'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Penguin series continues to extrapolate on the grimy and corrupt world of Gotham City, bringing back familiar characters from The Batman (2022). Many of them go way back so far as Chief Mackenzie Bock, the morally compromised police chief of Gotham, yet again played by Con O'Neill.
In the fifth episode, O'Neill's character arrives at the scene of the Falcone family massacre. He immediately sets up a suspicious tone while quizzing Sofia Falcone, leaving much deeper levels of corruption lurking beneath. Introduced as Chief Bock, Con O'Neill gives the audience a more mature look at the law enforcement side of Gotham: rotten with bribes, double dealing, and fractured loyalties.
Though he is barely seen, only rarely appearing in The Batman, he might prove of immense worth for The Penguin as Bock, the villain who would not seem to be inclined to let Batman, Jim Gordon, or the crime underworld have their way unruly.
Trending
As a result, the series begins to tease the viewer by hinting that Chief Bock might be more than just a corrupt cop, perhaps even adopting a more aggressive stance against criminals and those who fight for them.
How does Chief Mackenzie Bock tie The Penguin to The Batman?
In The Batman, Chief Mackenzie Bock presents himself to be a brick wall between Jim Gordon and the justice of the vigilante Batman. His corrupt self added to the already thick web of corruption within Gotham's law enforcement. What makes this darkness so crucial in the tone established in The Batman is the darker nature of the police force.
Bock's re-entry into the narrative serves as a connection for those aspects that will carry on over from the movie, taking storylines and characters to develop further depth and plotting around Gotham's underworld. In The Penguin, Bock remains in a position of power over Gotham's cops, but perhaps that is now lost since the Falcones are out of the picture.
His relationship with Sofia Falcone in the new episode will wonderfully illustrate his vulnerabilities, particularly as Sofia plays the situation so that it seems like Bock's dirty dealings may soon be at risk. The setting will prepare the stage for a possibly larger role in the series for the corrupt Chief, who might become a bigger player in the scenario or get overwhelmed by the situation.
Read More: The Penguin episode 6: Release date, time, where to watch, and more
Is Chief Bock the same in the comics and the series?
The on-screen Chief Mackenzie Bock is an altogether different version of his counterpart from the DC comics. Mackenzie "Hardback" Bock is indeed a hero of sorts in the DC universe, having emerged during the "No Man's Land" storyline.
He protected the citizens of Gotham, spearheading the efforts to keep the city in order while everything around it was in a mess. His effective leadership and dedication earned him a promotion to the Chief of Police Department of Gotham City, though after compromising on some hard issues by making deals with villains like The Penguin.
Bock in The Penguin is far from heroic. He does not play the role of a moral force standing against the way of the corrupted officers of Gotham. In fact, he represents one of the corrupt officers in the police.
That's quite a contrast between the two; it goes to show how various incarnations of the same character can be applied to suit the tone and themes of different narratives. Just when comic Bock is fighting for Gotham's survival, it is the TV series Bock that contributes to its decay.
Read More: Sofia Falcone swears revenge on Oswald Cobb
Will Chief Bock play a larger role in The Penguin?
As The Penguin unfolds, it will remain to be seen if his role will expand and he becomes a more vital threat against Gotham's power players, or if he stays little more than a secondary speed bump for them. His suspicion of Sofia Falcone so far suggests he may delve further into her dealings; yet, it's obvious he is teetering on a cliff.
With the Falcones now gone, Bock's biggest weakness could be his corruption. There might come a time when other forces, even the Penguin himself, could turn his corruption into his downfall. As portrayed as a morally compromised character, Bock easily could be swayed or removed by those with greater power and influence.
The dynamics between Bock and Sofia open possibilities for future plotlines. Sofia shows that she is well aware of his corrupt nature and its ability to manipulate Bock. But this equally puts her in a complicated position.
If this is taken to the extreme and truth starts trickling into Bock's search, he becomes a threat to her. It could also go the other way around, and he's brought into Sofia's scheme for the sake of watching and keeping control over Gotham.
As of now, it appears Chief Bock's story is not near its end. His possible role in Gotham's transformation into The Dark Knight's world would be something worth watching out for.
Read More: Does Sofia take over the Falcone family? Details explored
New episodes of The Penguin air on HBO Max every Sunday at 9 pm ET.
