Selina Kyle’s Letter To Sophia Falcone, Defined

Warning: This text incorporates main spoilers for the season finale of “The Penguin.”

Name it the Sophie’s Sophia’s Selection hanging overhead everything of “The Penguin.” The HBO collection was given the tall activity of spinning off from Matt Reeves’ acclaimed blockbuster “The Batman,” persevering with the story of Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb within the speedy aftermath of the Riddler’s devastating flood that modified the face of Gotham Metropolis in a single day. Not solely did showrunner Lauren LeFranc must retroactively add all types of layers to a mobster who felt extra like a set of gimmicks — extraordinarily entertaining gimmicks, do not get me mistaken, however gimmicks nonetheless — than an precise character the primary time round. However she and her writing staff additionally needed to broaden the story’s world-building, including much more antagonists for the Penguin to bounce off of at each flip. Enter Sophia Falcone (Cristin Milioti), the heiress of the Falcone crime household and the runaway, scene-stealing spotlight of all the collection.

With a villain so instantly well-liked and making such an immediate impression, the query then turned whether or not she may crossover into the flicks with “The Batman: Half II” or get killed off, conveniently permitting the sequel to disregard her presence totally.

“The Penguin” selected a 3rd choice, as an alternative: Put Sophia behind bars as soon as once more, however not earlier than drawing a shock connection to a different vital character from “The Batman.” Given her backstory because the daughter of crime boss Carmine Falcone (Mark Robust, stepping in for authentic actor John Turturro), viewers had already famous the parallels between this forgotten Falcone baby and one other – Zoë Kravitz’s Selina Kyle. The collection beforehand explored that connection by way of a string of mysterious strangulations perpetrated by Carmine. This time, Catwoman is lastly name-dropped in Sophia’s ultimate scene. Due to a letter despatched by Selina to her half-sister in jail, “The Penguin” has drawn even tighter connections to the upcoming film sequel.

Household is every part to the Falcones, although some kinfolk have extra in widespread than others. All through Sofia’s rise to energy, “The Penguin” rigorously laid out simply how a lot she was left adrift on an island unto herself. The folks she as soon as considered closest to her as an alternative stabbed her within the again all these years in the past, acceding to Carmine’s corrupt plan to cowl up his personal murders and falsely testifying that Sophia was mentally in poor health. Framed for all these homicides and perpetually after branded as “The Hangman,” Sophia was imprisoned in Arkham Asylum previous to the occasions of the collection. Paradoxically, she finally ends up proper again in an orange jumpsuit as soon as Oz turns the tables on her over again. It is a becoming finish for such a chaotic villain, whose solely reliable brother Alberto (Michael Zegen) was shot point-blank by Oz method again within the premiere … however one final household reunion (of types) ends her arc on an intriguing notice.

So what is the cope with that letter despatched to Sophia Falcone by her half-sister Selina Kyle? We’re deliberately stored at arm’s attain from the precise contents of the message, leaving us privy solely to her outward reactions. No matter Selina truly mentioned, contemplate the truth that that is the one factor able to waking up the imprisoned Sophia from her dazed stupor and even attracts a wry smile out of her. Is there a doable Selina/Sophia team-up sooner or later, each of them bonding over their shared heritage from a monster of a person? Their stark class variations may pose one thing of a problem, however absolutely the 2 would discover widespread floor over the wrongs they’ve suffered by the hands of the identical brute — and as a direct results of their identification as girls.

Whether or not this thrilling collaboration occurs in “The Batman: Half II” (which has been delayed to October of 2026) or is left off-screen totally, you’ll be able to watch all 8 episodes of “The Penguin” streaming on Max.