The Penguin (The Batman) limited series | HBO Max

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Maybe they worry about diminishing Batman's impact on the Big Screen if he's on TV aswell. Although I don't know why that wouldn't apply even more to Superman.
Yeah, there could be a logical explanation along these lines. Frankly Batman is overexposed in films alone, put aside cartoons and comics. If he was also overexposed with tv shows (most of which being sub-par) then that could potentially hurt the brand.

Though Superman has a lot of exposure, he hasn't had near the exposure that Batman does in film and animated TV.
 
While i’m all for Batman being a cinema only character lets not pretend that Batman Forever, Batman and Robin and The Dark Knight Rises didn’t have a negative impact on the Batman brand.

Yes Dark Knight Rises, that silly freaking voice of his lol
 
That being said,

While i’m hearing great things about the show what seriously worries me is that five episodes in and they don’t ever mention the name Batman once, not ONCE!

That’s very unrealistic considering this takes place after the damn movie.

sigh
 
I think he's lying. I remember seeing Pattinson flying into New York when they were shooting the show.
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Really liked the first episode. Did a great job drawing you in and wanting to see things to the end. Been a while since I’ve had a pilot episode do that to me. I’d already love to see this show continue on its own regardless how the films go.
 
Interesting ep. Was worried about the shoed-in sidekick from the trailers, but it all worked well in the end (although I doubt Oz would have actually been so "compassionate" about Vic).

Some of the acting was amazing - his mom, and Falcone's daughter were standouts.

Invested enough to keep going at this stage and it's great to know it's just one season. Apparently it leads straight into the next movie, so Oz better play a big part in it.
 
Interesting ep. Was worried about the shoed-in sidekick from the trailers, but it all worked well in the end (although I doubt Oz would have actually been so "compassionate" about Vic).

Some of the acting was amazing - his mom, and Falcone's daughter were standouts.

Invested enough to keep going at this stage and it's great to know it's just one season. Apparently it leads straight into the next movie, so Oz better play a big part in it.
I'll watch this tonight -- but Falcone's daughter was already a standout in the trailer. I think she's gonna be great.
 
Interesting ep. Was worried about the shoed-in sidekick from the trailers, but it all worked well in the end (although I doubt Oz would have actually been so "compassionate" about Vic).
I don't know if it is purely compassion. There are at least two other ways to see it at the outset. On the most surface level, as he says in the show, Penguin now "owns" this kid, who justifiably fears Penguin and what he will do if the kid fails to deliver. People in organized crime exploit this to their advantage all the time. Extracting interest from those they help or do favors for (in this case, not shooting the kid) is a cornerstone of their work. Penguin could have weighed the costs and benefits, and made a decision about the capability of the kid, and his own ability to ensure loyalty. Was Penguin really ready to shoot the kid, or was that interaction all part of his plan?

But I can see a deeper reasoning. From what we've seen, Penguin is largely alone apart from his professional relationships and the dysfunctional relationship with his mother (not sure about his brothers yet). The fact that he brings the kid to his home and mother suggests to me that he may be looking for someone to become a proxy family member. All people want to be appreciated and, in a sense, loved. Even if it is unconventional and based off of fear and intimidation, as with abusive spouses, this is a universal human trait. Penguin sees their similarities in terms of their background, and the trauma the kid experienced, and may see an opportunity to be a type of father figure.

Back to the compassion angle, I think it also plays to the opening scene where Penguin gets laughed at for idolizing a gangster he grew up with who did good for the community. This kid is an opportunity for the Penguin to leave a kind of legacy. Giving the kid the cigar seems like a direct reference to this. So the show demonstrates that Penguin is a complicated guy who does appreciate when others act compassionately, and it does seem that he wants others to recognize this in himself.

The fact that the writing is so smart, and the acting is so good with a three dimensional character like this leaves this all up to the interpretation of the viewer. But that's what I'm sensing right now.
 
Agreed! Many layers to the decision to keep Vic around (I swear I was expecting them to say Stone was his last name, which would have been really interesting had they picked Cyborg of all characters to show up here). Part seeing himself in Vic, part needing a loyal henchman, part needing a friend or extended family, and part starting something to leave a legacy to. I don’t think Oz consciously knows exactly why yet himself, he seems to be making things up as he goes but is clearly very smart being able to twist an impulsive action into a grand scheme for power.
 
I don't know if it is purely compassion.

I wrote compassion in inverted commas because I didn't want to mention any spoilers - and I agree with everything you stated as the reason he didn't kill him, but it still felt a little out of place for Oz's character based on what was in the movie and what we've seen so far. Again, it worked out really good, but even taking Vic to his moms place (specifically stating, "I've never brought anyone here before") felt a bit too lazy/easy/convenient in the writing.
 
While the Snyderverse remains my quintessential depiction of Batman (sorry), it's great having these "elseworlds" to indulge in as well. Not only the Reeves-verse but the silly-but-fun Flash movie (which is probably an official part of the DCU but I can't bring myself to accept it).
 
I enjoyed this and that's coming from someone who didn't like The Batman. The little car chase was a pseudo sped-up bullsh*t but other than that it was good.
 
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While the Snyderverse remains my quintessential depiction of Batman (sorry), it's great having these "elseworlds" to indulge in as well. Not only the Reeves-verse but the silly-but-fun Flash movie (which is probably an official part of the DCU but I can't bring myself to accept it).
Don't apologise for loving what you love.
 
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