The Penguin Can’t Be Required Viewing For Batman 2

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The Penguin Can't Be Required Viewing For Batman 2

Key Takeaways

  • DC should avoid repeating Marvel’s mistake of making movies and TV shows too interconnected.
  • Failing to allow for standalone stories can alienate movie-goers who haven’t seen related shows.
  • The Batman Part 2 should not rely heavily on events from The Penguin, allowing each to stand alone.

As a seasoned gamer and comic book enthusiast with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but weigh in on this topic. The interconnected universe of television shows and movies is an intriguing concept, but it seems that DC might be treading dangerously close to the mistakes made by Marvel.

Currently, it appears that there’s no argument about the quality of the TV series titled “The Penguin.” Coexisting with another popular show centered around a villain, “Agatha All Along” on Disney+, this DC comics show is garnering significant attention and sparking numerous discussions. However, its popularity could be a two-sided coin. The creators, Lauren LeFranc and Matt Reeves, might unintentionally find themselves in a predicament due to the series being a sequel to “The Batman.

Given the resounding success of “The Penguin” and its status as one of the most popular shows currently airing, it’s probably not difficult for Reeves and Lefranc to assume that fans of the Batman movie are tuning in to see how the story unfolds next. It might also seem logical that anyone planning to watch The Batman Part 2 has already seen all eight episodes of “The Penguin.” However, even though this is likely the case for many viewers, Reeves must approach the sequel as if the HBO Max show never happened. Agatha All Along serves as a good illustration of why this is important.

DC Can’t Make The Same Mistakes Marvel Did

It’s appealing to envision a complete universe of TV series and films, where characters like Bucky and The Falcon, who have primarily been side characters in the Avengers films, get their own stories outside of the big battles. This setup provides room for creators to explore and develop these characters further, filling in gaps that may have been left unexplored despite numerous Avengers-centric movies.

The key is to realize that there will always be people who don’t see those cracks filled in. People may not have HBO Max. They may not have Disney+ or they may simply be casual fans that don’t need to lap up every single little detail about a character in order to enjoy the movie. Except now, all of a sudden, when there are these integrated universes people do have to lap up every piece of information to really understand what’s going on from one movie to the next. For Marvel, that’s especially the case moving forward.

ShowrunnerLauren LeFranc
StarsColin Farrell and Cristin Milioti
Release DateSeptember 19, 2024
Streaming OnHBO Max

Consider a movie enthusiast who’s a fan of Doctor Strange films but hasn’t watched Wandavision. The trailer for Wandavision might suggest that Wanda has turned evil, but without watching the series, they wouldn’t grasp why she feels this way or even understand her reference to missing her children since it was never established that she had any in the Doctor Strange movies. Furthermore, the reason behind her children being taken away would remain a mystery. These aspects are all explored in Wandavision, while the backstory is minimal in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Similarly, the idea of the multiverse could be perplexing for those who haven’t watched Loki, as it delves into concepts and characters introduced in that series.

Disney isn’t limiting this strategy to Marvel alone; they are applying it across their major franchises too. The Star Wars series hasn’t yet followed the pattern of movie-to-TV-to-movie, as it hasn’t released a significant film since this method became common practice. However, it has shown a tendency for storylines that might leave viewers confused if they missed a previous show in the series.

If you haven’t seen “Star Wars Rebels”, it could be quite challenging for you to grasp the intricate aspects of “Ahsoka”. Not only do live-action characters from the former appear in the latter, but “Ahsoka” essentially continues the storyline from “Rebels”. A significant aspect of “Ahsoka” revolves around a friend of the main characters who they desperately hope is still alive. The series doesn’t provide much background about this person, why he might be deceased, or why viewers should feel invested in his fate.

Let The Batman Part 2 Stand On Its Own

Ever since the debut of “The Penguin“, there’s been a general understanding that regardless of how the series concludes, it would pave the way for “The Batman Part 2}”. However, a method exists to address Oz Cobb’s backstory without explicitly referencing the show’s events. Additionally, many believe Sofia Falcone could significantly influence the upcoming film. At this juncture, it appears more suitable for her character not to be part of the storyline.

If she appears, it would be beneficial to provide a brief introduction about who she is and why she’s present, without requiring knowledge of “The Penguin” or its entire narrative. Marvel seems to be struggling with excessive interconnections, so it’s crucial for James Gunn to remember that not all viewers have seen every series or film. It would be wise to link “The Penguin” with “The Batman Part 2”, but avoid making the next film’s plot reliant on the show itself.

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2024-11-05 03:04