Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The PenguinFollowing the epic finale of The Batman - Part II. In The Penguin, Colin Farrell's Oz Cobb works to become the next kingpin of crime in Gotham, wanting to take advantage of the power vacuum created in the wake of Carmine Falcone's death in 2022's The Batman. While Oz eventually succeeds in his goals by the series' end, it wasn't without cost, as well as new partnerships The Penguin made along the way. To that end, it may have some dark ramifications for one of Gotham's greatest defenders (besides Batman himself).
In The Penguin, Oz Cobb clashes with the likes of Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) and Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown) as he attempts to claim power in Gotham's underworld. To that end, Oz ends up using Gotham's corrupt politicians to strike at his rivals, as was seen in The Penguin episode 8. However, this could have some dark consequences for Gotham's mayor-elect, Bella Reál (Jayme Lawson), and her future in The Batman - Part II.
I'm Pretty Worried About Bella Reál In The Batman Universe
She May Be Too Good For Gotham
Even before the events of The Penguin, I've been pretty worried about Mayor-elect Bella Reál in The Batman universe. Having run against the corrupt incumbent mayor Don Mitchell Jr before he was murdered by The Riddler, Reál herself was shot not long after by one of Edward Nashton's followers, though was thankfully saved by The Batman. Unlike her former opponent, Bella Reál appears to genuinely want to help Gotham improve. However, this may be exactly why she could have a grim fate in the future, especially after The Penguin's finale. After all, Gotham is not meant to be a place that can ever really get better.
The Penguin Episode 8: 10 Easter Eggs & DC References
The Penguin episode 8 is a major DC finale with key Easter eggs and references to the comics, 2022's The Batman, and the sequel.
As seen in The Penguin, it was confirmed that Mayor-elect Bella Reál is organizing a major anti-corruption campaign, even before she's officially sworn in. To that end, one could see Reál becoming a key ally to figures like Batman and Jim Gordon in the future, one of Gotham's few defenders who genuinely want to fix and help Gotham and its people. However, I'm fairly confident that Penguin's newest alliance could cause some pretty big problems for Reál safety, as well as her plans for the future.
Penguin's Finale Saw Oz Cobb Getting Into Gotham Politics
Making Friends In High Places
In The Penguin episode 8, Oz Cobb meets with one Councilman Hady at City Hall, the same Gotham politician whom Oz had previously coerced to get the lights back on at Crown Point, one of Gotham's lesser-off neighborhoods that had been hit the hardest by Riddler's flood in The Batman. While Oz does need Hady's specific help to deal with Sofia Gigante, it also serves as the apparent start of a new partnership. As such, it's a sign that Oz will start increasing his connections with Gotham's wealthy and elite.
Additionally, Oz and Hady's entire interaction happens in the council chambers with Oz sitting in Bella Reál's seat. Cobb also mentioned the mayor-elect directly as someone he might one day be able to meet with Hady's help. Likewise, Oz also sees Reál herself from a distance while exiting City Hall, her arm still in a sling from her recent gunshot wound at the hands of one of Riddler's followers (The Batman). Keeping all this in mind, one can imagine that Oz's interest in politics and manipulating Gotham's leaders for various ends has only just begun.
Theory: Bella Reál Will Be Replaced In The Batman - Part II
Gotham's Corrupt Are Going To Push Back
It's worth noting that Councilman Hady is a character from the original comics. On the page, Hady was one of Gotham's many corrupt mayors. To that end, it's not hard to imagine a scenario where Oz Cobb might work to install Hady as a new mayor, one he can bribe and manipulate to maintain his power over Gotham's underworld, as opposed to Reál who certainly appears to be far more incorruptible as a genuine public servant.
"The Penguin wouldn't have any problems getting rid of Bella Reál for good the moment he determines he can't use her..."
It certainly seems like this could be a strong possibility heading into The Batman - Part II, one that does make me worried about the current mayor-elect's fate going forward, like how and when she might be replaced. After all, The Penguin wouldn't have any problems getting rid of Bella Reál for good the moment he determines he can't use her. As such, it's going to be fascinating to see what the state of Gotham City will be in the sequel now that Oz has gained all this power by The Penguin's end.
All episodes of The Penguin are now streaming on Max.
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The Penguin
9/10- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
- Showrunner
- Lauren LeFranc
- Directors
- Craig Zobel
Cast
Oz Cobb
Sofia Falcone
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYCreated by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022's film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family's empire.
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The Batman Part II
- Release Date
- October 1, 2027
- Director
- Matt Reeves
- Writers
- Matt Reeves, Mattson Tomlin, Bill Finger, Bob Kane
- Prequel(s)
- The Batman
- Franchise(s)
- Batman
Cast
Bruce Wayne / The Batman
Oz Cobb
Alfred Pennyworth
James Gordon
The Batman Part II is the sequel to Matt Reeve's The Batman, released in 2022, and will continue where the original film left off. The film shares a universe with the HBO Max original Penguin series and sees the return of the Riddler and a different incarnation of the Joker.
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