Spoilers forThe Penguin
For all of its successes, the most impressive feat ofThe Penguinis its effectiveness as a character study. Rarely has a Batman villain felt so lively, three-dimensional, and believably human. Just about everyone knows a guy like Oz Cobb, even though the stakes of their unscrupulous behavior tend to be a little lower. Beyond Oz,The Penguinalso digs deep into the internal and external life of Sofia Falcone, who plays both ally and enemy to Oz. Sofia seems too detailed a character to exit after her debut, presenting a question as to where she could end up.
The Batmanhas the unfortunate circumstance of existing as part of Warner Bros. current media strategy. The studio never fully recovered from theend of theHarry Potterfranchise, and their attempts to capitalize on the DC Universe have varied wildly in quality and success. While Matt Reeves' initial film was an undisputed hit, the rest of the franchise lives in an uneasy limbo as the people at the top struggle to make money off of several of the most profitable characters ever created. It’s a sad state of affairs, butThe Penguindemonstrates that quality can still come out of it.
Lauren LeFranc
Stars
Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, and Clancy Brown
8
Streaming On
HBO Max
There are a lot of disquieting elements inThe Penguin’s season finale. A lot of people die, the balance of power in Gotham shifts, and many of the worst people in the city come out on top. From Oz’s perspective, the story follows his hard-fought rise to the top. The women in his life would feel less satisfied by the outcome. Sofia Falcone is one of many characters who suffer a fate worse than death. Oz claims victory, largely through the work of his young friend Vic. Instead of killing Sofia, Oz pulls some strings to have her dragged back to Arkham Asylum. Sofia’s previous decade in Arkham ruined her psyche and led to her campaign of violence. The return comes with a letter from her half-sister, Selina Kyle. It’s a grim fate for such a tragic figure. Sofia was, arguably, one of the more moral figures in the series. Her initial reputation is entirely fabricated, but afew days in Arkhamturn her into a killer. Spending 10 years behind bars, compounded with the loss of her beloved brother, breaks her on a fundamental level. This cyclical quality to her story does feel a bit unfinished. There could still be room for her in the franchise.
Sofia probably won’t join Selina Kyle
That last-minute tease tying Selina to Sofia isprobably not setting much up. The implication could be that Sofia will be an important part of Selina’s future story, but that isn’t likely. Actress Cristin Milioti isn’t set to appear inThe Batman: Part 2, and Matt Reeves hasn’t offered any explanation for that final scene. It’s not a tease, so much as it is a nod to Sofia’s role in the comics. So, if Sofia is to return to the franchise,it won’t likely be inThe Batman: Part 2or as part of Selina Kyle’s new story. She could, however, still be a part of Matt Reeves' take on Gotham.
Sofia could still be a part ofThe Batmanuniverse
Sofia Falcone is the last known surviving member of the Falcone crime family.The end ofThe Penguinrepresented a city-wide shakeup in the criminal underground, completely altering the Caped Crusader’s nightly duties. Sofia isn’t going to be a crime boss on the level of her father anytime soon. She could, however, still be a fixture of Arkham’s cast of characters. A standalone show about Arkham was one of at least two abandoned concepts for a spin-off series fromThe Batman. If that idea re-emerges or morphs into something else, not unlike the Gotham City Police Department show that got largely folded intoThe Penguin, that’s a perfect place for Sofia to return. Failing that, she could be an occasional cameo who provides information on the crumbling criminal empires that are fading from Gotham’s underworld. Depending on how long the franchise runs, she may even get a chance to escape her confines and seek vengeance. Imagine Oz winding up behind bars and trying to talk his way out of yet another scrape. Itwould be a fitting endto their rivalry.
One of the interesting elements ofThe Batmanas thestart of a shared universeis its setting. While the broader DC and Marvel universes expand to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, exploring endless alternate realities to allow for new content,The Batmantakes place in one city. Sofia is incarcerated, but she still has the potential to be a part of that city. She doesn’t have to be the biggest name in the franchise, but it seems like such a waste to let this fascinating character disappear.
