The Penguin The Penguin on HBO - General Discussion

[Erik Lensherr]

After this massive explosion, there is only one question:

WHERE IS THE BATMAN??

 

[Erik Lensherr]

I can now see what Colin Farrell meant when he said that no one will like Oz after episode 8. I already don't like him after episode 7.

What a disgusting and selfish B*****

 

[Kane52630]

 

[Art Vandelay]

Lol Batman is not gonna be mentioned in this show.

And that's stupid. Look, I get they want the Penguin to stand on its own, but when things are blowing up all over the place, and mobsters are being killed left and right, to not mention him even in passing is pretty glaring. This might be a show focusing on Gotham's criminal underbelly, but it's still part of the Batman universe.

 

[Erik Lensherr]

Spoiler

The entire Falcone family has been murdered, Sal escapes from prison, the drug war escalates, massive bomb explosion

There is no way that Batman is not mentioned. WTF is he doing right now??

 

[Kane52630]

WHERE IS THE BATMAN??

WTF is he doing right now??

 

[Art Vandelay]

Spoiler

The entire Falcone family has been murdered, Sal escapes from prison, the drug war escalates, massive bomb explosion

There is no way that Batman is not mentioned. WTF is he doing right now??

Yes, this exactly. The only way it makes sense for the show to not reference Batman is to have the crimes clandestine enough that they wouldn't draw his attention. But the war has escalated to becoming more and more public.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

I don’t fully disagree but I sort of feel like the avoidance of mentioning him is to avoid creating any expectation he’ll show up or be part of the story when there was either a creative choice or a BTS reason he couldn’t be in it.

 

[kguillou]

I think its a Catch 22. When you start mentioning Batman it creates a subconscious expectation on the viewer that he will show up at some point. It subconsciously reminds the viewer that this is related to Batman. By not mentioning him you forget that this is even a Batman-related show, i know I do. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm watching a spinoff of The Batman because i see the show as its own unique crime series.

 

[emielaen]

Eh. I think it’s fiction and they’ll write one line about him being away somewhere and it’ll be fine.

 

[Rod]

For those who saw the ep 8 trailer! What you think about:

Abel is done for. That's for sure. His outfit:

Spoiler

And getting shot in the trailer:

Spoiler

Only need to know if was it really Oz who done the deed. Seems like so in the trailer, but could be just an edit

If that's case, I guess he is going on a rampage - Tony Montana style (curiously, Luaren always compared the series to Scarface) - after every last one of them.

So what is up with Vic getting punched by Link? Can see Donny Boy and the LoBoys girl, as well, in that first image.

Do they think Oz is pulling some ruse or did they sell out Oz/Vic like that as they are untrustworthy?

Perhaps Sofia offered to them just give her Oz and you can have all the territories?

So, what gives? What are your bets over what's going on here?

 

[Erik Lensherr]

 

[J.Drangal]

Of interest only to language nerds but…

Has it ever been explained why Deirdre O’Connell’s character is cited in print as “Francis”? This spelling is consistently used by reputable sources like IMDb, Wiki, the major trades, etc. But traditionally, “Frances” is the feminine form — while “Francis” is masculine.

So I'm not the only one bugged by this.

 

[Luke995]

I'm guessing if the first act of The Batman Part II will follow the events of the series from the POV of Batman...

Anyway of course they thought about that. Maybe he is building his Bruce Wayne-persona in being a philantropist. Maybe he is obsessioned from the revelations of Riddler and he is doing heavy searchings about that. Maybe he feel guilty to have abandoned the orphans and the poor/weak people of Gotham staying 20 years in the top of his castle.

I wouldn't be worried: Reeves knows he has to explain it.

I think the rich/poor theme will be the core of the entire saga. Which has sense for a post-Trump era, just like terrorism was the main core of Nolan saga, after 9/11 and Iraq.

From this point of view, I think it's cool that Bruce is the point of contact between rich and poor.
He had a trauma like the poor-class criminals, but he has a lot of money, an history and the responsability to make the city better. And the fact that Wayne Manor became Wayne Tower in the center of the city and he looks the city from the above it's pretty effective in making this point.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

 

[Kane52630]

View attachment 110481

Ma Cobb: "OSWAAAAALLLDDDD!!! WHERE IS YOUR BROTHERS?"

Oz Cobb: "Don't worry, Ma! They just swimmin', alright?"

 

[Stringer]

It's pretty clever by Reeves to have both the audience and Gotham citizens wondering where the hero is amidst the madness. It's already making his eventual return more compelling.

 

[solidsnake86]

There's something about Batman's return on screen that is always a big moment on film that if you did it on tv, I'm not sure the payoff is the same.

I'm really interested to see if Sofia makes it out of the show and into the sequel.

Good on reviewers as well for keeping the spoilers a secret. I don't think much has leaked to date and it seems like a lot of people had access to the whole series.

 

[The Shape]

There's something about Batman's return on screen that is always a big moment on film that if you did it on tv, I'm not sure the payoff is the same.

I agree. It's also what separates this show from all of the lousy MCU shows about MCU characters, or that feature appearances/cameos from the big heroes of that universe. People won't need to have seen this show before see The Batman 2. They won't have missed any of Batman's story.

However, I do think a passing mention of Batman here or there would go a long way, or the series ending on something like the bat signal shining in the sky.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

I'd have preferred the show talk about Batman but the character should only ever appear extremely rarely. Once every four-five years on the big screen sounds ideal. Like Bond.

 

[DCDAVE]

Remember what Reeves said. The movies are from Batman’s point of view. This is a Penguin show clearly. Maybe it just me but I have never seen Batman get involved with a gang war before in the comics or on the movie screen. Usually if he deals with the underworld it’s to save the innocent. I don’t see any of main characters as innocent. From Oz’s view Batman is the least of his worries. Same for Sofia. When there issue with each other is resolved then maybe the Dark Knight come to the forefront at the end of the finale to save whoever the innocent might be. Remember it was Riddler that brought Batman towards Carmine in the first place.

 

[OtherwiseKnownAs]

Re: Batman not showing up.
I think Part II is gonna borrow a bit from No Man’s Land and reveal that Bruce has been down in Washington lobbying for federal aid to Gotham.

 

[chintai80]

people are going to put two and two together and realize bruce wayne's time in washington to lobby for aid corresponds with batman's absence and return

 

[Sithborg]

Based on some comments Reeves has made about how the Arkham series has changed, I'm feeling a little bullish on Sofia.

 

[Rod]

Wowww... this just in. Warner Bros Discovery FY24 Q3, presented by Zaslav himself:

"The Penguin is one of Max's largest premieres, with audiences similar to The Last of Us and House of the Dragon"

Warner Bros. Discovery - Financials - Quarterly Results

ir.corporate.discovery.com

Big time congratz for the entire team of the show! It is a hit!