The Batman ending explained: Everything to remember before The Penguin

The Batman ending explained: Everything to remember before The Penguin

As a long-time aficionado of Gotham City’s dark and twisted tales, I must say that Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” has left me utterly captivated. The film masterfully weaves together a gritty narrative that delves deep into the city’s underbelly, revealing its true horrors while maintaining a glimmer of hope.


In a more casual and engaging style: Matt Reeves’ The Batman is a gripping, dark superhero story that delves deep into the grimy underbelly of Gotham City to expose its hidden evils. The film portrays the lengths some people will go to conceal their corrupt deeds and the relentless pursuit of those determined to unmask the truth. At its heart, it’s a tale of The Dark Knight chasing The Riddler’s enigmatic puzzles and clues in an effort to thwart him. Alongside this central narrative, other significant characters emerge, setting the stage for exciting developments within the franchise.

As a gaming enthusiast diving into the next level of Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, I can hardly contain my excitement! The buzz surrounding “The Penguin,” an HBO spinoff, is deafening, with critics hailing it as a gripping mafia tale brimming with Emmy-worthy acting. But before we dive into the deep end of this highly anticipated series, let’s rewind and reflect on all the thrilling twists and turns its prequel, “The Batman,” left us pondering.

Carmine Falcone, head of the city, is gone

– “Falcone works for you guys? The Mayor? The DA?”
– “No. We work for him.”

Initially, Carmine Falcone might appear as an ordinary criminal figure within Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” universe. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that there is far more to him than meets the eye. He exerted control over the entire city from behind the scenes, manipulating the Mayor, the District Attorney, and the police force like marionettes. Anyone who dared to uncover the truth about his power and influence was eliminated without mercy. The upcoming elections held no significance whatsoever, as Falcone had already solidified his grip on Gotham City. But how did he manage to achieve such a position of power?

It turns out that Thomas Wayne’s legacy plays a crucial role here. He established the Gotham Renewal Fund, an initiative aimed at providing necessary resources to those in most need, circumventing political stalemates. Unfortunately, following Thomas Wayne’s demise, several influential figures sought control of the $1 billion fund for their selfish purposes. Carmine Falcone, Salvatore Maroni, and even the Mayor managed to get their hands on it, dividing the funds among them. Yet, Falcone wasn’t content with his share; he devised a scheme to seize more power for himself.

Following his departure from Maroni’s illicit dealings, Carmine Falcone amassed control over virtually everything. He also elevated the careers of the public officials who helped bring down Maroni, ensuring their loyalty by placing them in his sphere of influence. From behind the scenes, he orchestrated Gotham and its influential figures, executing a nearly flawless plan. However, the former Mayor, Don Mitchell, shared this intricate web of corruption with Annika Kosolov, a waitress at the Iceberg Lounge. This revelation eventually led to Batman, Catwoman, and Lieutenant Gordon uncovering the sordid history of Falcone’s influence and corruption.

Prior to Carmine Falcone’s imprisonment at Blackgate Penitentiary, he was fatally shot by the Riddler. This event left a power void in Gotham City. Now that Falcone is gone, the question arises: Who will step up to claim the position of Gotham’s new crime boss?

A city flooded in despair

The Riddler’s scheme aimed to go beyond just revealing the deceitful nature of the Gotham Renewal Fund. His objective was twofold: to root out the dishonest public officials involved in it and deliver a hard-hitting lesson to Gotham that would be etched in its memory forever. To accomplish this, he strategically placed seven vans along the city’s waterfront and detonated them all at once, causing massive flooding that inundated streets, buildings, and alleyways that were previously teeming with activity.

The Batman ending explained: Everything to remember before The Penguin

People hurriedly found shelter in Gotham Square Garden, one of the few spots that appeared secure amidst chaos. Regrettably, the Riddler had already anticipated this and dispatched his minions there, armed with weapons, to target anyone they encountered – particularly Mayor Bella Reál. For a fleeting instant, it seemed as if all hope was gone, but then, in a swift motion, the Dark Knight swooped into action, aiming to avert widespread tragedy.

In due course, a symbol of retribution transforms into one of optimism, aggression gives way to redemption, and Batman truly earns the title of hero in the city’s eyes. It’ll be intriguing to observe whether the police will collaborate more with him, and if he’ll recognize that Bruce Wayne too can contribute positively to the city. Regrettably, it was the misappropriation of the Gotham Renewal Fund that started this whole predicament, a problem Batman couldn’t address but one that Bruce could monitor in the future.

The Penguin will seize the chance to grab everything he can

Although Batman managed to rescue numerous lives, he didn’t react swiftly enough to thwart the Riddler’s schemes. The city is submerged, Carmine Falcone has perished, martial law has been implemented, and as the Dark Knight puts it, “things will worsen before they improve.” This is where Oswald Cobblepot, or in this universe, Oz Cobb, steps in.

The Batman ending explained: Everything to remember before The Penguin

In the bustling city of Gotham, the notorious antagonist aims to establish his own reputation. Known as “Carmine Falcone’s right-hand man” and proprietor of the Iceberg Lounge – a hub for illicit activities – in the movie “The Batman”, he now finds himself in a position to seize power following Falcone’s departure. The Penguin, as he is known, sees this opportunity rather than tragedy, but may not be fully aware of a fresh contender on the scene.

According to previews for The Penguin, Sofia Falcone is set to be one of the main characters in the show. It will certainly be intriguing to observe whether she tries to hold onto all of her father’s businesses, potentially positioning herself as a rival to Oz Cobb.

Instead of asking if she’ll try to secretly govern the city once more, let me tell you that we can learn the answer by watching “The Penguin” which airs on HBO starting September 19.

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2024-09-19 17:31

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