Lauren LeFranc created the HBO criminal drama TV miniseries The Penguin. It is a spin-off of The Batman (2022) based on the DC Comics character. The show begins after the events of the film. It follows Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot as he climbs through Gotham City's criminal underworld.
Debuted on September 19, 2024, the eight-episode series follows Oz's effort to develop his criminal empire while facing challenges on his path to supremacy and power in Gotham.
Although he has no direct equivalent, Victor Aguilar, a major character on the program, appears to have been influenced by Jason Todd, the second Robin. According to the last episode, Oz killed Victor. The story dynamics have been altered since, despite being in control of Gotham's criminal underworld, Oz is now more alone and exposed.
How Victor Aguilar’s death can change the plot dynamics?
Victor Aguilar is introduced in The Penguin as a young thief who tries to steal the rims off Oswald Cobblepot’s car. After Oz notices Victor’s speech problem, he decides to spare his life and recruits him as his assistant. As the story progresses, Victor grows closer to Oz, becoming his trusted right-hand man.
The narrative and character relationships of The Penguin are drastically altered by Victor Aguilar's death. Victor had aided Oz Cobb's ascent to dominance in Gotham by becoming one of his most reliable pals. But when Victor refers to Oz as "family," Oz interprets this as a sign of weakness and kills him. Oz kills Victor to keep control because he feels that emotional connections make him weak.
This decision highlights Oz's increasing ruthlessness. His ambition for power drives him to break relationships with everyone who could undermine him, even if they were faithful. By assassinating Victor, Oz cements his status as Gotham's kingpin while sacrificing any chance of a meaningful connection or future cooperation with him.
The death also has an influence on Oz's standing. With Victor gone, he becomes more isolated, potentially making him more vulnerable to threats from competing forces. While Oz dominates the criminal underworld, the lack of a trustworthy ally provides a new weakness.
Additionally, Victor's passing ends any chance for his character to have a future. Although his storyline ended quickly, he may have had a bigger part in Gotham's criminal scene. Because other players in the criminal world could exploit Oz's vulnerable position, this loss changes the balance of power and may lead to new conflicts.
Additional details about The Penguin
The Penguin features a diverse cast of actors including Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot (Penguin), and Cristin Milioti plays Sofia Falcone, the daughter of Carmine Falcone, who seeks to establish her own power. Rhenzy Feliz portrays Victor Aguilar, Penguin’s driver, and Michael Kelly plays Johnny Vitti, an underboss in the Falcone family.
Trending
Other cast members include Deirdre O’Connell as Francis Cobb, Penguin’s mother, and Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni, a former mob boss. Michael Zegen plays Alberto Falcone, and Mark Strong portrays Carmine Falcone, the head of the Falcone crime family.
HBO wanted The Penguin to be a limited series, thus season two has yet to be unveiled. However, the show's success has fueled speculation about a second season. If season two is developed, it may follow Cobblepot's rise to prominence and feature new Batman foes.
Reply
