Penguin’s Clues Suggest Batman Has Departed Gotham City

Essential Insights

Focusing on the Penguin character elevates the series, allowing it to shine independently of Batman’s overshadowing presence.
The conspicuous absence of the Dark Knight suggests a deliberate narrative choice, becoming increasingly challenging to overlook.
This absence emphasizes the escalating power struggles among crime lords, potentially setting the stage for a sequel, The Batman 2.

The creators of HBO Max’s The Penguin made a wise choice by centering the storyline around the iconic villain from Batman’s universe without the titular hero. This decision enhances the series, freeing it from the necessity of bringing in Batman to resolve conflicts at the last moment and disrupt the carefully crafted narrative.

Nevertheless, as The Penguin progresses, it’s quite odd that Batman remains completely absent. While this absence is a calculated move by the show’s producers, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to rationalize. It raises questions about how the caped crusader could ignore the chaos unfolding in Gotham, despite its expansive nature, suggesting perhaps that Bruce Wayne is out of the picture entirely. Upon reflection, this might be the only plausible explanation.

Gotham’s Downward Spiral Should Catch Batman’s Attention

In the earlier episodes of The Penguin, the absence of Batman is somewhat justifiable; the circumstances were relatively low-key. A massive flood had diverted the attention of law enforcement throughout Gotham, showcasing the show’s realistic premise of how challenging it is for a vigilante to be omnipresent.

The Penguin
Cast	Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo Michael Zegen
Showrunner	Lauren LeFranc
Writer	Lauren LeFranc

The show effectively demonstrates the necessity of the Bat Signal. Even if Batman dedicated an entire night to searching for criminal activities, he wouldn’t have insight into everything happening in the shadows. Unlike the more conspicuous comic villains, the Penguin’s associates prefer to keep their activities discreet.

However, as numerous schemes unfold simultaneously, it certainly feels like even Batman should take notice of the brewing turmoil. Notably, when Sofia Falcone executes her strategic takeover, it seems implausible that this would escape his attention.

A Mass Murder of a Notable Family Cannot Be Overlooked

While Batman may overlook minor confrontations, he undoubtedly cannot ignore the brutal slaying of the entire Falcone family, save for one niece. Such an incident would prompt a massive law enforcement response, with police cars and ambulances flooding the scene, causing enough commotion for even Bruce Wayne, who might have been dormantly relaxing, to notice something was amiss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK2gVp3tKMs

The Batman / Club Fight Scene (Batman Meets Penguin) | Movie CLIP 4K (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK2gVp3tKMs)

Furthermore, the violent clash between the Falcones and the Maronis underscores the fractured alliance between Sofia and the Penguin. Despite the possibility of Batman being absent at that moment, the cacophony of gunfire and chaos would almost certainly capture his attention, urging him to understand the unfolding events. Given that this turmoil occurs shortly after the head of the Falcone family’s demise, Batman would likely already be alert to the power vacuum, compelling him to monitor any significant moves.

Batman May Face a Lesson He Needs to Relearn

The Penguin and Batman Matt Reeves' The Batman.

By the story’s conclusion in The Batman, it’s evident that the vigilante is feeling a sense of unease about his impact on the city. This apprehension isn’t alien to Robert Pattinson’s interpretation, but in this hyper-realistic narrative—where chaos reigns due to a group causing mayhem—he might become increasingly convinced that his presence exacerbates the city’s problems.

As a result, Batman appears to be absent from Gotham, whether on a needed break, engaged elsewhere, or simply resting. This absence leaves room for The Penguin and Sofia to vie for control over the city’s underbelly, potentially serving as a setup for a sequel, The Batman 2.

Although the creators have officially stated that Batman won’t be appearing, this might simply be a red herring.

With only a few episodes of The Penguin remaining, the narrative seems poised for a climactic finale that will seamlessly lead to the sequel. Depending on which mob boss emerges to seize power, their actions might be the catalyst that compels Batman to return, possibly hinting at a crucial moment at the season’s end for Pattinson to reveal his whereabouts and prepare for his re-emergence in Gotham.

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