The Penguin showrunner Lauren LeFranc explained why Episode 4’s Arkham Asylum scenes excluded classic Batman villains Joker and Harley Quinn. In a recent interview, LeFranc shared that the episode centers solely on Sofia Falcone’s story. This approach keeps the focus on her journey and experiences within the institution, presenting the narrative entirely from her perspective.
The Penguin Episode 4 didn’t feature Harley Quinn and Joker to focus on Sofia
In The Penguin Episode 4, the creators intentionally chose to exclude classic villains Joker and Harley Quinn. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc explained this decision in an exclusive interview with The Direct.
LeFranc revealed that the episode focuses solely on Sofia Falcone, played by Cristin Milioti, and her journey within Arkham Asylum. She explained, “Honestly, for that episode, we thought just about Sophia, like Sophia’s journey. It’s a tricky episode because it’s only about an hour long, and we told a lot of story in it.” This design allowed viewers to experience Arkham from Sofia’s perspective, highlighting her struggles without added distractions.
LeFranc further explained the decision to exclude other iconic villains, saying, “We didn’t want to throw the kitchen sink at us, and we didn’t want to have a character that would detract from her experience.” The creators included the lesser-known character of Magpie to maintain focus on Sofia’s arc. This choice kept Sofia’s story central, with LeFranc emphasizing that they wanted viewers “to be immersed in her perspective, in her world.”
At New York Comic Con, Cristin Milioti shared her experience working on this character-focused episode. She credited LeFranc and director Helen Shaver as “two incredible collaborators,” describing them as her “North Stars” who guided her through a demanding production. “I felt supported by them and guided by them,” Milioti explained, noting the challenges and intensity of filming on a tight schedule.
The omission of Joker and Harley Quinn in Episode 4 enabled a focus on Sofia Falcone’s character. While this installment centers on Sofia’s role in The Penguin series, future episodes may introduce other figures, potentially including Barry Keoghan’s Joker.
The Penguin is currently available to stream on Max.
