Did you know “Gotham” character Oswald Cobblepot (aka Penguin) is gay? If you answered “no,” don’t fret because neither did anyone else until November 28, 2016, when the episode “Beware the Green-Eyed Monster” revealed that the “Gotham” crime lord and mayor is in love with Edward Nygma (aka Riddler).
Nothing’s happened between the two (yet), but we’re hoping something transpires soon because this show can last only so long until a teenage Bruce Wayne becomes Batman.
Until then, here are four storylines we hope to see between Penguin and Riddler. Watch “Gotham” at 8 p.m. on Fox to see which of these story arcs develop.
- Cobblepot and Nygma hook up
Recently, Nygma tricked Cobblepot into professing his love for him. Nygma wasn’t too keen on this idea, not because he’s homophobic but because it confirmed his suspicion that Penguin had killed his love interest (Penguin’s thinking: Get rid of the girl and Riddler’s all mine). True — Hooking up with someone who killed the girl you love is not the trait of a sane person…but, Riddler’s not sane. Hence, why not at least a one-night stand?
Let’s face it: They’re pretty great the crazier your partner is. Furthermore, you think Gotham writers are shaking up television (and comic books) by announcing Penguin is gay? Imagine the looks on the faces of American households if the first shot of next week’s episode was of Cobblepot and Nygma, um, uniting their crime families. Then, for the remainder of the series, every scene featuring both characters would have that uncomfortable “oh, hey” look that the rest of us know only in bars and in the almond milk section at Whole Foods.
- Cobblepot and Nygma live happily ever after
Who needs a one-night stand when you can spend the rest of your life with that special someone? And in this case, Riddler and Penguin are most certainly “special.” Who else in Gotham understands each other’s torment like Cobblepot and Nygma? Not Jim Gordon, that goodie-two-shoes of a cop who’s always trying to get the bad guy. Hey Gordon, here’s an idea: Why don’t you kick rocks and let the two lovebirds create a life for themselves?
Yes, this life involves killing numerous innocent victims, but who cares? If we’ve learned anything in three seasons of Gotham, it’s that everyone in that town is corrupt and sometimes corrupt people need to die — even if it’s for no reason other than the maniacal whims of two madmen. Madmen who — remember — love each other very, very much.
- Cobblepot and Nygma go through a nasty break-up
The only thing better than Penguin and Riddler holding hands in a field of daisies is Penguin throwing a lamp at Riddler because he looked at another guy. Or Riddler calls the electrical company and has the power shut off at the couple’s downtown Gotham penthouse.
Then, Penguin takes to Facebook and tells all of his friends that Riddler steals all of his riddles and that he snores so loudly the downstairs neighbors have to text the couple to tell Riddler to shut up.
What if Riddler, to get back at Penguin, sleeps with the Joker because Penguin said Riddler is old and no guys would want him anymore?
Nasty break-ups work for the “Housewives” — why not “Gotham”?
- Cobblepot and Nygma quietly go their separate ways
Not. This would suck and totally isn’t going to happen. Yes, we’re all hoping for peace in real life, but on television? Forget it.
We want action, drama and the kinds of fights in which someone’s neighbor gets their fingers lopped off with a can opener just to prove a point to the person involved in the fight. And seeing how Gotham is a television program, the odds are pretty good that Cobblepot and Nygma won’t retire peacefully to their respective crazy quarters and never interact again. And if this happens, goodbye “Gotham”!
Ryan Ritchie doesn’t watch much television but for some reason is hooked on “Gotham.”
