Colin Farrell's DC Villain Reveals Connections to Classic Penguin

The following contains spoilers for The Penguin season 1, episode 1, “After Hours,” which first aired September 19 on HBO and HBO Max.

One thing fans have seen of Colin Farrell's Penguin in The Batman was that he wasn't your typical comic book villain. He didn't have any of the key items like the hat, monocle, and other flashy wardrobe pieces that nodded to the source material. Of course, that's understandable, since these stories are being told for a modern audience.

This prototype villain was also seen in the early stages with the Penguin from Gotham TV Series. Smart business suits, no umbrellas and a mafia energy were the things that were used to shape the gangster in the making. However, The penguin TV series, there are connections to the classic Penguin before he rises through the ranks in the criminal underworld. In this case, they are smartly updated and layered with emotion and nuance.

Penguin Reveals That Purple Is Important To Oswald Cobb

The penguin uses purple to subtly cheer

In many older comics, as well as various cartoons, purple is part of the Penguin's attire.. No matter how the Penguin is reinterpreted, purple is his primary color. It can be seen in his clothes, cars, and umbrellas in 1966. Batman TV show. It adds a lavish yet whimsical feel, which fans have also recently seen with Batman: Caped Crusader Female penguin.

The penguin The first season addresses this theme in the first episode and develops through two components. The first is the car that Oswald (aka Oz) drives, which is purple, bright and very luxurious.. Oz accidentally puts a bullet in it when he catches Rhenzy Feliz's Victor Aguilar (aka Vic) and his gang trying to steal some rims. Penguin is upset because he doesn't like damaging his vehicle.

This flashy car makes him feel big and in command, especially now that Carmine Falcone has been killed.. Penguin thinks this car, especially when he drives it during the day, makes him a mob boss. He wants to be the top boss now that there's a power vacuum, so this is a subtle statement to let people know he's coming. He wants to look cool, instill fear, and show his aspirations. Over time, he gets Vic to drive it around, admitting that one has to dress appropriately.

A car is an important piece of that public facade. He later tells Cristin Milioti's Sofia Falcone that the true color is plum, not purple. He really likes the color and just wants to be recognized. Oz rose through the ranks of his father's gang after being his driver, so he thinks he's paid his dues. Now he wants everyone to see it. The second purple bond occurs during the same meeting with Sofia: her purple dress.

It's a two-piece that, while simple, is elegant and classy.. He shows Sofia and the other Falcone gang members that Oz has style too. He may be lower on the social ladder than them, but Carmine trusted him and didn't mind him pulling a few stunts every now and then. He wants to show them that he can be their equal and then some.

The Penguin Step Explained

The Penguin was a nickname people gave to Oz because of the way he walked. Most versions of the Penguin have been made fun of at some point because of the way they walk. Matt Reeves' The Batman kept it hidden, creating mystery and intrigue. But Penguin actually highlights the reason for his walk when he arrives at her apartment. While Vic inspects the living room, Oz enters her bedroom and takes off his shoes. Fans see that one of his feet is crooked, which he has had since childhood. His toes are not aligned properly and his foot is swollen..

It looks like he shouldn't be able to walk at all, and it reveals that he is hiding pain and discomfort. It is both physical and emotional, as Penguin hated being made fun of. This walk is one of the reasons he wants to go from a middle-class gangster to a crime boss with the skills of an entertainer. People judge, laugh at, and underestimate him with this waddling gait, so he is even more driven to create an empire. Once he does, he can prove himself to be the most important criminal mastermind and a chaotic enterprise destined to make millions in Gotham City.

The penguin has a complicated relationship with his mother

Francis Cobb is emotionally abusive and encourages Penguin to kill

In the source material, Oswald was emotionally abused by his mother and forced to carry an umbrella with him at all times.. He didn't want him to get wet and catch a cold. After his parents died, he kept the umbrella and pushed him to become a successful criminal. Batman Returns also explored his childhood, with director Tim Burton depicting his abusive parents punishing him for his deformity.

Oswald's parents eventually disposed of him by throwing him into the sewers. He was later found and raised by emperor penguins. The film leaves clues for the audience to theorize that Penguin eventually found and killed his biological parents. His mother, Esther, truly hated him, and the FOX TV series, Gothamwould turn things around years later. His mother, Gertrude, was kind, caring, and wanted Oz to be a “good boy.”

Unfortunately, Sal Maroni turned him into a weapon and let Gertrude know that her son was a demon. Some of Penguin's enemies killed her, which only made him act even more out of rage. In The penguinOz hides his mother, Francis, in a suburb on the outskirts of Gotham. He takes Vic to his home, revealing that he doesn't want his enemies to ever track her down. She suffers from dementia and memory loss, which complicates matters further. She even forgets that her other children died years ago.

Oz has to rationalize things with her and jolt her mind back to the present. Vic sees love and empathy. However, the audience sees a darker side when she comes to her senses. He urges Oz to step up and destroy the Falcones after he admits to killing Carmine's son, Alberto, for bullying him.He confesses that the other members will suspect and come for him.

She doesn't want to run away and Penguin has to stay and fight for his place in the food chain. At this point, he instills confidence and conditions Penguin to be an alpha. He is tired of being the prey. This encouragement comes from the right person at home. The mother angle becomes a battery that charges him, leaving Vic and the audience wondering if she will be Oz's Achilles heel in due time. She's playing her game, but it paints flaws and vulnerabilities.

Francis also makes Oz's story both cute and tragic. His is too. You can't be sure of his mental state and whether he really understands what he's doing. He might think it's a game, or he might get lost in the many TV shows he watches to pass the time. Ultimately, Francis will be a very important character as Penguin continues to plot their future. He tricks the Falcones into thinking that the Maronises have waged war and killed Alberto. For now, he is able to fool his rivals, but when they learn of his and Francis' deception, Oz might lose the person he cares about most.

The Penguin airs new episodes every Thursday on HBO and Max.