The first half of Gotham's third season had finished, with its last episode of the winter airing yesterday, and I have to say that I am LOVING this season so far!

Each and every episode of Gotham is getting closer to the evolution of the Dark Knight himself, along with the treacherous villains of Gotham City. We have had our favorite villains returning so far this season, as well as introductions to new villains such as Jervis Tetch (The Mad Hatter) and The Court of Owls. We have also experienced the heroes of the corrupted city becoming evil themselves, along with a resurrection of a maniac that we all know and love from last season! If you are not caught up with the season yet, I suggest that you should stop reading right now as I am going to share with you, my favorite moments of the first half of season 3!

New and Improved Villains Are Coming!

Although our fan favorites such as The Penguin and Edward Nygma have returned from last season, we have had some cool introductions to new villains the season. First off, we get a closer look into the organized society of Gotham City known as The Court of Owls. Last season, we saw a glimpse of this secret group that was in charge of how Professor Hugo Strange was running Indian Hill, and so far this season, we haven't exactly seen what their motive is as of yet. However, they are planning something big once they have brought a Bruce Wayne doppleganger, who was a test subject at Indian Hill into the picture. We will have to see what the group is planning for Gotham City.

Another villain that we have been all waiting for since a little teaser was brought in last season was Jervis Tetch, who is also known as the Mad Hatter. Jervis Tetch was the main villain throughout the first half of the third season, where his presence has had an influence on the people of Gotham. Before he was committed to Arkham Asylum, Tetch was a hypnotist who had the ability to control minds through the sound of his ticking watch, which implanted a trigger in their head to perform their subconscious desires. Tetch's purpose for coming to Gotham was to find his sister, Alice who was infected with a virus that if anyone comes into contact with her blood. Alice's condition made Tetch believe that the two of them shared a special connection unlike a brother-sister relationship. Once his sister was gone, he began to spin out of control, and vowed to destroy the people of Gotham through their own fear and anger. Aside from messing around with people's minds, Tetch has a childlike personality that makes him a lovable character such as his unhealthy obsession with Alice in Wonderland and his rhymes. I am hoping that Gotham will include more stories with Jervis during the next upcoming episodes of Season 3.

Can you guess who this is? Believe it or not, this is little Ivy grown up! The first episode of Season 3, Ivy Pepper who at that time was played by Clare Foley, had an encounter with an Indian Hill escapee that made her age about 10 years (Maggie Geha). Once Ivy had developed a new body (but still has the mind of a child), she begins to discover her advantages that we all recognize from the Poison Ivy who we all know today. She discovers her power of seduction through her beauty and use of plants to create various perfumes. Although Ivy is new to this power, it won't be long until she fully develops this advantage in Gotham City.

The Return of a Fan Favorite

A lot of us have been wondering when the pre-Joker will show up after the untimely death of Jerome Valeska last season. However before the last three episodes of the first half aired, there have been rumors floating around stating that Jerome was coming back to cause havoc in Gotham, after Hugo Strange has resurrected some of Gotham's recently deceased. Ever since Jerome had left his mark of insanity on the city, a cult has been created full of people who worship his ideals and morals, and also plan on resurrecting him from the dead. After he was resurrected, he developed a darker and more sadistic, but also playful personality which resembles the Joker we all love today. Plus there is also a confrontation between him and the young Bruce Wayne that made me all hyped as they referenced the rivalry between the Joker and Batman from various comics and films!

Mayor Cobblepot!

Other than the new villains coming up this season, I was looking forward to this storyline since the middle of Season 2 of Gotham. Robin Lord Taylor had mentioned during a panel at a convention last year that he would love a storyline involving Oswald Cobblepot running for mayor. When I heard about the idea, I was hoping that the writers would include the storyline in the following season. After seeing some behind the scenes photos posted online that included flyers that read "Vote for Cobblepot", I squealed with excitement! I loved how the writers were bringing some of the influences from the film Batman Returns where Oswald Cobblepot has been brought by the citizens of the city to run for mayor! What I also loved about this storyline was how it was so similar to the 2016 Presidential Election it was scary yet exciting! It was amazing and horrifying to see the parallels of how a criminal who has inherited a load of money from the family, has no political experience whatsoever, and plants fear into the minds of the people in order to run the city. Out of all the storylines in Gotham, this would have to be my favorite one!

Selina Kyle's Big Year

Selina Kyle has been through a roller coaster so far this season. She had lost her friend Ivy twice, falling into a running water stream and becoming twice her age. Selina and Bruce Wayne began to develop a bit of a romantic relationship, until it was ruined once Selina's long lost mother appeared. Although her mother made it convincing that she only returned to make amends with her daughter, but she was really conning Selina when she found out that her daughter was close with Bruce. This angered Selina when she found out that both her mother and Bruce lied to her. Selina has been messed around with before, but I think this is the final straw that is going to make her go on the path to the dark side, which I am also looking forward to later in the season!

All in all, there was a big change in Gotham where it evolved from the every day crime life committed by the mobs and mafias in the city to the corrupt citizens causing chaos. As of now, Edward Nygma is now in control after Penguin (Mayor Cobblepot), his friend has betrayed him (not to mention the tease of the iconic green suit of the Riddler, which I am pumped about) and the Court of Owls are going to make their next move. I am now to counting down the days until Gotham returns on April 24th, but for now I am also looking forward to the return of The Walking Dead to keep myself busy until then.