The Penguin Officially Has a Major Batman Problem Heading Into the Finale

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As a die-hard fan of all things Batman, I’ve been following Gotham City’s underworld drama with bated breath since the days of Adam West. The Penguin has managed to keep me hooked without the Dark Knight himself, but that was before Episode 7’s explosive twist!

In an unexpected twist, The Penguin manages to keep viewers engaged with a Batman spin-off show that doesn’t feature Batman (at least not yet). This is due to the captivating performances of Oz Cobb (played by Colin Farrell) and Sofia Falcone (portrayed by Cristin Milioti), who have kept the plot interesting. Moreover, a strong supporting cast adds depth to the series, making it worthwhile to watch the unfolding drama within Gotham’s criminal underworld.

In contrast, “The Penguin” Episode 7, titled “Top Hat,” features a pivotal turn of events that significantly elevates the series’ tension as we approach the finale. If Batman fails to appear at this point, it could result in a substantial gap in the franchise’s ongoing narrative.

WARNING: SPOILERS FOLLOW!

In Episode 7 of The Penguin, Sofia Falcone took Oz’s mother hostage, and Sal Maroni (Clancy Brown) coerced Penguin to surrender his fresh drug stash. Oz miraculously escaped once more from the danger, with Sal meeting his end in their confrontation, and Oz’s gang retaining control of their territory. However, their triumph was fleeting: weary of ongoing power struggles, Sofia detonated a bomb within her tunnels to obliterate Oz’s entire enterprise. Fortunately, Oz made it out before the explosion (using the same flooded tunnel he abandoned his own brothers in), but the blast leveled an entire city block, leaving Crown Point resembling a war-torn Third World country.

The crux of the matter is this: So far, The Penguin has managed to maintain the impression that all the chaos in the underworld power struggle has gone unnoticed by Batman (Robert Pattinson). Given that The Penguin unfolds mere weeks after the events of The Batman and Gotham is in a crisis following Riddler’s terrorist attack, which caused widespread flooding, it’s plausible to assume that Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) is swamped with responsibilities both as a wealthy philanthropist aiding in the cleanup and rebuilding efforts, and as a vigilante fighting a rise in crime and emerging villains. In essence, it might seem that Batman is too occupied or indifferent to deal with gangsters and criminals at each other’s throats, or even intervene – despite headlines about the Falcone Family Massacre flashing across news screens.

Without a doubt, the blast in Crown Point took lives of innocents – but it’s also a stark warning that something significant is brewing in that neighborhood. After The Riddler’s assault, any detonation of an explosive device should have Gotham law enforcement and Batman rushing to the scene, ready for action. That’s exactly what the stakes feel like as we approach Episode 7 of the Penguin saga.

The Penguin: Does Batman Have to Appear In The Finale?

As a devoted gamer, I’ve got to say, the buzz around the Falcone crime family’s massacre without a peep from Batman has been intense. If he doesn’t make an appearance in some shape or form during the finale after Sofia’s bombing, it might just snap the thread of belief in this interconnected universe for many fans. Already, by Episode 7, you can see a wave of comments and memes mocking Robert Pattinson’s Batman for supposedly failing to safeguard our city. In a strange way, his absence is making The Dark Knight even more intriguing.

Undeniably, the creative team behind “Penguin” has chosen a subtle approach when incorporating Batman into the series. Unlike some other adaptations, this show skillfully avoids overemphasizing Batman’s presence as a scene-stealer. Instead, it has been praised for expanding upon the vision of Gotham City, as established in “The Batman” (2022), without resorting to excessive references or appearances of major Batman characters. A fleeting glimpse of Batman or the Batmobile, perhaps through news footage or an aerial shot, might suffice; given that none of the main characters in “The Penguin” would likely linger if Batman was nearby.

Should the series conclude without any mention or even hint that Batman was involved in the events, it would seem like a significant oversight, and if there’s a second season titled “The Batman: Part II“, it will likely need to spend a good deal of time clarifying this omission.

The Penguin is airing on HBO and streaming on Max.

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2024-11-04 22:14