The Penguin, Episode 8 Review: Betrayal And Chaos As An Ominous Future For Gotham Settles In
Following last week’s deep dive into Oz’s twisted past, The Penguin’s finale, titled “A Great or Little Thing,” brings Oz’s rise and war with Sofia story full circle, delivering a tense season (series?) finale blended with plenty of twists and turns.
WARNING, SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 8 OF THE PENGUIN AHEAD!
The episode opens with a flashback, with young Oz once again encountering local gangster Rex Calabrese. These flashbacks, augmented through Francis by Dr. Julian Rush, expose a horrific truth: Oz’s mother suspected that Oz may have killed his brothers. When Rex offers to “make something great” out of Oz, Francis faces a stark choice: guide him toward greatness or kill him for missing his brothers. She originally chooses the latter, but Francis’s decision softens after Oz promises her wealth and security.
In the present day, we find Oz in the custody of Sofia. Sofia tortures him emotionally, attempting to force a confession about his brothers’ deaths. Despite Sofia’s threats and Francis’s own shocking admission that she knew all along, Oz refuses to admit guilt. The back and forth ends with Francis lashing out at Oz in a final, violent betrayal (stabbing him with a glass bottle) only for him to use the chaos to escape.
After a tense showdown with Sofia’s men, Oz tries to align himself with Councilman Sebastian Hady, framing both Sofia and Sal Maroni for the recent explosion in Crown Point. Hady warns Oz about Gotham’s new mayor elect, Bella Reál’s, anti-corruption agenda and Hady urges Oz that he will need to make himself look clean moving forward.
Meanwhile Sofia, who senses her power slipping, decides to offer everything she has in exchange for Oz, but her plans go awry. Oz manipulates the Triads and rest of Gotham’s underbosses, orchestrating a power shift (having all the right hands kill the top bosses) that leaves him at the top of Gotham’s criminal underworld. Sofia, betrayed and who is ultimately arrested, finds herself back at Arkham, where a letter from her half-sister, Selina Kyle, hints at an intriguing future.
The episode moves to Oz visiting his mother, who’s left incapacitated by a stroke, as he tearfully confesses his accomplishments and yearns for her validation. Shortly after, Oz meets Vic to thank him for all he’s done for him and his mother but shockingly (and brutally) kills him. Now crowned the King of Gotham’s underworld, Oz returns to his penthouse, where he and his partner Eve reenact scenes of his mother’s approval.
As the episode concludes with Oz basking in his victory, the camera pans out to reveal Gotham’s city skyline, with a familiar symbol cutting through the night: the Bat-Signal, a reminder that Gotham’s new kingpin still faces a brutal reckoning ahead.
It is worth noting that in a number of post-finale interviews, Collin Farrell has confirmed Oz will appear in The Batman Part II (in about 5/6 scenes) and The Batman Part III, potentially setting the stage for Oz to become the Caped Crusader’s final obstacle in ridding Gotham of crime and corruption.
Ken’s Cultured Verdict: What a perfect series and seamless way to further flesh out Matt Reeves’ Gotham. In a world where villains have truly taken up the anti hero moniker left and right, we end Oz’s story thoroughly rooting for Robert Pattinson’s Batman to bring his style of justice to Gotham’s new kingpin. A phenomal, tense character driven story opening the door for countless others within Batman’s expansive rogue gallery to take center stage next. 4.9 / 5
What did you guys think of The Penguin series as a whole? Are you excited to see where Oz’s path will cross with Robert Pattinson’s Batman? Is Oz being set up as the trilogy’s overarching villain? Who would you like to see get their own series next? As always sound off in the comment section down below, and don’t forget to tune in right here at The Cultured Nerd for the latest news and updates regarding Matt Reeves’ Batman: Part II and the larger Epic Crime Saga.
All episodes of The Penguin are now streaming on Max.
