How The Penguin Series Sets Up The Batman 2

This article contains: spoiler In the case of “Penguin”.

Throughout the eight episodes of HBO’s limited series Penguin (read movie review), gangster Oswald Cobb (played by Oscar-nominated actor Colin Farrell) rises to the pinnacle of power, leaving a power vacuum. It was. A major factor was the death of his former boss, Carmine Falcone, during the 2022 film The Batman. As he knows, Oz isn’t the only one trying to take charge in “Penguin.” Carmine’s daughter Sofia (Cristin Milioti) plots to bring Oz down for murdering her brother, and also plans to introduce him to the residents of Carmine. Gotham gains access to a powerful new street drug after years of captivity in Arkham Asylum. But now that “The Penguin” has ended, we’ll have to look to 2026’s “The Batman Part II” to see how the Caped Crusader deals with the redesigned Mafia. there is. And all we can do now is think about how Penguin ended and what it means for the next chapter in Bruce Wayne’s story.

It’s no surprise (even to outside observers) that Oz survived the show, carrying the mean nickname given to him because of his disfigured face and the way he walked. Sophia isn’t a new character created for this series, but she’s a great addition to the DC Comics universe, even if Farrell’s version is much harsher and more grounded than previous versions. It is not as famous as the Penguin, both domestically and internationally. But even if we begin “Penguin” with even a modicum of sympathy for Oz, who at times seems to be cutting off a figure like poor Fredo from the “Godfather” trilogy, we can’t help but wonder if Oz is dancing. That’s missing from the final footage of the series. Outside his new penthouse apartment, the familiar Bat Signal glows in the night sky.

It seems like a big part of the Penguin finale will be as much about confirming who will be in The Batman Part II as it is ensuring that Farrell will be in The Batman Part II. do not have Be there for the new movie. In a season filled with violence and death, the most shocking one is the brutal strangulation that Oz inflicts on his closest ally, Victor (Renzy Feliz). After all the desperate maneuvering and bargaining to ensure Oz has control over the drug trade by stealing Bliss from Sofia and her enemy-turned-ally Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown), Oz As soon as he reaches the top, his tender heart-to-heart with Victor ends with him ending the young man’s life with a headlock. It suggests that having true family ties, any serious emotional connections, can only function as a bond. An albatross on the neck. This is as much of the Batman and Robin dynamic as you can get. Oz is going it alone and is willing to sacrifice close relationships along the way.

It’s surprising that Victor is outraged at Oz’s clutches, even though Sofia remains trapped in Arkham Asylum and living out a nightmare once again. It is equally shocking to learn that he survived. . Previously, her father Carmine gave the police false evidence that she was a mysterious hangman serial killer who brutally murdered young women and sent her to Arkham Asylum. (In reality, Carmine was the murderer, as we learn from the 2022 movie.) But this time, Sophia is sent to Arkham for the crime she actually committed. In the penultimate episode, they detonated a massive bomb in the Crown Point area. , destroying countless lives in hopes of killing Oz. Sophia (and the audience) expects Oz to shoot her in the back of the head when he drives her to a secluded area near the port. In reality, he was reported to the authorities with the help of a dirty deputy and Sophia managed to live another day. And while it remains to be seen whether Milioti will appear in the big screen follow-up, she has one surprising connection that would have been easy to ignore over the course of the series. Offscreen letter to Sophia. We don’t see the contents of the letter, but Sophia reads it in her cell and is very happy.

Aside from potentially bridging the gap between one of The Batman’s heroes and one of the series’ more complex villains (and Arkham currently has Riddler and his cellmate played by Barry) (Don’t forget that Live) Corgan, possibly the next version of the Joker), “The Penguin” has an interesting tease at the end with the Bat Signal. While some may be disappointed that Robert Pattinson doesn’t make a cameo on the show, as does Zoe Kravitz, it’s at least clear that Batman is still kicking Gotham’s ass. From the beginning of the first “Batman” movie, when he was handing out drops to drug addicts in the big city, we know that he was very focused on taking down the drug dealers, so he was on high alert. It seems very likely that this is the case. Now that he has occupied his home ground, Bliss has arrived.

When Batman faces off against the Penguin again, he may have to accept that the mid-level henchman he attacked in the first movie’s great nighttime car chase sequence has changed himself a bit. Perhaps the biggest way “The Penguin” sets up the upcoming “Batman” sequel is that Oz Cobb finally looks like the role that’s in all of our hearts. In his final moments, he may not be dancing around with an umbrella, but he’s got a tuxedo, a tail, a swanky penthouse, and he seems finally in control. The Maroney family and the Falcons, both recognized by audiences around the world and who have caused a great deal of trouble to Batman over the years, no longer exist. (No wonder why Batman was so far removed from the big gang wars that took place during this show.) Batman activates the Bat-signal again, so he and Jim Gordon (again, no good) ) This series of shows) will not only confront Oz’s tough story, but also the assembled groups from all over Gotham City that he has recruited into his ranks.

And as the final scene of “Penguin” reveals, Oz’s ruthlessness becomes even more shocking. Batman may not realize it, but we now know that young Oz Cobb is responsible for the deaths of his two brothers, and he seems to feel slightly guilty for the acts he committed. All I can think is. And in addition to killing his protégé Victor, Oz brings home his senile mother Frances, more as an act of arms than a triumphant procession. By the end of the series, it is revealed that Francis knew what Oz had done, hated it, and was unable to force the local mafia to kill Oz. In return, Oz puts his mother to bed in a large, deserted room overlooking the city, although he is heartbroken that his mother has suffered a massive stroke and is essentially reduced to a vegetable state.

The Penguin doesn’t feature any Batman and his friends, and there’s little reference to the 2022 movie, so it’s unclear how much of a movie The Penguin will be known for. Guessing is required. Follow-up in 2026. What’s clear is that Oz Cobb is a charming supporting character in the 2022 movie, with as much amazing makeup overshadowing Colin Farrell’s movie star good looks as the Penguin’s presence in the larger mob epic The close-up was also noteworthy. But now Oz Cobb is in charge, which inevitably means Batman will have to face him and his new minions. Penguin may not have the wit or intelligence of the Riddler, but he’s a rare villain who’s more than willing to take down anyone to gain power. He has proven over the course of this eight-episode miniseries that he is willing to kill anyone to get what he wants. Batman needs to be careful.

“The Penguin” is currently available for streaming in its entirety on Max.