The Penguin is a Gullible Fool | Birds of a Feather | Batman The Animated Series

[@anthonyoliver418]

One thing about the penguin that I think was unintentional but ended up making the Btas version better, was the fact that he never really fit in anywhere, despite trying to do so with both fancy society and other villains, he was always a misfit trying to be in groups he wasn’t good at fitting in with, which this all seem to come from the writers not knowing what to do with him.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

On the plus side, most of the villains seem to like penguin or not mind his company. The only exception would be killer croc, and that's only because penguin was willing to cheat him out of money. Judge: is there no honor among thieves?!

[@WhiteFangofWar]

Indeed, Penguin doesn't fit in anywhere. Rejected from his wealthy family (and any other wealthy family) because of his physical deformities. Unable to fit in with the Rogues because he always insists on his own superiority over them. Mercy said it very well in No Man's Land- he wants to be Lex Luthor *so* badly but he lacks the qualities to make it that high.

[@magallanesagustin4952]

​@@WhiteFangofWarhe doesn't really lack them. Penguin's problem is that he's too insecure, but he does have the brains and the resources to be like Lex Luthor. Batman himself admitted that Penguin is smarter than himself.

[@WhiteFangofWar]

@@magallanesagustin4952 Different levels of intelligence. Penguin is no scientist- he's never invented anything except his umbrella gadgets. Also not wealthy enough to found his own mega-corporation like Lex. Becoming the mayor was the highest power he ever reached.

[@anthonyoliver418]

@@LowellLucasJr. yeah, he is usually the only one to try to bring peace with his fellow rogues, which fits with the penguin theme of being a misfit who tries to fit in with those normally above him, especially made true in this episode where no one, not even his thugs come to see him after he get out, which is different than others like Scarface who at least earn respect upon release.

[@FirstLast-cg2nk]

I can't help but feel that the way Penguin acts in high society mirrors how his family acted. We don't know that he's abandoned like the Batman Returns version, so he may have been raised by parents who were "elites" but also rude, crass, and cruel. We act the way we see others act when we were younger, so Penguin's behavior says a lot about the household he was raised in. In a way, that mirrors the Penguin in The Batman: There, the Cobblepots were reportedly terrible people, even before turning to crime.

[@shewolfsiren]

Penguin from The Batman: “Well, Brucie, looks like I managed to steal something from you after all--the spotlight! Hah-hah-hah-hah!”

[@Wild-Card34]

I think The Penguin, Killer Croc and Baby-Doll are classic examples of how society treats the people that are considered different. It’s actions that make a monster not appearance and a lot of these villains could of been good people if it wasn’t for bad circumstances.

[@milosbatmanvideos]

And they all have reform episodes, Birds of a feather for penguin, sideshow for croc, and love is a croc (atleast at the start) for baby doll

[@Wild-Card34]

@@milosbatmanvideos I know but it’s such a shame they all went back to villainy at the end of said episodes but the important thing is they tried to be good

[@rainbowtoyfunrandomess1982]

​@@milosbatmanvideosHow is Birds of a Feather a re-formed episode for Penguin?

[@ngrjordi2352]

Expect that Croc is always a jerk and he only using his appearance as an excuse. Example, that episode when he meet those circus performers and manipulating them only to rob them in the end.

[@Wild-Card34]

@@ngrjordi2352 well that’s true in the DCAU but in other universes such as Prime Earth Croc is portrayed as a misunderstood freak who was shaped into a monster by the way he was treated by those around him and in recent years he’s become somewhat neutral and occasionally a member of the suicide squad

[@milkiassamuel780]

Birds of a Feather has to be my favourite Penguin episode as its actually sad seeing how much the Penguin genuinely attempt to reform and change his way while he falls for Veronica, despite how shes just using him and even later she starts to see how truly kind he can be. Penguin in BTAS may have not had the strongest episodes but he had moments where you really got a sense of how he never fit anyway and even when he puts on the act of being an elegantly spoken mastermind to try and fit into society as a regal elite but after experiencing how cruel high society is he shows his true self to the people who ridiculed him Penguin was never insane like Joker, Harley, Two Face or Ivy but he was still a human being just angry at how the world shoved him away. I do wish that in this episode Batman could've seen a new side to Penguin and I wish he could've reprimanded Veronica and Pierce for what they did to Penguin and how this is their fault and they are accountable for pushing the Penguin to a breaking point. Wish more projects explored Penguin in interesting ways, such as how the show Gotham gave us one of the best/underrated adaptations of Penguin performed excellently by Robin Lord Taylor

[@ggbetz]

I agree with you here, and I like that penguin is not insane and doesn't go to arkham. He IS smart, but that also makes him hard to write for.

[@youdbettertube]

Never realized until now that the Penguin's voice actor is the same guy who sang "Touch" by Daft Punk.

[@foxxojones4757]

He is?!

[@connorscanlan2167]

I'M SORRY?!?! WHAT?!?!

[@AlRoderick]

Touch is one of my favorite performances of his, but Paul Williams has such a long and great career in music. I will always think of him as the Muppet show guy, because not only did he host it once but he wrote a lot of music in those classic shows and films.

[@fedefyr]

I had to look it up, and now when hearing the song, its kinda obvious :D

[@WobblesandBean]

Paul Williams is brilliant, he's had a very long career. He co-wrote "The Rainbow Connection" so between that and this role, he will always have my heart.

[@Vensaxta]

The thing that makes me love this rendition of Oswald is that it shows off a facet of him lot of people seem to entirely overlook- the persona he puts on as a criminal is who he *really* thinks he is. You could just as easily say that about several other characters in the series who really play into their roles as both villains in the story as well as criminals in Gotham, but Penguin truly believes he is just as much a cunning criminal mastermind as much as he is a dashing elite of Gotham's upper echelon. There is no mask to be had in his villainous side, that is honestly just who he sees himself as. No split lifestyle like Bruce, who balances two separate ways of living to maintain some semblance of personal order. The Penguin and Oswald Cobblepot are two sides of the same coin in more ways than just an alter ego and flashy outfit.

[@Lionstar16]

I just love that moment when the prison guard calls down to the Penguin after there's no limo from the 'cream of society' to pick him up "What's the matter, Penguin? Maybe the cream of society's curdled?"

[@greencomet2011]

I always liked the Penguin more as a mob boss rather than a costumed villain like the Joker, Two-Face and Freeze. Him being relatively normal doesn't give him much of a spotlight, but it works for the more detective centered stories, much like Carmine Falcone, Haloween Calendar Man and comic version Onomatopeia.

[@Primordial_Synapse]

When you're already a social outcast, your first instinct is to say or do anything to get people to hate you even more. Penguin may have been a tragic figure but the one thing he wasn't was stupid. Maybe he genuinely fell for Vreeland, especially when you consider that he probably never received that kind of attention from a woman before in his life, but I can't help but think that during those scenes where he's blatantly misbehaving himself at formal occasions, he knows deep down that he doesn't truly fit in, so he's milking his stint of good luck for all it's worth, playing everyone there for suckers or, to use DeVito's phrase from _Batman Returns,_ harps from hell.

[@sonicguyver7445]

This is always *the* episode I think of for The Penguin. Really spotlighted his ego, which I'm sure is a big motivator for him. I think now he believes what he says about being a higher class of criminal. Like crime itself is elevated because of his participation. And his beating up those thugs showed why he is a boss. He could beat his cronies into submission if needed. And the juxtaposition of being a deformed weirdo who thinks himself suave and genteel made him more interesting.

[@jacktoma21]

I think the returns esk design works better for both btas and the Penguin as a whole. By making his appearence more absurd and grotesque it does help to highlight many of the elements of what makes him interesting as a character to me. He puts on airs of sophistication and class to compensate for his appearance. It’s even been pointed out that Paul Williams sounds like he’s putting on a trans Atlantic accent, which is known as being a made up accent for early Hollywood. Which emphasized how much of the Penguins persona is a coping mechanism and then lashed out at the world when he is still shunned and mocked. It was a great point, that I never noticed before, about the Penguins lack of self awareness/hypocracy. Also, I know he wasn’t always used to best, but this is one of my favorite Penguins as they nailed his characterization and Paul Williams’s vocal performance is perfect. I also miss getting to see classic Penguin as ever new version seems to want to reinvent the wheel like Arkham TellTale and the Batman

[@SerumLake]

Can you believe that BTAS Story Editor Martin Pasko really didn’t like Paul Williams’ performance as The Penguin? I couldn’t believe it when I heard him say that. I almost fell off my chair!

[@jacktoma21]

@@SerumLake that’s just shameful, what was he expecting for a Penguin voice

[@WhiteFangofWar]

@@jacktoma21 He probably wanted him to sound more like Burgess Meredith or Danny DeVito.

[@jacktoma21]

@@WhiteFangofWar my head cannon for Penguins comic voice is usually a blend of Williams and Meredith. The cadence of Williams with the more squawking sounding voice and laugh of Meredith

[@sonicguyver7445]

Now I'm wondering if he goes with bird themed crimes to simply try and fit in with Gotham's criminal elites? He went with a gimmick to better define himself and stand out more in a city of costumed lunatics. That lines up with an interesting book I read, "Soon I Will be Invincible." Half the story is told from the perspective of the super villian character. He thinks about what motivated him in his last plan to use a Battle Blimp. He says it's ego. To cast that shadow over so many people and to know they feel helpless at whatever your plan is

[@AllAboutVillains]

I always took the insults penguin throwing around at the party as him acting how he remembers high society acting while saying the quiet part out loud. It mirrors what he went through. Showing that while he was brought up rich he never really was in high society, even growing up. He was never taught proper manners or etiquette, he heard nothing but insults from the rich peers.. so he reflected that experience. The Ego coming in as his absolute obliviousness to how his actions are being perceived

[@DariusExplains]

This is one of the few episodes I saw as a 20 something when rewatching. After my mother died, I was actually befriended by a wealthy woman who was leading me on. It was bad enough that she didn't really like me, but she made me think she actually cared about me. ps the funniest line, "have a cappuccino."

[@milosbatmanvideos]

Poor penguin he can't ever catch a break

[@mechajay3358]

The line from Penguin near the end stating "High Society is to blame" is definitely pretty memorable.

[@nancyhodges444]

Just goes to show how high society views the average people, even though the penguin is a rouge. They are the true rouges. to change.

[@burntgrahamcracker2866]

Small thing but it’s rogue, not rouge that’s the colour

[@samuelrodriguez9801]

You mean rogue?

[@nancyhodges444]

@@samuelrodriguez9801 yes,

[@michaelandreipalon359]

I'll excuse the typo. For some reason, the interwebs just prefers to "autocorrect" with rouge.

[@tayojones9460]

As much as BTAS condems high society, it did show that some socialites can change albeit slowly. Veronica is a good example At first, she used Penguin for her own selfish reasons, but over time, she gradually grew fond of Oswald and felt guilty about her part in the cruel scheme, but by that point it was too late. After that episode I believe Veronica would go through her own "villain reform" arc. In Worry Men, she actually tried to help Batmwn when he was fighting the Worry Men, and in Harley's Holiday, she formed a friendship with Quinn and dropped the charges against her. She started as a shallow girl but gradually grew into a more considerate person.

[@aleaanderson6600]

Yeah. I guess this episode was Veronica's much needed wake-up call.

[@josecuestas7246]

4:35 Veronica Vreeland is certainly a woman with bad luck, as she is notably prone to get problems with the Batman's villain gallery. Like the Penguin, when she was basically playing a cruel prank to Oswald, leading to breaks his heart and that the Penguin planned to kill her. Also, when Veronica brought some items called "little men", that were actually some mind control devices of the Mad Hatter. Adding that in some situation, she was kidnapped by Harley Quinn, leading to many chaotic situations, like when the father of Veronica was pursuing them, in a military tank. Without count that Veronica almost get in problems with Selina Kyle, for be promoting some achievements of her grandfather, who was a hunter, something from the dislike of Selina, for her love toward the felines.

[@Chadius]

Also turns out her fiance was a plant clone created by Poison Ivy who wound up attacking her to get her money. Also her child Bunny Vreeland is kidnapped and Bruce Wayne's last time as Batman was to rescue her before his heart gave out.

[@josecuestas7246]

@@Chadius Well, regarding the last point, maybe Veronica's daughter inherited the bad luck of the Vreeland, leading to her kidnapping, and that this battle caused the retirement of Bruce Wayne, when the old Bat resorted to uses a gun to scare a thug, making him accept that he couldn't be Batman anymore.

[@shewolfsiren]

@@josecuestas7246Correction, Bunny is her granddaughter--at least, that’s what I remember from the news broadcast during the pilot episode of Batman Beyond

[@nathanweast4397]

I always appreciated how he resembled Sir Topham Hat.

[@TheVeritas1]

You're right. Penguin does look a lot like Sir Topham Hatt from Thomas the Tank Engine.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

You're absolutely right, this is the best penguin episode! We actually fell for the little guy! He's a perfect mix of villain and high societal ability that sure he could be hanging out with his fellow rougues but then he could also be serving youat a dinner theater! What I love what they did is mixing up characters from Bruce's world of high societal aristocrats with the downtrodden villains and somehow made it work in this unique episode! I don't blame Oswald for falling for veronica, he was literally eating Birdseed out of her hands!❤

[@ScrambledAndBenedict]

The way he acted at that party. It makes you wonder if that's how people always acted to him, back when his family was still rich, and he just thought that's how high society was supposed to act to each other at a public setting. Because, it's interesting that when Bruce talks to him at that party in private, he's actually pretty pleasant even though Bruce outright accused him of theft: it's like he was proud of how he was acting and he didn't actually have even an ounce of malice for any of the people he mocked.

[@seeleunit2000]

That's something to think about

[@tytheaniman497]

Honestly felt bad for the Penguin when he was being played by that woman. He was actually going to turn around.

[@Sumschmuck]

My biggest problem is that Batman essentially debunks his own mission by telling penguin that he would just go back to being a criminal again. Batman's whole schtick is that on top of his crusade to fight crime, he at least attempts to rehabilitate his villains as part of his, albiet misguided, no killing rule, yet by telling penguin that despite his personal belief that he's changed, he will still be a criminal. He is admitting that penguin is a lost cause and the cycle of imprisonment, release, terrorizing, and imprisonment is simply an exercise in futility that only hurts the people of gotham by keeping criminals who's acts of terror would make Jafar and his exploding backpack look like a sparkler on the street and taxing money and resources into the perpetual reconstruction of the city and maintenance of the prisons and asylums which fail to house these villains.

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Reminds me of the Ventriloquist in The Batman 2004, I guess, though that had Hugo Strange involved.

[@Sumschmuck]

@@michaelandreipalon359 do elaborate

[@michaelandreipalon359]

@@Sumschmuck Far as I know, Bruce Wayne doesn't trust Arnold Wesker's redemption away from his puppet Scarface, and to make matters worse, Hugo Strange wanted to prove some sort of "One Bad Day" thing by making Wesker be a villain again. Quite a far cry from The New Batman Adventures' "Double Talk", this.

[@Gigas0101]

Even though The Penguin didn't get a lot of love from the staff, I do love how he looked in this show. BTAS did a good job making his abnormal proportions and grotesque features look good in animation.

[@1heKing]

Beautiful work as always. I just met Paul Willams last Saturday and specifically praised him for this episode in particular.

[@SerumLake]

Wonderful! I’m glad to hear that

[@1heKing]

@@SerumLake indeed. he even was aware of penguin's origin in the writers bible which threw me for a loop

[@JGdouble2]

7:03 It is interesting that during the party, he made fun of the guest like no one would stop to critizise him. As if high society made fun of him and no one defended him during his youth.

[@michaeldolan5792]

It's quite likely that the ruffians who try to mug Penguin & Veronica as they leave the restaurant know perfectly well who he is, they simply don't care. He's the only costumed supervillain to be taken down by middle schoolers, and his success rate never improves after that. Everything earlier in the episode, from played-for-laughs bus ride to the surprise absence of a surprise party, would seem to reinforce the idea that *nobody* in Gotham takes the Penguin seriously. (Except for Gordon and Batman, of course.)

[@ricardocantoral7672]

They don't know him. Regarding that episode when he was taken by kids, it was a BS kid friendly episode that was a Network demand. As far as I am concerned, it doesn't exist.

[@WhiteFangofWar]

Funny how Veronica befriended Harley Quinn in her attempted reform episode too. Much like us, she has a soft spot for them. Best Penguin episode. He does manage to stand apart from the Rogues in a few ways, such as coming from a wealthy family and going to Blackgate Prison instead of Arkham Asylum due to not being diagnosed as insane. However, that's not enough for Cobblepot. He wants to be seen as the highest 'class' of criminal, always using needless fancy talk to make himself sound well-educated, all in a desperate attempt to get the respect that he craves.

Veronica is a rather interesting character in the series, she has a lot of moments of clarity throughout.

[@docyoshi]

The tragic part of this episode is had the parties involved acted just a little differently Penguin might have reformed for good. Had Oswald genuinely tried to change instead of just going around saying he reformed and acting like he always did. He might have been welcomed into high society. He can truly be charming under all his bluster. Had Pierce and Veronica been sincere in their offer of friendship they might have been able to help Oswald put his criminal life behind him. Veronica was even growing to care for Oswald but the damage was done. And of course, Batman was watching Penguin just waiting for him to slip up. When he could very well have helped him, be it as Batman or Bruce Wayne. Oswald would have likely rejected it in the end Oswald returns to being The Penguin because its just how everybody sees him.

[@Quartz_111]

I think it's unique in the concept of making him a narcissist over the same old underdog turned bad story

[@nahte123456]

I feel like the Penguin is a classic tragic villain. His villainy is very much a product of his flaws. He IS smart, and while he is deformed this is DC, just like how Killer Croc found the group of former circus people he could have found people that'd accept him. Heck with his intellect if he turned to more altruistic avenues Bruce Wayne could have been one of his biggest friends and helpers. But no, he'd rather try to force things to how he wants them. Rather act 'high class' and think he's superior.

[@erinmccutcheon3751]

"I guess it's true what they say. Society is to blame. High Society."

[@vanitas456]

Definitely see why in his logic why he went back to crime he thought it was better to be feared than genuinely respected at least when people were afraid of him he would get what he wanted and no one dared mock him because he can send goons to do the dirty work

[@KringlethePringle-z7m]

Just gonna say this,i think personally he would have actually stayed reformed if Veronica had actually been kind to him,if he hadn't have heard her gossiping behind his back everything would have went fine and she probally would have faked liking him if she knew where it could get her,either that or her and pierce would have laughed at him,but still i think he would have reformed if she had loved him back,he was in love with her after all and in the jokers asylum comic until the lady he rescued found out his true nature she actually loved him back,if he would give up the whole evil thing,i think theres actually hope for the penguin someone just has to break the ice to get him there,Also just a side note this is my favorite penguin design period out of all the shows,i like the penguins design in BTAS more than the other ones,i hope my comment isnt too long or hard to read i got my cat sitting on one of my hands right now so its kinda hard to type,thx to anyone who read all of this and heres a cookie:🍪

[@harryfleutv666]

I don’t really like the episode personally because it felt like the writers tried too hard to make us feel bad for The Penguin…I never really saw Oswald Cobblepot as sympathetic or tragic to begin with, also there’s that moment at the end of the episode where Veronica says “I really was growing fond of you”, I think the story should have been padded out a little more and had scenes where we SAW Veronica begin to like Penguin and feel regret for what she and Piers were doing, but instead they broke the ‘show, don’t tell’ rule and just had Veronica tell this to Penguin in one final interaction between the two, and the events are never acknowledged again the next time we saw Veronica. To me, Veronica Vreeland had a lot of potential to grow from her unpleasant personality in ‘Birds of a Feather’ (after all, there must be a reason why Bruce sees her as a friend) but we never saw enough of her to get that character growth, it’s actually something I wanna do for my own Batman series, but that’s just my silly personal opinion

[@KringlethePringle-z7m]

@@harryfleutv666 hey i like you're opinon even if i don't agree with it since birds of a feather is my favorite episode,but i will admit this i personally don't believe she was genuinely sorry because i genuinely think that she is a sociopath and sociopaths usually don't feel sorry for there victims unless there getting something out of it and well i hate to be THAT person but i tend to feel sympathic for the scarecrow,penguin,killer croc,mr freeze so on and so forth,doesn't mean i agree with there actions but i am sympathic towards themand there plight,and in a way high society tends to view people who are different or 'inferior' in any way in there eyes with hatred and distain or at the very least distaste,so in a way his line in the episode 'society is to blame' has a bit of a fair point,high society is a bitch,and yeah i do agree the pacing for the episode should have been longer and felt a bit off at times,and well to be honest Bruce,aka Batman tries to be friends with everyone,including his rogues gallery theres no reason why he wouldn't be friends with veronica lol,but as i said i love you're take,and personally i plan to make my own batman series myself (abeit a comic instead of a show) and of course its gonna be more like a next generation thing where its batmans daughter and her legacy fighting the villians and there kids and her own life through middle school (the high school setting is so overused in my opinon lol so im going with middle school instead) and thx for the reply

[@harryfleutv666]

@@KringlethePringle-z7m that’s fair enough, I just think Veronica had a lot of potential to grow…tbh personallyI think she got better in the show because in later episodes she seems a little bit nicer and is even nice to Harley Quinn in ‘Harley’s Holiday’, the problem is the writers didn’t really give her all that much to do. Personally I could see her appearing in the Matt Reeves Batman films starting off as the rich bitch that she is in this episode but slowly getting better when she realises Bruce’s struggles and becomes a genuinely good friend and ally to Bruce/Batman, personally she really reminds me of characters like Squidward Tentacles, Master Shake, Brian Griffin etc, where she’s a jerk but I can’t help but love her as a character

[@KringlethePringle-z7m]

@@harryfleutv666 Squidward Tenacles and Master shake truly a person of good taste. i love both of those shows. Spongebob and Aqua teen hunger force.

[@harryfleutv666]

@@KringlethePringle-z7m tbh I think Veronica and Squidward are a bit nicer and less cruel than Shake lol

[@NoNo-vv4vo]

the autistic coding here hurts lol, man got the "pretended to be their friend" prank after middleschool

[@ggbetz]

I've definitely thought this too

[@masalamonkey4092]

I loved birds of a feather as a kid, it was one of the episodes i had on tape to watch repeatedly. Penguin was very relatable being a wierd kid, i especially liked that he was more monsterous looking, while i prefer the new adventures over all i prefer the batman returns look for penguin. I always prefered characters that could not pass as everyday people or live an average life if they tried, as much as i like dc i think marvel has more of those sadly.

[@Scrinwaipwr]

4:23 it's nice that Veronica Vreeland didn't stay this mean but gradually grew and became more empathetic over the series.

[@Compucles]

To be fair, sometimes money is the only motivation a villain needs. "Batman Beyond" villains like Inque, Spellbinder (at first), The Royal Flush Gang, and Armory were essentially just mercenaries or thieves, yet they were still cool characters with interesting backstories.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I thought Inque and Spellbinder were lame knock-offs of Clayface and Scarecrow respectively. The Royal Flush Gang on the other hand were colorful and fun. I also love the romance Terry had with their daughter.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

If only the writers know what to do with Penguin and give him good episodes in the spotlight.

[@knottheory79220]

I always thought this episode made the Penguin look like a lot of fun to hang out with. Yes he's embarrassing himself but he's hilarious and having so much fun.

[@ggbetz]

Not much more embarrassing than me at parties, tbh

[@harsyakiarraathallah2222]

One thing i Like about this Episode is the Lack of Empaty and Hostility Batman did toward Penguin. Really a sign that he is Slowly getting Darker and losing more of his Compassion in his Crusade. It's a Simple yet Effective Touch to make Batman look more Vulneble as a Human.

[@Karlos1234ify]

This episode made me feel bad for him

[@roger18975smith]

The opera that Penguin and Veronica go to see, I Pagliacci, holds similar themes to this episode. A man driven to violence after being betrayed by his love.

[@NoirRaven]

This episode cemented my hatred of elites. Btw, thanks for changing the "thanks button" animation because it was suuuuper eeird zooming in on babydoll's bloomers every time 😂

[@michaelandreipalon359]

So I wasn't the only one thinking of the latter...

[@yoboimichproductionsinc.2948]

I got to that point where I wait eagerly to your videos

[@bowman502]

I JUST watched this episode the other night, your timing is on point Serum

[@Chadius]

SCREW PIERCE. That is all. Sometimes there's a character who serves as a hate sink, and Pierce is here to absorb the audience's hatred.

[@SerumLake]

🤝

[@Lionstar16]

Yeah, Commissioner Gordon calling him a "simpering little twit" was perfect

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Here's to hoping he died offscreen during either the Imperium, Thanagarian, or second Apokoliptian invasions. Maybe even the Near-Apocalylse of '09, whatever that was.

[@connorscanlan2167]

My favorite line is, "HEEEEEEY, BOBBEH!" It isn't all that special, but it puts a smile on my face every time.

[@nemowindsor8724]

I’ll be honest, the version of the character the show runners made later was…boring. This version was more fun, even when they gave him terrible plots. The design was also much more memorable. Theirs looks like a human Mr. Peanut more than a Penguin. This is a top BTAS episode for me. Great writing, and a different kind of villain from the usual.

[@seeleunit2000]

Indeed.

[@ChrisBear1989]

"Society is to blame" I think its more accurate to say some big socialites with a lot of money are to blame(At least when it comes to corporate shennigans and well two big rich people using Penquin for their own ends).

[@docweidner]

I like the changes to the Caped Crusader version that made the chapters much more menacing and outwardly a lot more charming, at least to those who didn't know the criminal side of the character. I agree this, by far, is the best BTAS episode with the Penguin. And as one of the not cool kids growing up, he is, by the mid point of the story, hard not to root for.

[@maxschreck4095]

I think the best Penguin moment was when Batman wanted to interrogate him in prison and he send his birds after him. Genuinely made him seem threatening as a villain. And seeing him in prison and not with the Arkham inmates is always nice, since despite of his awkwardness he is very smart and sane.

[@darthdigital666]

I always liked Pearce's/Pierces take on their seemingly unlimited wealth; "....remember the Joker? He robbed us blind, but what a giggle.: A writers short cut; can't take the bank with you during a chase; but the villian of the week can always kidnap the Vreeland family....

[@Aladelicous]

I kind of disagree with your assessment of Penguin thinking highly of himself. I think it's all just a poorly worn mask he wears to hide his true feelings. It's not just Veronica's betrayal he was mad at, but the confirmation of his own thoughts that he hoped weren't true.

[@ggbetz]

Like others, I liked the episode, and blame penguin and others for not helping oswald be a better person, I like the angle hes on the Autism Spectrum. I wonder if he could run the iceberg lounge without being a fence? I also like the idea that maybe veronica could be with him and a friend to Harley. There could be a story in that. Great video, as always!

[@donaldharper9223]

I look forward to that next vid😁😊

[@nicholasfarrell5981]

I'm of mixed feelings about this episode. While it's far and away the best episode Penguin got in BtAS and highlights his character much better than any other point in the show, it's also the best of (if we're being honest) the worst episodes thanks to the creative team not wanting to use Penguin as he was mandated by the studio. It also ends up making me appreciate how _The Batman_ ended up writing him, where the angle of Penguin being a fallen blue-blood played almost no part in his overall persona outside of his debut; he just became the bird-themed buffoon that didn't care about his family's former status, and I think that made him more fun in that series.

[@Yacovo]

Thanks for the video.

[@samuelrodriguez9801]

I also noted how there was a comparison between the Penguin and the Sad Clown that murdered his Wife in the Opera, Pagliacci.

[@barriehannon6857]

wait!... you mentioned I've Got Batman In My Basement, without playing the WAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH clip from the penguin

[@Red-rk4ud]

I think, keeping the penguin as a fence, canonically, is a really good narrative choice. He keeps him as a middleman who understands the spirit of the city of Gotham.

[@tornado5d267]

This episode reminds me of what’s known as labeling theory which is when people’s behaviors and actions can often reflect what people see them as, which for penguin would essentially be how everyone saw him as a socially awkward misfit and as a criminal which even Batman contributes to. As a result of this many former criminals will often recidivate and sometimes even family members of criminals will also become criminals.

[@HobGungan]

I am very much a champion of Penguin episodes in general as criminally underrated, yes even Basement, but Birds is far and away the best and is my third favorite episode of the entire series.

[@justinweber4977]

There was a Killer Croc issue of "Joker's Asylum" with a similar plot (although in that case, I think both of Croc's 'friends' were trying to manipulate him into killing the other one) and when Batman finally apprehends him, Croc remarks that "They're the monsters, not me."

[@dychrisshandonsmith1242]

Keep it up on your work and this video and channel I love this video and channel Thanks you for your video and channel

[@WolfJarl]

I keep having my mind blown despite having watched the entirety of the DCAU how this show got the rich, the privileged and corporate elite down to a T, complete with doing stupid and controversial antics for attention. Though I do wonder how the Penguin went from who was essentially a social has-been to a successful business owner in The New Adventures of Batman. I'm aware of the comic story where his appearance change was attributed to plastic surgery, though I'd love to know how he made such an amazing rebound. (Other than the showrunners being free to use the Penguin they'd originally wanted to use, obviously.) It also seems he improved his manners too.

[@danielriba716]

I love this show too. Frank Paur and crew did a great job. So many little visual bits that went over censors heads. The "fine Roman nose" bit is clearly a phallic gag. His nose pops up when she touches it and it stays up in the next shot. Subtle and non offensive...but there for adults if they notice. The animation could have been better...but it wasn't bad enough to ruin the excellent staging and acting from the board.

[@tashibalampkin8555]

6:48 I'm Penguin on this one.

[@Xehanort10]

1:18 Other than Birds of a Feather other episodes with Penguin could have had any villain in his place and not much would have changed.

[@thebreakawayoperation]

Have you considered doing videos on some of the villains from Justice League and/or JLU? One that sticks out to me is General Eiling. He's such a small villain in the grand scheme of things, but I really like the episode he's in.

[@SerumLake]

Yes, they’re all on the list

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Eiling's mostly in the wrong, but I do sympathize with him when it comes to the JLU going rogue. As entropy goes, they too will decline in power if not morality years after Batman, Superman, and even Wonder Woman pass on from the mortal coil. Ever wonder why the Legion of Super-Heroes become a thing a millennium later?

[@ggbetz]

Legion of Super-Heroes is delightful because their whole system is invitation/interview by a bunch of petty kids

[@michaelandreipalon359]

@@ggbetz Not in the DCAU, far as I know.

[@Unownshipper]

A little surprised you didn't examine the second, perhaps more apparent, connection between this episode and Harley's Holiday: Veronica herself. There isn't much in the sense of character growth for Veronica, she represents the vapid elite and is narratively useful as a damsel who finds herself in the clutches of Gotham's villains due to her naiveté. Still, she's interesting as one of the few examples of a purely platonic female friends of Bruce Wayne's despite her beauty. I might be reading into things, but I found her readiness to drop the charges against Harley as indicative of learning something after her encounter with Penguin; is it conceivable she'd gained a greater sensitivity towards a person in a desperate situation? I'd love it if you made a video (maybe 2 if it runs long) about the people in Bruce Wayne's life *outside* of the main Bat Family figures: Veronica, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Lucius Fox, Janet Van Dorn, Earl Cooper (the mechanic), Summer Gleeson (as a Vicki Vale stand-in), etc. What do these "Friends of Bruce Wayne" reveal about him? What does it say that he seems to put his trust in them or else confide in them?

[@Razorgeist]

Good episode though Ive always been curious how that trap with the shackles Penguin traps Pearce in works? Like how did it know exactly where he was gonna stand?

[@ajerjavec4723]

I think the reason the crew can think of anything with the penguin Something that’s become an important part of his character is that he from a rich family that was either disowned or his family lost the world The last video on the penguin didn’t mention that. So I am assuming it was added late 90s early 2000 because otherwise they would’ve totally used it for that I think the 2004 the Batman cartoon version of penguin did great job of introducing that aspect to fans outside the comics and the penguin a spoiled brat never learned to make money be honest way which makes him a great foil to Batman

[@shroomer8294]

We live in a society

[@WobblesandBean]

This is the episode that made me see Penguin as sympathetic. See, I was always the awkward, unpopular girl that boys at school would ask out on dates as a joke. They were all rich kids just like Veronica, and they mocked me just as cruelly for daring to hope that someone might have actually wanted me. ...Coincidentally, The Penguin is also the character who sparked my lifelong obsession with ornithology. Birds of a feather, indeed.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

You know and kind of a funny way, maybe Veronica should have ended up with Oswald. Not only can you change for the better, but in some funnier way, could have been friends with Harley through Joker,! I can already see it now... Joker jumps and that says hey Ozzy we're on the run from town but wanted to drop in and see how you doing with the missus! Harley says hiya red! What do you say we go to the kitchen while we let the boys handle their business! 😂

[@ggbetz]

What if Harley stayed there when being over the joker/reforming?

[@the_flyattractor8656]

As said before. The Penguin is my personal Fav Bat Villian. Very Under, and Miss Used. This is his best Ep in TAS. Still find it funny how the Penguin is the only Villian who "Seemingly" got to Actually Kill someone in the series.

[@josecuestas7246]

1:40 I wonder why Hugo Strange didn't tried to blackmails Batman with the video, than planned inmediately to sell it to the villains. As i guess that the Wayne's fortune is bigger, making that Hugo could get more incomes from Batman, like forces him to pay him a monthly fee, adding to not mess with his shady businesses, exchange to not leaks his video to the public.

[@PrinceSilvermane]

Maybe he thought a quick sell off to the villains and him running off would be a better plan than trying to extort a person you KNOW IS BATMAN and could break in and steal it back at any point. After all he doesn't know what kind of person Batman/Bruce is beyond what he knows from the public eye. I mean a lot of criminals beyond a few seem to think Batman's going to kill them. I'm sure it made sense to Hugo at the time.

[@natebartels1444]

Could you do an episode on Veronica?

[@Vfanatic1]

"That's him!" Shootouts to Watchtower Database

[@goldenage]

I know you still have yet to make a JL and JLU tier list, however I noticed that there is now also a DCAU episode tier list online. Wondering if you'll give it a go?

[@SerumLake]

Ooooh that’d be a big one!

[@IAmBored347]

While this version of Penguin is not my all time favorite, I do feel sorry for him almost. BTAS Penguin showed how status is a farce even if they become famous. Penguin is tragic because he believes by becoming a high class socialite he could get attention and fame. However even if he tries again and again it's tragic noone will ever take him seriously. Just a medicore nobody. He's still a criminal and deserves punishment yet Veronica and Pierce should still have been punished for causing Penguin's delusions. But oh well guess that's how high status is like huh? Getting away with it as a free card.

[@AWriterWandering]

Ironically, this episode would not have worked as well if they had gone with the more classic penguin to begin with.

[@ttthttpd]

"Society." - Serum Lake (2024)

[@rainbowtoyfunrandomess1982]

I don't think The Penguin is a wasted potential in Batman The Animated Series, it's just a little hard to take him seriously at times especially during his first introduction in I Got Batman In My Basement, he literally squawks like a literal bird and got beaten by a bunch of kids.😕😮‍💨🐧🎩

[@Xehanort10]

8:15 His voice sounded like if Johnny Bravo was a rich snob.

[@aidanhever3369]

It’s a tale of what could have been and what shouldn’t be done. Ain’t love a b"BEEP"ch ? ~Doug Walker~

[@Mr.TwoFaceGuy]

I just feel bad for the guy.

[@A1ml33y]

This version of the penguin wss interesting as a side character in the DCAU, i liked him as a fence in the New Batman Adventures ( I'm surprised ever got s night club ( But i wish je could have ran for Mayor of Gotham in BTAS 😂 Because i really like Batman Returns

[@ggbetz]

I mean, aren't thr building permits in his name?

[@A1ml33y]

@@ggbetz I never took this version of the penguin seriously in BTAS

[@ggbetz]

@@A1ml33y few did

[@alexandrefrauches132]

In my opinion Birds of Feather has the best portrayal of Penguin not just in BTAS but also in all media (comics, films, video games). I feel many portrayals seems to only focus on Penguin as just a criminal mastermind with obsession for birds or just another mobster. Oswald is more interesting when the story focus on him as this deformed outcast, who wants be to be accept as member in society. Despite acting so eloquent and think highly on himself, deep inside Penguin is very insecure man who doesn't knows what truly makes someone respect. In his eyes, it's about the money, status and authority over others, but in reality, the true way to be respect and love by others is by just being good and decent person (as proven by Bruce Wayne, who is wealthy but respect by people because of his kindness and compassion).

[@Sebas-bs8uk]

What I like about this BTAS version (especially in this episode) is that even though the Penguin sucks at being a member of high society, and is shunned by them, he’s basically what they would be without a filter. Penguin mocks people to their face, and they’re insulted, as they should be, but then we see that the others do the same thing behind closed doors. Yeah Penguin hires goons to steal stuff and hangs out with costumed criminals, but people of high society steal from those less fortunate and often hang out around others who do the same (putting aside the other weird/horrible stuff that often comes out about a celebrity every month) That’s why I like this version of him. Because intentionally or not, the writers made a perfect reflection of what a lot of socialites are like on the inside

[@clownplayer7265]

Never thought of that angle before. The Penguin is not rejected by the socialites because of being obnoxious...the Penguin simply doesn't hide who he is unlike fellow facade-wearing socialites. He does have legit taste and intelligence but fails at the non-writen social rules, but people like Pierce are just about the same except they just do it in a rather "legit" way. Ironically enough, when in private alone or with people like Bruce or Veronica, he uses his private moments to shine some more redeemable qualities unlike the people who speak ill of others through their backs.

[@anonluxor470]

Can you talk about beware the Batman in the future

[@SerumLake]

Never say never

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Good show, but it being inconclusive does make me not like it as much. Am always into complete works. Still, will try to watch vids on its Anarky, Metamorpho, and so on though.

[@luiz4200]

Other than Catwoman, Ozzie is the only rogue who really tried to reform in BTAS.

[@jeremy1860]

He may be a classic foe, but truth be told, this was the one and only episode TAS did with him that I was ever really interested in 🤔

[@luiz4200]

6:12 Or they think he's nothing without henchmen of his own. Either way, I wouldn't call him a villain at this point.

[@srstriker6420]

Yes this Penguin has so much potential that I thought of ideas for him in the Injustice league he could have been the new leader of the injustice league that it takes place before Starcrossed after Lex’s pardon and Grodd defeat in the Secret Society episode that he along with his teammates were guided by theses individuals who told them a few secrets about the Justice league that they know that Bruce Wayne is the Batman making them more dangerous than ever and in Batman Beyond that I would have him download his mind swapped with Terry as he is in a robotic suit of a penguin to fight in as he would replace the Red with white in the Batsuit as Terry trapped in his dying body. I would have gone something similar to the Telltale Batman origin that he knew Bruce way before he was becoming Batman. This is maybe a bit late for the Harley Quinn Caped Crusader because it seemed that the writers couldn’t make up their minds about her being sympathetic or not as she seemed pretty evil without the Joker as this is probably why I mention Ruby Gillman on that topic.

[@doujinloverXD]

I kind of think Veronica Vreeland may be the true main villain of the DCAU Batman, seriously this woman is awful and she kicks off so many plots always running into super villains. At the start of Batman Beyond the night Bruce retired he was saving Verinica's daughter Bunny Vreeland, maybe itcwasbt tje heart attack or gun but the realization that the Vreeland's just keeping proving to make his life more and more difficult? Seriously first he spends all of BTAS abd TNBA cleaning up Veronica's messes and now the same thing is happening with her daughter?

[@nooneinparticular5256]

" *Get a load of this society* "

[@williampittman4560]

I'm disappointed that the very real line Penguin says at the party about "not dropping the soap" was cut by Standards and Practices. And that was in the Batman the Animated Series companion book written by Bruce Timm.

[@BigJonB36]

Penguin really only had two episodes, one great one (this one) and one terrible one (Batman in my basement)