The Penguin’s Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A Failure

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The Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A Failure

Key Takeaways

  • The Riddler’s flawed and contradictory schemes in “The Batman” disappointed fans in contrast to the compelling portrayal of the Penguin in “The Penguin” series.
  • Colin Farell’s Penguin demonstrated cunning and brutality, outshining the Riddler in terms of intelligence and execution of plans.
  • “The Penguin” elevates the bar for Batman villains and potentially sets the stage for the Penguin to be the primary antagonist in “The Batman 2.”

As a longtime fan of Batman and his rogues gallery, I must say that after watching both The Riddler and The Penguin, my appreciation for the latter has skyrocketed. Having spent years working in law enforcement, I can attest to the fact that real-life criminals are often far more cunning, ruthless, and calculating than their comic book counterparts – and that’s exactly what Colin Farrell brings to the table as The Penguin.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but express my thoughts on “The Penguin,” hailed as one of the standout TV shows in 2024. Matt Reeves’ “Batmanverse” – a name coined by fans – has brought us Colin Farrell’s Oswald “Oz” Cobb (Penguin) and Paul Dano’s Edward Nashton (Riddler). The gritty, serial killer portrayal of the Riddler and the mobster Penguin, a stark departure from comic book versions, didn’t faze fans much given the positive reception to the movie. However, there was a general agreement among us that the Riddler could have been more captivating. Some found him underwhelming and lackluster, but the real disappointment stems from the inconsistency in his character development.

In HBO’s The Penguin series, Oz’s power grab showcases a full display of authentic gangster behavior, building upon the initial hints from the 2022 film, The Batman. Viewers find themselves comparing Oz’s calculated and merciless actions, portrayed with chilling villainy that even surpasses his comic book counterpart, to Paul Dano’s Riddler, whose strategies appear underdeveloped and somewhat inconsistent within the dark setting he inhabits. It seems as though the potential of the Riddler went untapped, whereas The Penguin’s moment has arrived, and it appears fitting for him to claim the limelight in The Batman 2.

The Riddler Had A Severely Flawed Plan

The Execution of His Plans Contradicts His Implied Intelligence

The Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A FailureThe Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A FailureThe Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A FailureThe Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A FailureThe Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A Failure

Paul Dano’s portrayal of The Riddler in this chilly setting, clad in a green military parka jacket rather than his usual flashy attire, significantly deviates from the comics’ image of him, and it’s intentional. Matt Reeves’ Gotham, with its increased darkness and peril, seems to be an unfavorable environment for the flamboyant and self-centered Riddler that fans have come to know.

FilmThe Batman
DirectorMatt Reeves
WritersMatt Reeves, Peter Craig
CastRobert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Colin Farell, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Andy Serkis, Barry Kheogan
Box Office$772.2 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score85%

In the story of Batman, The Riddler’s intentions parallel those of Batman – seeking vengeance against Gotham’s corrupt elite and politicians. However, unlike Batman who operates within the realms of vigilantism, The Riddler resorts to capital punishment. Initially presented as one with the intellect befitting members of Batman’s notorious rogues gallery, The Riddler’s final plan appears absurd. In an attempt to purge Gotham’s deeply corrupted underbelly, he decides to emulate biblical floods by breaching the city’s sea defense. The flaw in this plan lies in the fact that it inundates infrastructure housing or serving the very people he aims to protect. To make matters worse, it is exposed in the story of Penguin that affluent areas were left untouched, leading one to wonder whom the Riddler believed would govern the city post-flood. This revelation, coupled with an earlier plan to assassinate mayor-elect Bella Reál – a woman unconnected to corruption – suggests that The Riddler’s perceived justice warps into illogicality, devoid of any coherent ideology.

At first glance, I was seen as someone with the brains to match Batman’s infamous rogues gallery, but the final part of the Riddler’s master scheme appeared so absurd, it made me chuckle.

A criticism frequently raised by viewers is the attempt on Bruce Wayne’s life, which is portrayed as being carried out by The Riddler. This character is depicted as having the skills to infiltrate the homes of Gotham’s powerful figures and law enforcement officials, capturing them, and setting up traps similar to those used by the character from Saw. It seems immature for him to believe that a letter bomb, which could have easily misfired, was the most effective method to eliminate the wealthiest man in town. It’s surprising enough that Batman misses solving riddles he should have been able to decipher. It’s even more surprising for the creator of such challenging riddles, powerful enough to outsmart two detectives, to lack foresight. Matt Reeves’ past work makes it difficult to attribute the inconsistencies in The Batman to poor writing, but on the surface, The Riddler’s plans appear to be poorly thought out.

The Penguin’s Brain and Brawn Is What Batman Villains Are Made Of

It’s Not So Much What He Does but How

The Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A FailureThe Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A FailureThe Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A FailureThe Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A FailureThe Penguin's Success Is Another Reminder That The Riddler Was A Failure

As a gamer, I’ve been following the twists and turns of Gotham’s criminal underworld for years, and let me tell you, the shift in power dynamics with the arrival of The Penguin has left me awestruck. Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb, who was previously relegated to the sidelines during the Riddler’s chaos, finally gets his moment to shine in the HBO series.

The list goes on and on with the things that Carmine Falcone does – betraying Sofia Falcone, the Maronis, and almost every other gang in Gotham, reminiscent of “Godfather”-like actions. He also uses people and political influence for his own gain and to exact revenge, such as making Councilman Hady put Sofia in Arkham Asylum. Manipulation is another tool he employs, like when he exploits Victor Aguilar’s past to keep him involved in the drug trade against his will. However, what probably pushed fans over the edge was Oz’s ruthless move of killing Victor in the last episode, tying up loose ends.

In a more straightforward and conversational manner, the text could be rephrased as:

It might be a stretch to claim that Colin Farrell’s portrayal of the character outshines Heath Ledger’s Joker and Tom Hardy’s Bane from The Dark Knight trilogy, but it certainly sets a high standard for future villains in the new Batman universe. Moreover, it provides a formidable challenge for Robert Pattinson’s Batman, who previously encountered less menacing antagonists such as the Riddler.

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2024-12-04 03:07