HBO’s The Penguin Finally Confirms Important Detail About Matt Reeves’ The Batman

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As a long-time fan of Batman and Gotham City, I couldn’t be more thrilled with the latest revelation from The Penguin. Being in the know about the intricate timeline of these beloved characters is like knowing the secret ingredients to the world’s best chocolate cake.

Due to the recent episode of “The Penguin”, fans now have a clear idea about when Bruce Wayne embarks on his crime-fighting journey in Matt Reeves’ “Gotham City Saga”. The version of Batman presented by Matt Reeves shows him in his second year as a crime fighter, still progressing towards becoming the world’s greatest detective and building up his rogues’ gallery. Interestingly, “The Batman” doesn’t provide any specific timeline, leaving viewers guessing about its chronology. Initially, it was speculated that “The Batman” might have been set in 2019, as that was the original release year. However, information from “The Penguin” has debunked this theory.

WARNING! Spoilers ahead for The Penguin Episode 2!

The latest installment of “The Penguin” series, titled “Inside Man,” has at last revealed the timeline for audiences as they embark on Bruce Wayne’s crime-fighting adventure. In this episode, Sofia Falcone (played by Cristin Milioti) visits the Falcone family crypt in search of answers. Here, she finds not only the grave of her father, Carmine Falcone (portrayed by John Turturro in “The Batman” and Mark Strong in “The Penguin”), but also her late brother, Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen).

In the premiere episode, Alberto Falcone, portrayed by Colin Farrell’s character Oz Cobb, meets an unfortunate end through a violent shooting. His grave marker reads, “Alberto Falcone. Born December 29, 1983 – Died November 13, 2022.” This tombstone serves as the first concrete timeline clue for viewers regarding the setting of “The Batman” and its sequel “The Penguin”. The storyline of “The Penguin” unfolds a week after the events depicted in “The Batman”, during which Gotham City was largely submerged due to bombings orchestrated by The Riddler (Paul Dano). This incident has led us to discover that Bruce Wayne, the character from “The Batman”, embarked on his crime-fighting journey under the moniker “The Gotham Project” in 2021.

Why The Penguin Doesn’t Need Batman

Initially, spectators felt let down when they found out Robert Pattinson’s Batman wouldn’t feature in “The Penguin.” Yet, as the series unfolds with two episodes under our belt, it becomes apparent why director Matt Reeves and showrunner Lauren LeFranc opted against a Batman guest spot. That’s because “The Penguin” delves into unexplored aspects of Gotham City—the impoverished neighborhoods that suffered the brunt of the floods. The narrative revolves around Cobb’s attempts to escape from the Diamond District and climb the ladder in the criminal underworld of Gotham City.

In the absence of Batman, The Penguin thrives as it broadens the scope of Gotham City as envisioned by Reeves, introducing fresh characters, both heroes and villains. Without Batman’s constant presence casting a long shadow, the series can fully explore this expanded universe without interference. Introducing Batman into the series might conflict with the intricate world-building that the show has established.

In the series apart from Batman, we delve deeper into a theme presented in “The Batman.” As Bruce Wayne is just one individual, he can only address one criminal case at a time. By depicting Oz Cobb’s brutal mission without interference or supervision from Batman, it underscores the immense amount of crime plaguing Gotham City, to such an extent that brazen killings like this can occur, even with Batman occupied elsewhere.

New episodes of
The Penguin
are released on Sundays on HBO and
Max
.

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2024-09-30 18:03