Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Penguin episode 3The Penguinepisode 3 features a collection of exciting Easter eggs fromThe Batmanalongside references to the original DC Comics (and even a coincidental connection to the MCU). Oswald “Oz” Cobb (Colin Farrell) continues to make deals left and right in his major bid to become Gotham’s next big crime lord, as seen inThe Penguinepisode 3. While he’s certainly ambitious, this also means that he’s putting himself in greater danger with each new episode, along with several new Easter eggs and references along the way.
InThe Penguinepisode 2, Oz has forged a new alliance with Sofia Falcone to work against the Falcone Crime Family by introducing a brand-new drug operation in Gotham City. As such,The Penguinepisode 3 sees Penguin and Sofia working to get their new drug, named Bliss, on the streets, believing that it will dwarf Gotham’s years-long drug epidemic with Drops.To that end, here are 10 of the biggest Easter eggs and references to be found inThe Penguinepisode 3.
10Vote for Bella Reál
Poster from Gotham’s Recent Election
The Penguinepisode 3 opens with flashbacks to the night of theRiddler’s Flood seen atThe Batman’sending, specifically from the perspective of Victor Aguilar (Oz’s new right-hand man). Visiting with his family in their apartment in Crown Point, the young man eventually leaves to meet with his friends on a nearby rooftop to watch the fireworks go off at Gotham Square Garden, celebrating election night with Mayor-Elect Bella Reál. However, the celebration was ruined by Riddler and his followers.
Keeping that in mind,various campaign posters can be seen in Crown Point, encouraging residents to vote for Bella Reál and her mission to improve Gothamand fight its longstanding corruption. As such, the posters do help clue viewers into the opening scene’s earlier setting rather than being in the present. It’s also the second time Reál has been featured inThe Penguin, seeing as how her public address in the immediate aftermath of the flood was shown in the series premiere.
9Squid
Originating From DC Comics
On the rooftop, Victor meets with his girlfriend Graciela, as well as some of their friends. However, they’re also joined by Squid, a small-time thug in Crown Point known for selling drops around the neighborhood. Clearly, Victor and Graciela don’t like him, and they move to another part of the roof. However, Squid may be a character from the original DC Comics.
Real name Lawrence Loman,DC Comics does have a Gotham crime boss known as The Squid. Having attempted to take over during the power vacuum left behind by other crime bosses like Rupert Thorne, The Squid got his name due to the giant squid he kept as a pet named Gertrude to whom he would feed those who displeased him. The Squid also has connections with Bruno Manheim and Intergang, though it seems as though he’s just a small-time drug dealer inThe Batman’suniverse.
8Riddler’s Flood Flashback
Crown Point Was Hit The Hardest
AlthoughRiddler’s entire mission was to change Gotham from the inside outand end its corruption, the sad irony was that his attack and flood impacted Gotham’s poorest and most struggling residents the most, while the rich and powerful were barely affected. This includes Victor’s home in Crown Point. While news reports from earlier episodes confirmed it was the neighborhood that was hit the hardest,seeing the flood in real-time thanks toThe Penguinepisode 3’s flashback opening is quite brutal, especially with Victor only able to watch as his entire family drowned.
7Stop Drops Billboard
Gotham’s Drug Epidemic
Later on inPenguinepisode 3, an anti-drug billboard is shown on the rooftops. Featuring a"Stop Drops"slogan, the poster also includes the drophead logo crossed out. This same poster was seen inThe Batman, and a similar drophead mask can be seen worn by a mugger in the movie’s opening scene duringBatman’s opening monologue with thebat signal.
First seen holding up a bodega,this particular drophead mugger runs outside before looking up into the sky inThe Batman, seeing the bat signal lit as a warning to those who would try and bring chaos and darkness to Gotham. He’s also seen looking into nearby shadows, fearing that The Dark Knight could be waiting to strike within any one of them. Regardless, it does seem like drops are about to become obsolete in Gotham Citynow that Oz and Sofia Falcone are ready to begin a new drug operation.
6Doctor Trey Bloom
A New Version of DC’s Mister Bloom?
Meeting with Sofia, Oz is finally shown where the new drug is being developed and manufactured. As such, Sofia introduces Oz to Doctor Trey Bloom, the man in charge of growing a rare strain of bleeding-tooth mushroom whose sap results in a unique high unlike anything else on the market. As such,it’s possible Trey Bloom could beThe Batmanuniverse’s version of Mister Bloom, a relatively new supercriminal in DC Comics' Gotham City.
The Penguin Show Cast & DC Character Guide
Set to release in 2024, The Penguin will continue to flesh out Matt Reeves' Gotham with Colin Farrell set to reprise his role as Oz Cobb.
First appearing in 2015 and created by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, Mister Bloom was once an anonymous test subject who took part in an artificial metahuman program where ordinary people could ingest high-tech “seeds” that could provide superpowers. The only successful subject, this anonymous volunteer destroys the program’s leading scientist andco-opts all the research using his new powers and taking on the new name Mister Bloom.As such,The Penguin’sversion looks to be far more grounded while working to cultivate Gotham’s latest drug epidemic.
5Triads in Gotham
A Major Criminal Power from DC Comics
Having connections,Oz convinces Sofia to work with the Gotham Triads to distribute the new drug Oz dubs “Bliss”. After all, they can’t use their normal channels with the Falcones, seeing how the expected new drug boom will give Sofia the power she needs to take over the family by force. At any rate, the Triads in Gotham are a major force to be reckoned with in the original DC Comics, having also had roles in other DC media, such as the CW’sArrowverse.
4"Came For The Low" - Partywithray and Zhu
Same Song Used During Zemo’s ViralFalcon and the Winter SoldierClub Scene
Eventually, Oz and Sofia blackmail the Falcone underboss Johnny Viti to give an endorsement call to the Triads. Penguin and Sofia then get the green light to test Bliss at one of the Triad’s clubs and pitch to their leading dailo, Feng Zhao, about an ongoing distribution deal.While the drug is being tested that night, the club music should sound familiar to fans of the MCU.
“Came for the Low” is the same song that plays whenHelmet Zemo is dancing at the Madripoor club in 2021’sFalcon and the Winter Soldier,a scene that went massively viral and became a major meme. Of course, the shared song is naturally nothing more than a humorous coincidence. That said, the fun MCU/DC connection is noteworthy all the same.
3Drugs in Arkham
The Origins of Bliss Revealed
While making their proposal to Feng Zhao,Sofia Falcone reveals that the origin of the drugs came from Arkham State Hospital. Having been teased earlier inThe Penguinepisode 3, Sofia confirms that Bliss was used by Arkham’s staff to keep herself and her fellow patients subdued and docile, with all their cares fading away. As a result, this explains why Sofia and Alberto knew about this drug before anyone else, seeing its potential to become a major street drug capable of rendering drops extinct.
2Neon Dragons
A Classic Gotham Gang From The Comics
At the end of her proposal to the Triads, Sofia mentions that she doesn’t care if Fend Zhou agrees to help her and Oz with distribution or not.This is because Sofia intends to go to other criminal outfits in Gotham should the Triads decline, like the “Neon Dragons”. In the original DC Comics, the Neon Dragons were a rising gang in Gotham before their leader Tony Li was strangled to death in the earliest days ofJason Todd’s Red Hood.
1Odessa Mob
Also From DC Comics
Sofia Falcone also references the Odessa Mob at the end ofThe Penguinepisode 3. Another gang operating in Gotham, the Odessa Mob of the original comics became a major power in the wake of theNo Man’s Landstoryline where an earthquake caused mass chaos in Gotham with various gangs and supervillains carving up sections of the city for themselves. A faction of the Russian bratva, the Odessa Mob was run by Vasily Kosov. As such, it will be interesting to see if the same is true for the Odessa Mob ofThe Batmanuniverse, assuming they make an actual appearance in future episodes ofThe Penguin.
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.
