Batman villain [SPOILER] makes surprise appearance in The Penguin episode 4

As a lifelong comic book enthusiast who’s been following DC lore since the days of Adam West’s Batman, I must say that HBO’s The Penguin has truly outdone itself with its fourth episode, “Cent’anni.” The way they weave in the backstory of Sofia Falcone and the enigmatic Magpie is nothing short of masterful.

We’ve reached the midpoint of “The Penguin,” HBO’s DC limited series, set a week after Matt Reeves’ “The Batman.” I was eagerly anticipating its premiere, but it has surpassed my expectations significantly. The narrative is superb, and both Colin Farrell as the lead character and Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone deliver outstanding performances. In my opinion, “The Penguin” is among the best shows of 2024, and I’m confident that many others share this sentiment.

In the fourth episode entitled “Cent’anni,” we find ourselves delving into the aftermath of the previous week’s episode, “Bliss.” This installment reveals Oz’s cunning plan to elude the Maronis, leaving Sofia in a solitary state. The narrative unfolds from Sofia’s perspective, and it also includes flashbacks to a time ten years ago when her father was still alive, shedding light on how she came to be in Arkham initially.

WARNING: Spoilers for The Penguin episode 4 are below.

In this week’s thrilling adventure, I unravel the shocking truth behind Oz’s betrayal of Sofia and the unmasking of the enigmatic “Hangman”. It’s been a rollercoaster ride so far, with Sofia being occasionally referred to as the “Hangman”, leading us to believe she could be a serial killer. But hold on tight, because it turns out that’s not the case at all!

Batman villain [SPOILER] makes surprise appearance in The Penguin episode 4

Sofia suspected Carmine was the infamous Hangman serial killer and, eventually, confided in a reporter about it, ultimately leading to confronting her own father regarding this accusation. It was Oz who betrayed her to her father, resulting in her commitment to Arkham Asylum. Contrary to her expectation of having a trial six months after admission, none occurred. Instead, she spent ten years within the asylum, a duration that undeniably affected her sanity.

Meet Magpie, Batman’s enemy

In Arkham Asylum, it was no surprise that Sofia found the beginning challenging. One of her initial encounters was with a woman called Magpie, a character familiar to DC aficionados. In the backstory depicted in ‘The Penguin’, Magpie attempted to befriend Sofia, but Sofia wasn’t particularly interested in making friends in this unfamiliar setting. As Sofia’s mental state deteriorated, subjected to electric shock therapy and other mistreatment, her anger grew. Unfortunately for Magpie, who appeared to be seeking companionship, she became an obstacle in Sofia’s path.

Sofia, it seems, may have killed Magpie, but I can’t confirm if this event truly occurred or if it was merely a product of her imagination. Regardless of the truth, Sofia spent another ten years confined within the asylum, an experience that fundamentally transformed her personality.

In the world of comics, Magpie (also known as Margaret Pye) is a recurring adversary for Batman. Her distinguishing feature is an intense fascination with anything shiny or glittering. Following her confrontation with both Batman and Superman in the storyline “One Night in Gotham City” within John Byrne’s The Man of Steel series, she suffers a mental collapse and gets transferred to Arkham Asylum. Subsequently, her experiences at Arkham are chronicled in the comic book series Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, penned by Dan Slott and Ryan Sook.

Batman villain [SPOILER] makes surprise appearance in The Penguin episode 4

Magpie has made appearances on the small screen before, with Sarah Schenkkan playing the character in “Gotham,” and Rachel Matthews portraying her in “Batwoman.” Additionally, Magpie has been featured in the animated series “Beware the Batman” as well as other media.

It seems unlikely that we’ll encounter more of Magpie within “The Penguin” if the Arkham flashbacks have concluded, but it remains an enjoyable nod to the original comics.

Watch new episodes of The Penguin every Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

2024-10-14 05:28