‘The Penguin’ Shoots Down Arkham Theory With Episode 3

The Penguin aired its third episode last night, and continues to distance itself from true “Batman” content as it operates almost purely as a mob drama. Though of course, a very good mob drama that is worth tuning into every week.

There was a theory going around that would connect The Penguin to more traditional Batman-based things, namely the revelation of the mystery drug that Sofia Falcone is going to use to make her power play, alongside Oz.

The idea that was this would be some sort of variant of Fear Toxin, perhaps something distilled to create the opposite effect, which would at least tangentially bring in a known Arkham inmate to the mix, one based in chemistry and powerful drugs, Scarecrow. Maybe even with an actor who played him in a flashback. Another theory was that it could be some variant of Bane Venom. Same kind of connection.

But…that’s not what happened. While the drug, grown on mushrooms, is indeed related to Arkham, it is not related to fear toxin at all. Rather, the drug, now called “Bliss,” is a party drug that creates a euphoric high, which Sofia relays they used at Arkham to placate patients to make them less violent and more pliant.

At least right now this seems kind of strange? I guess I expected a bit more given that this new super drug was hype up to a significant degree before all this, and at least on the surface, it sounds pretty basic. A party drug that gets you high. But a really good high, so they can charge a lot. I get that it does have an Arkham connection at least, but still. Bliss does share a name with a drug that has been periodically used in the comics or other DC shows like Titans, but it does not appear to be the same drug at all in terms of its effects. We think.

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There could be more going on here. Maybe the drug has some terrible side effect or it’s even more addictive than drops. Or maybe making the citizens of Gotham more “pliant” is a more supervillain-ish plan Sofia has. Though this isn’t really that kind of show.

I was just a bit surprised about the reveal of the drug here. Not that I subscribed to the Fear Toxin idea, but I don’t know, I was expecting something a little more involved than Arkham meds. Again, there is probably more to come, so I’m not going to be too quick to judge anything yet.

I do find it pretty fascinating just how far The Penguin is distanced from The Batman. The entirety of the connection is usually just a reference to the flood, someone calling Oz “Penguin” as an insult once per episode or a reference to Sofia’s time in Arkham. But somehow, it’s still totally working if you’re a Batman fan or otherwise. As ever, I can’t wait to see more.

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