The Penguin Production Designer Confirmed Scarecrow ‘Red Herring’ For Julian Rush, And It’s The One Time I’m Glad I Totally Missed A TV Easter Egg

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As a fan with a penchant for deciphering the most elusive easter eggs, I can confidently say that discovering the Scarecrow glove hidden in plain sight during The Penguin‘s fourth episode was a revelation that left me both thrilled and slightly disappointed – thrilled because it hinted at the potential introduction of one of my favorite Batman villains, and disappointed because I missed it on my initial viewing.

Without needing numerous ties to Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” or other Bat-related storylines, “The Penguin” managed to become a heart-wrenching triumph on its own merit. (Admittedly, I was disappointed with the ending’s final scene, but such is life.) Despite enjoying the early references to The Riddler and the possible hints of Hush in this world, there’s one significant Easter egg that I’m grateful I didn’t notice during my first watch: the Scarecrow glove.

In truth, this specific TV easter egg was seldom spotted by most viewers when it appeared in the fourth episode of “The Penguin,” titled “Cent’Anni.” The secret detail didn’t gain much attention online until after the season had ended. However, we can now confirm its authenticity without any doubt, as a production crew member for the show has revealed that it was indeed intentional.

Scarecrow Easter Egg: Confirmed!

In Episode 4, after Sofia wakes up on Julian Rush’s office couch following her double-crossing by Oz and Victor, there’s a significant moment when Julian leaves the room. At this point, if you look closely, you’ll notice that items on his desk, which were absent during the previous scene, have appeared. Specifically, there’s a glove on the left side of the desk, and what seems to be a mask-like object on the right.

We left it open for interpretation. The hands are from Bali.

I enjoy the concept of subtly suggesting an open-ended interpretation, without explicitly pointing it out or making it obvious, as if inviting the observer to ponder and interpret on their own.

The mention of Bali sparked more interest, and one user provided what they believed was further explanation by referring to the Balinese demon queen Rangda, known for her long and sharp fingernails. It’s unlikely that she was a means to spread fear toxin, but Rangda was indeed terrifying nonetheless. Notably, gloves resembling Rangda’s hand were used by Bali’s witch doctors as a substitute for treatments similar to those given by Dr. Rush.

When the commenter asked if their summation was correct, Kalina Ivanov responded by saying:

yes all correct. It’s also a red herring 🙂

Essentially, what they’re trying to convey is, “Feel free to ponder over it, as it seems to hold no concrete meaning.” It might have been the production designer’s tactic to mislead fans, but given the demand for Julian Rush to have clearer Scarecrow storylines, this strategy may not work effectively. On the contrary, understanding that the creative team was hinting cryptically could potentially fuel speculation even more about Theo Rossi’s role in the franchise in the future.

Why I’m Extremely Happy I Missed Seeing That Glove The First Time I Watched

If I were a fan eagerly anticipating a Scarecrow TV series among the upcoming Batman projects, I would have been overjoyed beyond words if I spotted that glove in “Cent’Anni” on my initial viewing. It might have sent me into wild speculations about Julian Rush having a major revelation by the end of the season.

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However, it’s clear that Julian doesn’t play a significant role in major plot twists for his character, as viewers who have completed the eight-episode season are already aware. He does hand over a letter to Sofia from his half-sister Selina Kyle, but there’s no immediate revelation about him changing his name from Jonathan Crane to Julian Rush or anything directly related to this detail.

It’s likely I would have felt disappointed if there wasn’t more development of the Scarecrow character in the second part of the season, given its significant and overt references. Looking back, it was a minor detail that didn’t provide much hinting. However, had I noticed it earlier, my initial thoughts might not have been so logical. So, thanks, my misguided eyesight.

As a gamer, I’m excited to share that “The Penguin” is now available for binge-watching with a Max subscription. But, let’s keep our fingers crossed and stay on the lookout, as we wait to find out if Matt Reeves and HBO plan another visit to the penthouse for Season 2.

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2024-11-20 00:07