It Looks Like Scarecrow Was In 'The Penguin' And We All Missed It

Robbie Fox11/15/2024 6:45 PM

***SPOILERS FOR THE PENGUIN BELOW***

If you were following along with 'The Penguin' fan theories and Reddit discussion threads over the last couple months, you know that one of the most popular pieces of speculation was regarding Doctor Julian Ross, Sofia's therapist/boy-toy, being this universe's Scarecrow.

Giphy Images.

I definitely entertained this theory, as Rush is a manipulative former doctor at Arkham Asylum into experimental therapy and confronting fear - so I mean, aside from not being named 'Jonathan Crane', he definitely had the makings of a character that could turn into the Scarecrow. I never fully bought in, though, because it just didn't seem like that was hinted at enough in the show for that to be paid off.

It wasn't until this morning that changed for me, when I received a text from Clem of a video showcasing the below image….

….what appears to be a syringe glove and potato sack lookin mask sitting on the desk of Julian Rush in Episode 4, 'Cent'anni'.

That blew my fucking mind. I mean - that's unquestionably a syringe glove. I can't say for sure the other blob is a Scarecrow mask, but I sure as fuck think it is!

How it took a month AFTER the episode premiered for somebody to spot that and put it on Reddit (shoutout user r/BebehBokChoy) is also mind blowing to me, considering the nerds that were able to match Boba Fett's boot spur audio in 'The Mandalorian' to the original trilogy in no time a few years ago. Or the people that were able to spot The Riddler in his apartment when 'The Batman' was barely out for 24 hours….

This guy BobaTalks claims to have heard that Theo Rossi's character was originally written as Jonathan Crane and that changed somewhere along the way, and Rossi even replied to a report indicating as such back in July….

After the finale, some people were still asking why they'd cast someone as good as Theo Rossi to play such a small role in 'The Penguin' - wouldn't it make a little more sense if it wasn't a small role, but rather the introduction of a recurring role? He did follow Sofia back to Arkham at the end!

I personally love the idea that this Scarecrow's red light therapy (mixed with some kinda Bliss-infused Fear Toxin) basically brings the origin story out of you. It makes me want that to be the 'Arkham Asylum' show that has been shelved for the time being - just send Rush in to get different villains' 'One Bad Day' story.

Someone on Reddit suggested that sometimes when doctors are shunned/banished for malpractice, they just change their name, move somewhere else, and continue working in the medical field; and maybe that's what Julian Rush did. Maybe his name is Jonathan Crane and he changed it before moving to Gotham so potential new employers/patients didn't know about his past. I kinda dig that idea too. I also wouldn't mind if they were like, "You just got three movies of Jonathan Crane with Nolan, we're doing our own thing."

Regardless, I think we've got Scarecrow unlocked in the Reevesverse now - and that means we're one step closer to seeing this 'Long Halloween' splash page in live action one day….