Witching Well | Bring him to trial, then choose the well | Fabletown accepts the punishment after disagreement |
| Rip his head off | Bring him to trial, then choose decapitation | Reinforces the community’s fear of the Big Bad Wolf |
Returning with the Crooked Man alive gives Fabletown a chance to hear his defense. He tries to persuade the crowd, and the hearing becomes an argument over his responsibility and Bigby’s conduct. Lawrence, if alive and present, speaks against him.
Your earlier behavior gives that argument its context. Saving Lawrence, sparing Gren, and preserving Aunty Greenleaf’s tree support a different version of Bigby than the one who repeatedly answers resistance with violence.
How do you get the best ending for Bigby?
For a redemption-focused ending, combine imprisonment with merciful decisions throughout the investigation. The final jail choice demonstrates restraint, but saving Lawrence and respecting Lily’s funeral also give Fabletown reasons to see Bigby as more than its old nightmare.
First episode: Visit Lawrence before Mr. Toad
Choose to investigate Lawrence’s apartment before going to Mr. Toad. This gives you the opportunity to save Lawrence rather than arriving too late to prevent his death.
When Dee searches the apartment, leave the closet before Lawrence pulls the trigger. Choosing the right destination is only the first step; you still need to intervene during the apartment sequence.
Choose Lawrence before Mr. Toad
At the Trip Trap, spare Gren’s arm after the fight. Bigby’s fights provide the action games appeal, but this decision is about what he does once he has the upper hand. Leaving Gren intact fits the restrained sheriff you’re trying to establish.
There is also a practical money choice along this route: arrest Dee rather than the Woodsman, then keep Dee’s money during the later interrogation. That money can cover room 207, particularly if you already gave your own money to Faith.
Third episode: Respect Lily and preserve Greenleaf’s tree
In A Crooked Mile, restraint means more than sparing someone during a fight. Respect Lily’s funeral, and avoid destroying Greenleaf’s livelihood simply because Snow wants the tree burned.
Follow these choices:
- Let Snow White finish her funeral speech and the ceremony without interrupting.
- Refuse to burn Aunty Greenleaf’s tree.
- Offer Greenleaf a job.
- Choose to spare your opponent during the episode’s closing confrontation.
Preserving Greenleaf’s tree means disagreeing with Snow. For this route, showing mercy to Greenleaf matters more than following Snow’s instruction to destroy it.
Fourth episode: Let Colin stay
During In Sheep’s Clothing, choose not to send Colin to the Farm. Keeping him in Fabletown continues the compassionate approach established by saving Lawrence and sparing Gren.
Fifth episode: Bring the Crooked Man back alive
At the Foundry, keep the Crooked Man alive and take him back for trial. Let the hearing happen, then choose imprisonment at the final choice screen.
During the confrontation near the Witching Well, the Crooked Man pulls Bigby toward it. Choosing jail leads Bigby to pull him back up rather than execute him. Holly, Gren, and Bluebeard react with surprise, while townsfolk who have become uncomfortable with killing him support the decision.
If you’re planning another Bigby run in a different edition, check the Remastered features guide before choosing your version.
How do you get the other endings?
Kill the Crooked Man at the Foundry
Kill the Crooked Man during the Foundry confrontation instead of returning with him alive. This settles his fate before Fabletown can hear his defense and leaves Bigby and Snow facing criticism over how they exercise their authority.
Earlier brutality makes this route especially hostile. Burning Greenleaf’s tree, tearing off Gren’s arm, disrupting Lily’s funeral, and failing to save Lawrence all contribute to a Bigby whom the townsfolk have reasons to distrust.
You then have another decision during the confrontation with Fabletown:
- Stay: Nerissa can arrive and connect the Crooked Man to Faith and Lily’s murders.
- Leave before Nerissa arrives: You walk away without that intervention, with Fabletown against you.
Nerissa’s arrival changes the confrontation, but the Crooked Man has already been killed without a trial. If your goal is Bigby’s redemption, bringing him back alive is the stronger choice.
Rip off the Crooked Man’s head after trial
Return the Crooked Man alive, hear his case, and choose to rip his head off during the final confrontation. This is the most openly brutal punishment available after the hearing.
The Crooked Man is dead, but Bigby has also given Fabletown another reason to fear the Big Bad Wolf. Choose this route if you want that violent resolution rather than an ending centered on restraint.
Throw the Crooked Man down the Witching Well
Bring the Crooked Man to trial, then choose to throw him down the Witching Well when deciding his punishment. Unlike killing him at the Foundry, this execution happens after Fabletown has heard his case.
The crowd is initially divided over what should happen, but ultimately accepts this decision. It gives you a trial followed by an execution, rather than the mercy of imprisonment or the spectacle of tearing his head off.
Which ending should you choose?
Imprisonment is the best fit for Bigby’s redemption. The Crooked Man faces judgment, Fabletown hears the case, and Bigby shows that having the power to kill someone does not mean he has to use it. Pair that verdict with saving Lawrence, sparing Gren, respecting Lily’s funeral, preserving Greenleaf’s tree, and letting Colin stay.
If you want an execution after a public hearing, choose the Witching Well. If you want Bigby to embrace the violence that makes Fabletown fear him, choose decapitation. Killing the Crooked Man at the Foundry gives you the confrontation over denying him a trial, including the choice to stay for Nerissa’s intervention or leave beforehand.
Before your next run through Lawrence’s apartment, the Trip Trap, and the final trial, browse The Wolf Among Us guide collection for more help planning your choices.
