The concept of a shared cinematic universe isn’t as new as it seems, but it’s a hot topic at the moment. The Marvel Cinematic Universe became the dominant force in entertainment, prompting a dozen other studios to attempt similar franchises. Those imitations are all defunct, and even Marvel is struggling. Still,The Penguindemonstrates the potential positive qualities of the shared universe concept. The show finds enjoyable ways to connect toThe Batmanwithout drowning in familiar material.
The Batmanwas a breath of fresh air for fans of comic book movies. Marvel and DC both get a ton of negative attention for tying their material together,often forcing viewers to watchstuff they aren’t interested in or leap into the things they want to see without context. When Matt Reeves announced his intention to make at least two sequels and a couple of spinoff TV shows, some fans were apprehensive. The term “shared universe” only heightened concerns. So far, the project is going exceptionally well.
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The Penguinis a spinoff seriesthat follows the titular mid-level gangster as he attempts to rise through Gotham’s criminal underworld. Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb is mostly a red herring in his debut feature. The character has only a few minutes of screentime inThe Batman, much of which centers on the stellar car chase scene.The Penguinisn’t exactly a sequel toThe Batman. It takes place between the original film and its sequel, which is scheduled for 2026. As a spinoff, it can bridge the gap between the two entries. This doesn’t necessarily create a shared universe, but the studio intends to create several similar spinoffs. The eventual finished product will hopefully provide a full view of MattReeves' take on Gotham City. The connections between the shows and the movies are extremely clear, but never obtrusive. The show’s take on the material is compelling, but it still stands on its own.
The PenguinhandlesThe Batman’s events well
The Penguinis a story that deals with the aftermath ofThe Batman. The Gotham that appears in that show was recently ruined after the Riddler’s bombs and the resulting flood. It’s a picture of a damaged city full of people struggling to survive. The show wisely spends most of its time in new areas of the city. Fans are introduced to Crown Point, Gotham’s most heavily populated low-income area. The floods hit Crown Point hard. Through Vic, Oz’s new young ward, fans see the devastation that occurred after the flood. This disaster creates a juxtaposition with the upper echelons of the city.The Penguintakes viewerson a tour of every socioeconomic level of Gotham’s unique societal ladder. That variety emerges most forcefully in the context of the flood, which evokes grim memories of natural disasters. This new perspective on the events ofThe Batmanis the perfect way to use the shared universe gimmick. Gotham is the shared universe. The city is the element that consistently changes through multiple entries.
Oz Cobb has also experienced a shift that rocked his world, but the flood barely affected him. Before the Riddler set off the bombs, he assassinated Carmine Falcone, removing Oz’s boss from the equation. Most of the show so far covers the power vacuum Falcone left in his wake. Oz is a social climber, butFalcone was a fairly effective blockadeagainst any potential rise. With him out of the picture, Oz can exploit the chaotic mess of other potential candidates for his old boss’s gig. It’s a show about the fallout from the previous movie through the eyes of one supporting character and a cast of new ones. It’s the perfect way to handle the shared universe gimmick. Instead of focusing on cameos and callbacks, the show brings the movie’s events to a new level by adding context.
The Penguinsets the path for future spinoffs
The Penguinis the first of a few potential future spinoffs ofThe Batman.Matt Reeves reportedly had intentionsof making a show about Gotham’s police department from the perspective of a corrupt cop, but that seems to have fallen through. In its place, he was supposedly working on an Arkham Asylum show. Both seem canceled at the moment. The two film sequels are still locked in and the apparent success ofThe Penguinmight change some heartsand minds on future spinoffs. Regardless,The Penguinsets a perfect example for future entries.
The trick toThe Penguinis that it delivers new perspectives on the relevant events fromThe Batman. It’s not a sequel, but it stays grounded in the same world. The works areliterally sharing a universe. The events of the film shape the world that the series takes place in and vice versa. This should be the simplest thing in the world, but too many shared universes rely on little more than fanservice crossover appeal to sell the connections.The Penguinis about Oz’s rise to the top, but it’s already near the peak of its shared universe concept.
