This sets up an interesting dynamic between Gordon and Bock, whereby the former protects Batman from the police who are more than eager to put an end to his crusade, but finds himself at odds with the chief of police as a result. It felt like so much more could have been made out of Gordon having to constantly clash with his superior to keep Pattinson’s vigilante safe from arrest and in that sense, Bock felt somewhat underused. Of course, Reeves was limited with what he could do in a movie, which is why “The Penguin” feels like a worthwhile venture. The show can explore elements of Gotham in much more granular detail, such as when episode 3 showed the real human cost of Riddler’s plan from “The Batman.”
Put simply, despite “The Batman” being three hours long, Reeves was never going to be able to explore all the character dynamics, which is why it’s nice to see “The Penguin” making use of Bock. We might not see that much of the Police Chief, but it’s good to know that he’s still very much a part of this world. Bock is definitely one of the characters we’d like to see more of in “The Batman Part II,” especially if it means seeing the tension between him and Jim Gordon reach a fever pitch.
New episodes of “The Penguin” premiere on HBO and Max on Sundays.
