Hello, Peliplaters!
I've long wanted to discuss The Penguin (2024) with you, but I've struggled to articulate this complex character. At times, I even consider him more intricate than the Joker. While the Joker's style is erratic, it maintains a certain predictability. Renowned actors like Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and Joaquin Phoenix have all offered compelling interpretations of the Joker, and the essence of his madness is rooted in a set of principles unique to him. In Joker-centric movies and TV shows, we often witness his downfall through the rules of his own game. The Penguin's complexity, by contrast, stems from his utter lack of principles.
After watching the finale last week, I felt deeply frustrated. The ending was overwhelmingly dark! I found myself mentally crying out, "Batman, where are you?" During my time studying screenwriting in film school, my professor often emphasized the importance of portraying a villain's likable side. However, the writers of The Penguin have clearly challenged this notion: you don't need a likable villain to maintain audience engagement. Instead, they've demonstrated that you can lead the audience to believe in a character's potential for redemption, only to reveal their true, diabolical nature at the last moment.
The Penguin is such a case of masterful deception. The character emerges from humble origins but possesses a strong personality. We instinctively root for such a person's success, much as we hope for respect for our own individuality. When Penguin kills Alberto Falcone in the premiere, we even find ourselves cheering. Alberto had humiliated him, and Penguin defended his dignity in the most direct manner possible. Prior to this, Penguin had consistently portrayed himself as honest and loyal. He toiled tirelessly for the Falcone family, yet never received due recognition. After Alberto's murder, Penguin lives in perpetual fear. Though he feigns loyalty to other families while repeatedly betraying them, we rationalize his actions as necessary survival tactics in a hostile environment. We believe he had no alternatives.
The brilliance of The Penguin lies in how Cobb's gradually worsening condition numbs our perception of Penguin's increasing villainy. As Penguin descends further into darkness, we justify his actions as necessary compromises to save his mother. Meanwhile, the gang leaders plotting Penguin's demise remain oblivious to Cobb's existence. They unanimously attribute Penguin's erratic behavior to his inherent depravity. Viewers, privy to the full picture, naturally feel indignant on Penguin's behalf, their sympathies tilting in his favor.
In reality, Penguin is a masterful egoist. He wields the promise of "giving his mother a good life" as a shield, thereby justifying his repeated transgressions of moral boundaries. His loyalty to his mother is merely a ploy to garner more maternal affection. In essence, Penguin exploits his mother as a means to his own ends, his devotion is a calculated move in his grand scheme. This begs the question: if The Penguin is so unrelentingly dark, what makes it compelling? The answer, I've come to realize, lies not with Penguin himself, but with the supporting cast.
Upon reflection, which gang leader, aside from Penguin, doesn't warrant a degree of sympathy? Sofia Falcone sacrifices everything to avenge her brother, while Salvatore Maroni does the same for his wife and children. Their losses equal—if not surpass—Penguin's. The crucial distinction? Their "badness" springs from a wellspring of profound love. For them, no material pleasure can outweigh the value of their cherished family members.
In crime-ridden Gotham City, Batman stands alone. His actions embody the last vestiges of hope and goodness in people's hearts. Yet, his image is not universally relatable—only the wealthy can become Batman, and more often than not, they become his adversaries instead.
For DC fans, stories in the DC universe aren't about teaching optimism. Rather, like a dying person's testament, they show why this world, though beyond redemption, is still worth defending to the last breath. In Gotham, where crime is the norm, Batman might seem like the real villain. However, it's precisely because he adheres to his principles more steadfastly than anyone else that he earns the respect of all the villains.
After watching The Penguin, I'm reminded of this scene from The Batman: In the deepest darkness, even the faintest flame shines infinitely bright.
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