Gotham: Penguin and Nygma Isn't the Progressive Storyline Fans Hoped For (but That's OK)

Gotham fans, there's no good way to say this so it's probably best to just go ahead and rip off the Band-Aid; Penguin and Nygma are never going to ride off together into the sunset.

A few weeks ago, Gotham made internet waves when Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) announced that he has feelings for his Chief of Staff, Ed Nygma (Cory Michael Smith).

[...] there was a smaller group of fans stuck in the middle who realized this storyline was a disaster from the start -- but I'm here to say that disaster is OK, at least within context.

There's not enough evidence to make that distinction, and in 2016 we should be willing to accept fluid sexualities without strict definitions.

The crime kingpin may have been softened after his time at Arkham Asylum with Hugo Strange (B.D. Wong), but he still has a lot of sociopathic tendencies, which calls into question his ability to feel real love.

Even if Ed returned Penguin's affections (before he killed Isabella of course), this would not have been a healthy or prototypical example of a functioning LGBTQ relationship.

[...] we shouldn't parade the storyline as such or herald it as a progressive move forward for LGBTQ representation in comic book shows.

Ten years ago, when you could count the number of gay TV characters in series regular roles on one hand, it was critical that those characters be fully fleshed out and not reinforce stereotypes to the mainstream audience at home.

[...] the LGBTQ community has more representation on television -- including over half a dozen supporting characters on comic book shows.

The saddest thing about the Penguin and Nygma storyline, though, is that Penguin's actions, due to his repressed feelings, will inevitably make it impossible for the two to remain friends once Nygma discovers the truth.