'Gotham' season 3 episode 15 spoilers: The Riddler rises

Now that Batman's first and biggest rule of crime fighting has been set, his first true villain is about to break out of his own shell when FOX's DC-inspired crime-drama "Gotham" returns for the second half of season 3.

Throughout its two and a half-season run, the show has introduced a handful of the Caped Crusader's nemeses, but none has ever fully embraced the persona that he or she are more famously known by. And then comes Edward Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), who is bringing out the green suit and bowler hat of his infamous alter ego in an episode aptly titled "How the Riddler Got His Name."

Nygma has always felt like he had another consciousness inside him that's been biding its time until it can finally take full control. But how exactly does he become this other person without possibly losing himself in the process? The trailer for the midseason premiere teases an episode that will mostly be about Nygma's transformation from the former right-hand man to quite possibly the foxiest criminal in all of Gotham.

The trailer also shows Nygma, in full Riddler garb, delivering a speech at the Gotham City Police Academy, which effectively begs the question: Is he going to take over the mayoral position that Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor) has vacated?

In an interview with CinemaBlend, Smith shared that The Riddler will be the exact opposite of Nygma and that the latter will be employing mannerisms and gestures that are more theatrical than before to disguise his increasingly evil psychological behavior.

"[The role] is performative; not in a Jim Carrey way. I want him to be kind of showy," Smith said.

What kind of chaos will The Riddler be bringing to Gotham? How will his new role fare when The Court of Owls finally decides to step in and meddle with the affairs of the city like Kathryn (Leslie Hendrix) promised they would should somebody attempt to take control of the city away from them again?

"Gotham: Mad City" returns on Monday, April 24, at 8 p.m. EST on FOX.