The Penguinsignificantly changed the comic book origins of a Batman villain, and it’s all the better for it. Four episodes in,The Penguinis proving to be one of the best superhero shows on TV. While it doesn’t feature the Caped Crusader, it has the same crime thriller intrigue that madeThe Batmanso captivating. The criminal underworld of Gotham is fascinating, and Oz is proving himself a worthwhileDCvillain. However, the most surprising aspect ofThe Penguinis the focus on Sofia Falcone and her transformation into the most frightening antagonist in Gotham.
The Penguinepisode 4focused on Sofia, exploring her tragic backstory and the reasoning behind her goals to take control of her family and Gotham. While Cristin Milioti delivers a captivating performance that makes Sofia even more intriguing, the excellent writing makes audiences root for her, despite her violent actions.Sofia does have a history in Batman comics, butThe Penguincleverly rewrites this history, making Sofia one of the most fascinating antagonists in any superhero show.
Sofia Falcone Is The Hangman In The Comics
The Penguin decided to give her a tragic origin story instead.
While Carmine Falcone has always been a prominent character in Batman comics, Sofia didn’t arrive until later. Sofia Falcone debuted inBatman: The Long Halloween, assisting her father in uncovering theidentity of the “Holiday Killer.“In a later series,Batman: Dark Victory, it is revealed that Sofia was the real identity of The Hangman, a killer who spent over a year eliminating various members of the GCPD. Unlike her live-action version inThe Penguin, Sofia already had her dad’s knack for murder and power.
Who Is The Hangman: Sofia Falcone’s Crimes In DC Comics Explained
The Penguin’s premiere introduces Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone to Gotham, the daughter of Carmine Falcone also known as The Hangman.
InThe Penguin, Sofia worked as a philanthropist and was Carmine’s desired heir. After a journalist approaches her regarding several murders linked to her father, Sofia confronts her dad about them and pays the price. Carmine frames her for the murders and has her sent to Arkham Asylum, where Sofia acquires the Hangman alias, despite being innocent. After leaving Arkham, Sofia is still seen as a serial murderer and is feared by many of her friends and family. It’s a tragic story, but it effectively shows her journey to become the figure audiences see in the present day of the show.
Changing Sofia’s Backstory Makes Her Story More Interesting
Sofia has more independence and control outside of her father.
Sofia’s story completely recontextualizes the character. In the initial stages ofThe Penguin, Sofia is perceived as a vengeful sadist who will kill anyone in her way. Oz and the audience are intimidated by her as the show paints her as a clear antagonist. However, her tragic backstory explains why she is so hellbent on taking back control and flips the script on whom the audience should be rooting for. Her actions at the end of episode 4 are justified by her story, even if she does go overboard.
It’s also significantly more interesting than if she was the Hangman like in the comics. Her father, family, andexperience at Arkham Asylumtwisted her into the person she is today, presenting a more interesting arc than her already being evil. In the comics, she’s just another lackey for her father to some degree, doing his malicious bidding. InThe Penguin,Sofia has more independence and autonomy over her destinythan simply following in her father’s footsteps, creating a terrifying and sympathetic character.
The Hangman Twist Adds More Context To Carmine Falcone
Carmine was the most evil man in Gotham.
Carmine Falcone was a pure antagonist inThe Batman, but episode 4 ofThe Penguinmade him truly despicable. First, Carmine is the true identity of The Hangman, murdering several women, including Sofia’s mother. When he is confronted about it,he shows complete cowardice and cruelty by framing his daughter for itand having her sent to Arkham Asylum, where she is tortured and abused for a decade.
This also adds context to his actions inThe Batman. During his fight with Selina Kyle, he tries to strangle her to death, rather than shoot or stab her. He also does the same thing to Selina’s roommate, who he killed earlier in the film. Carmine was not only a criminal boss but a serial killer whose tag was strangling women and framing their deaths as a suicide. Episode 4 ofThe Penguinis a masterclass in reshaping an audience’s perspective on a villain while adding context to a previous project.
