Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Penguin season 1 finale.
WhileThe Penguinremains outside theDCUin the Elseworlds of Matt Reeves' independent Batman universe, it did a lot to set up connecting elements in that universe, just definitely not setting up Robin. Matt Reeves has managed to create a universe of DC stories that has survived the changeover, with James Gunn stepping in and setting up the DCU. Along with hisThe Batmanfilm which was widely praised and critically acclaimed, Reeves has also produced spin-off shows to build out his version of Gotham.
And while the first spin-off,The Penguin, did not feature any direct appearances from Robert Pattinson’s Batman, it did lead fans to speculate about other connections that the show wassetting up ahead ofThe Batman 2. Most notably, a theory that Victor Aguilar, a young man who Oz employs as his associate and trainee, could have evolved to become Batman’s sidekick, Robin. But the finale ofThe Penguinpretty clearly debunks this theoryin one intense two-minute scene.
Victor Aguilar’s Death Disproves The Batman Robin Theories Around Him In Brutal Fashion
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After being shown to be an extremely resourceful and intelligent young man, Victor’s time in the Reeves Batverse was cut short. Despite Oz and Victor struggling to fully trust each other throughout the series, the finale sees the pair sitting together, looking out over Gotham, andexpressing their mutual appreciation and affection for one another. Victor tells Oz that he sees him as family, and while Oz appreciates this sentiment and reciprocates it, it starts a violent chain reaction of events.
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Oz puts his arm around young Victor, but instead of a simple hug, Oz tightens his grip. He tells Victor how much he means to him, but also highlights that while family may motivate people, it can also make them weak. Then, he keeps squeezing until Victor is gone. This prettyclearly confirms that Victor is never going to be Robin, because he’s dead. And while it would have been interesting to see Victor switch sides and put his skills to the test as Batman’s sidekick, it wasn’t meant to be.
Why Victor Aguilar’s Death Was Always More Likely Than Him Being Robin
Victor Could Have Never Worked With Batman After Oz
The reality is, it would never have made sense to have Victor become Robin. The entire run ofThe Penguinseason 1 was dedicated to seeingOz grow to become a new kingpin of crime in Gotham, and Victor was his loyal, albeit forcefully detained, assistant.Victor had no choice but to serve Oz, and after a while, he actually came to trust him and feel a close connection. Victor may have been a great candidate for Robin, but it wouldn’t work.
If Victor had betrayed Oz, it would have made Oz an even bigger threat, and he would have taken out his revenge on Victor and everyone he loved. In addition, Batman is still at an early stage of his career, and likely feels a need to work alone.Batman has a lot of learning and growing to do before he’s ready to take on a sidekick, and he likely wouldn’t have enough confidence in someone who worked with a villain like Oz Cobb to help him put criminals away.
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IfThe Batmanuniverse is intent on bringing a Robin into the Reeves Batverse, it will take time and patience. Batman needs to get more familiar with his strengths and weaknesses, and make mistakes along the way. He will need to see someone who makes a considerable impression, and wants to step up and help him. The reality is, there aremore likely candidates to join the Batgang before a new Robincomes along, with the first potential ally being Selina Kyle. At the end ofThe Batman,Selina and Batman parted ways, but the two clearly had a connection.
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Based on the MCU theory, Agatha could feel bad for taking over her variant’s body. As such, this could lead the character down a path of redemption, w
While Catwoman may not be a true hero, she can be a useful ally to The Dark Knight of Gotham. Batman also needs to learn to work with others, seeing value in what they bring to the table, and while the next entry could set up a young Dick Grayson or some other version of the sidekick, it wouldn’t make sense to give Pattinson’s Batman a Robin so early in his career. The risk is too great, and seeing how dangerous the villains in Gotham are right now afterThe Penguin, it makes sense for Batman to refine his own abilities rather than train a protégé.
The Penguin
Cast
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
