Penguin might be back in power on the Gotham season 4 premiere, but he’s still making some rookie mistakes.
Even though Penguin is one of my favorite characters on Gotham, I couldn’t help but cringe at some of his actions in the season 4 premiere. Yes, the man succeeded in another comeback and is the reigning leader of all the gangs and criminals in the city. But, he seems to keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
When Penguin froze Nygma last season, it was because he wanted a constant reminder not to blindly trust someone like that again. In the process, however, he seemed to have also frozen his heart shut against anyone else. This is a big problem. It might not seem like it to Penguin, but letting people in can actually be a good thing.
The only way for Penguin to get allies that he can really trust and rely on is to have a close relationship with them. The best ally you can have is someone that will be there with you through the thick and thin. Whether or not you have power shouldn’t matter to them.
This has always been an issue for Penguin; even though he’s usually surrounded by people, they’re always in and out of his life. It’s been really hard for him to find someone who doesn’t just want a piece of his power or money. That’s why when he falls on hard times, Penguin is usually on his own.
Nygma was one of the few people who was there for Penguin even when he didn’t have anything. They were both there for each other and they both made each other stronger. Currently, the only kind of ally that Penguin has like that is Ivy. Except it’s already kind of blown up in his face even if he doesn’t know about it.
Since Penguin has decided it’s a weakness to let anyone close to him, he’s not letting Ivy become a true friend. He’s continually looking down on her and treating her like a lesser human being even though she has plenty to offer in their friendship. Not only does Ivy have some useful skills, but she was there to help him when no one else was.
Treating Ivy the way Penguin did in this episode not only made him look bad, but it’s bad for his future. If Ivy leaves, then all Penguin will have left are cronies that are there because of his money and power. Which means that they could easily turn on him if they have the opportunity to get that somewhere else.
This has happened to Penguin before, but the way he’s acting makes it clear that he hasn’t learned from his mistakes. Penguin was furious last season when Gabe admitted that none of the guys who worked for Penguin actually respected him and tried to turn him in. And yet, Penguin was sure that Gabe would have helped him no matter what.
If Penguin was actually closer to those in his inner circle, he would know who to trust and who not to trust. Perhaps if he got to know them, actually treated them for what they were worth, then he wouldn’t be all on his own. That’s not to say that he should trust everyone like that, but it seems like a no-brainer that he would have at least let Ivy become a true friend and ally by now.
If Ivy has truly given up on Penguin, I worry what will happen next. All he’ll have over people is his power and who knows how long that will last.