‘Gotham’ Turns Into a ‘Mad City’ With the Court of Owls, Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter and ‘Nygmobblepot’

Damian Holbrook September 17, 2016, 11:00 am

Ben McKenzie in the 'Mad City: Better to Reign in Hell…' season premiere episode of Gotham — Jeff Neumann/Fox

GOTHAM: Ben McKenzie in the "Mad City: Better to Reign in Hell…" season premiere episode of Gotham airing airing Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Jeff Neumann/FOX.

Gotham returns Monday for Season 3, and the comic book thrill ride through DC Comics’ most crime-addled town is getting even more madcap, complete with a new subtitle, Mad City. Here are three things you need to know about the Fox drama’s next chapter.

Gordon’s gone rogue. Having left town (and the police force) to find Lee (Morena Baccarin) after foiling baddie Hugo Strange (BD Wong), Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is now out to nab Indian Hill’s escapees in a solo (and not always legal) mission. “He’s sort of a bounty hunter out in the city,” says executive producer John Stephens. How long he remains AWOL will depend on what kind of trouble the Court of Owls crime organization causes Bullock (Donal Logue) and company back at the precinct.

GOTHAM: Camren Bicondova in the "Mad City: Better to Reign in Hell…" season premiere episode of Gotham airing airing Monday, Sept. 19 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Jeff Neumann/FOX.

Selina’s on the prowl

Who runs this town? Girls! Femme fatales Barbara (Erin Richards) and Tabitha (Jessica Lucas) are forming what Stephens calls “a nexus of supervillainy” at their new club, The Sirens. Meanwhile, Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) is hooked on gutting mayoral candidate Oswald Cobblepot, aka Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor). An aged-up Ivy Pepper (Maggie Geha taking over for Clare Foley) will bloom into something closer to the comic book villain Poison Ivy following a run-in with one of Strange’s monsters. And Selina (Camren Bicondova) may actually give Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) more than just cat-titude. “We want to play a real 16-year-old romance,” says Stephens, adding that we’ll also get some intel on why young Miss Kyle “is as damaged as she is.”

Nygmobblepot is happening. Stephens confirms “an alliance” between Cobblepot and Riddler-to-be Nygma (Cory Michael Smith). Gotham will also be overrun by a cadre of DC Comics villains—including the Mad Hatter (Benedict Samuel)—and a viral outbreak. “Think of it as a Mr. Hyde–type virus. It makes people lose control and brings out their dark sides.”

Gotham: Mad City, Season premiere, Monday, September 19, 8/7c, Fox