The Penguin’s Dr Julian Rush may secretly be another Batman villain

As a seasoned gamer with decades of comic book-inspired gaming under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of intrigue and anticipation when it comes to the enigmatic figure of Dr Julian Rush in The Penguin series. The fact that he appears to be a former Arkham Asylum psychiatrist, with an eerie connection to Sofia Falcone, has me on the edge of my seat, eagerly waiting for each new episode.


In Episode 2 of “The Penguin,” we caught a peek into Sofia Falcone’s troubled history with Dr. Julian Rush at Arkham, leading many viewers to speculate that he could be hiding as a villain in the world of Batman.

In the universe created by Matt Reeves for The Batman, there are some variations from the comic book counterpart. For instance, The Riddler’s name isn’t Edward Nygma; instead, it is Edward Nashton. Similarly, the character known as The Penguin in the comics goes by Oz Cobb in this version.

As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed some intriguing enigmas in HBO’s spinoff series. For instance, there’s a QR code that seems to foreshadow an insurrection (which might tie into The Batman 2). Additionally, the true nature of Sofia’s criminal activities as “the Hangman” remains shrouded in mystery.

As a devoted fan, I’ve been pondering over the intriguing figure of Dr. Julian Rush, his ties to Gotham City (specifically DC), and the tantalizing prospect that he could ascend to even greater prominence following The Penguin’s storyline.

Who is Dr Julian Rush?

The Penguin’s Dr Julian Rush may secretly be another Batman villain

In the series, character Dr. Julian Rush, portrayed by Theo Rossi, seems to have a past as a psychiatrist from Arkham Asylum. When we first encounter him in episode 2 of The Penguin, he’s assisting Sofia with an unconventional therapeutic approach.

At the beginning of the episode, Sofia enters a visitation room to find Alberto. Initially, it appears to be a flashback, but it quickly becomes apparent that it’s a distressing daydream: Alberto’s little finger is gone, and as he promises to free her, a hand materializes from the shadows, brandishing a gun, and fatally shoots him.

In her dream, flashing red lights suddenly appeared above her, signaling her awakening in Julian’s office. Stricken by a sudden panic attack, she found herself struggling with the aftermath of some hidden trauma. As if sensing her distress, Julian deactivated a glowing device behind him, using the same flashing lights – perhaps an attempt to help her confront and conquer her past fears.

He assures her, “You’re no longer in Arkham; it’s a place of safety now.” Before departing, she responds, “I’m not seeking safety; I’m returning home.

They exhibit an unusual relationship. At first, she appears calm around him, but then she becomes uneasy with the amount of physical interaction and departs.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rossi hinted: “I’m in a relationship with Sofia Falcone and I fully support her. I stand by Sofia.

He also said that he will “support her in being the worst human being possible.”

Julian Rush could be Hugo Strange… or Scarecrow

The Penguin’s Dr Julian Rush may secretly be another Batman villain

According to this idea, character Dr. Julian Rush might resemble Gotham’s Hugo Strange or Scarecrow in the TV series “Gotham”. Here are several points that support this theory.

Initially, both The Penguin and Batman have rebranded their villains’ names and altered their comic book histories. Could it be possible that Julian Rush is actually Hugo Strange, or maybe, similar to how Robin was reinvented in The Dark Knight Rises, he’s a new character who will assume the role of Scarecrow in this adaptation of Gotham?

Additionally, it’s worth noting that Strange is known as a psychiatrist who has controversially used Arkham’s patients as test subjects for his unorthodox, potentially risky approaches. Rush intentionally provoking Sofia might be an early instance of such behavior.

Regarding Scarecrow, often portrayed as Jonathan Crane in various stories, he’s typically depicted as a psychologist with a unique area of expertise: inducing fear and creating terrifying scenarios, usually through the use of a mind-altering substance (as demonstrated in The Dark Knight trilogy and Arkham Asylum games). Could it be possible that Rush’s red light is triggering Sofia’s terror, leading us to suspect the development of the fear toxin?

As a dedicated fan, I pondered over the intriguing theory: “Could Julian Rush be rechristened as ‘Scarecrow’?” Another fan momentarily mistook him for “Hugo Strange.

A third person commented, “It appears that the focus on the hypnotic gadget and the eerie artwork hanging in his office might suggest a troubling psychological side to his personality.

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2024-09-30 13:48