The Penguin has run its course – here’s what its ending means for The Batman Part II and beyond.
Full spoilers follow for The Penguin, including its final episode.
After eight weeks of award-worthy performances and an intensely captivating story, The Penguin has ended on Max/HBO (US), Sky/Now TV (UK), and Binge (Australia). And, my oh my, did it end in typically incendiary fashion for a limited series I called an “epic Batman spin-off. that deserves to sit alongside The Sopranos in HBO’s crime drama pantheon”.
As the dust settles on Oz Cobb and Sofia Falcone’s explosive turf war, it’s time to sift through the rubble and determine what actually happened. Who is Gotham City’s new crime kingpin? Did anyone perish during the series’ final episode? And did the Caped Crusader make a last-minute cameo? I’ll answer all of these questions and more below so, if you’ve not seen episode 8, titled ‘Great or Little Thing’, watch it first as major spoilers immediately follow.The Penguin ending explained: who won, Oz Cobb or Sofia Falcone?
As if it was ever in doubt, Oz triumphed over Sofia in the battle to control Gotham’s criminal underworld. Hey, one of the best Max shows is called The Penguin, so it would’ve been a curious move if it ended with Oz’s defeat at the hands of his rival.
Although it looks like Sofia has beaten Oz – he’s captured and taken to Gotham City’s airport to meet with Sofia for one final time – it’s all a ploy on Oz’s part. Indeed, aside from Yakuza leader Feng Zhao, the goons who take Oz hostage are actually working for him.
Just as they’re about to hand him over, Link, Feng Zhao’s son and second-in-command, betrays his father and shoots him in the head. The rest of Oz’s gang, Vic included, kill Sofia’s henchmen and seize her instead. In other locations spread throughout Gotham, the lieutenants of the city’s other criminal syndicates similarly kill their bosses – Oz and Victor promising they’d be the new heirs to Gotham’s criminal empire if they swear allegiance to him as its new crime kingpin.
What is interesting about the series’ ending, though, is Oz doesn’t kill Sofia, which is something of a rarity for the eponymous sociopath. In a scene reminiscent of his previous role as Sofia’s chaffeur, Oz drives Sofia to an undisclosed location on Gotham’s outskirts. After exiting the car, he holds her at gunpoint as they engage in what seems to be one final, barb-filled tête-à-tête before Oz prepares to gun her down.
However, as Sofia closes her eyes and prepares for the end, her face is suddenly lit up by a bright light. Slowly opening her eyes, she spots a police helicopter, complete with searchlight, circling overhead and, turning round, realizes Oz is gone. Numerous cop cars loom into view and, moments later, she’s arrested by Gotham police chief Mackenzie Bock and his fellow law enforcers.The Penguin ending explained: wait, so Sofia isn’t dead?
Nope. Instead, she’s re-admitted to Arkham Asylum.
In the show’s flashback-heavy fourth episode, titled ‘Cent’Anni’, Sofia was sent to Gotham’s high-security prison for the criminally insane by her father – and Gotham’s former crime lord – Carmine Falcone. Remember, she learned too much about his murdering of numerous women, including his own wife and Sofia’s mom. In order to cover his tracks, he pinned the deaths on his own daughter who, despite constantly protesting her innocence, subsequently spent 10 years in Arkham Asylum.
Escaping with the help of her brother Alberto and therapist Doctor Julian Rush prior to the events of The Penguin, Sofia thought she’d finally seen the back of Arkham Asylum. Turns out she was wrong, eh?The Penguin ending explained: alright, so who did die?
Feng Zhao and many of Sofia’s subordinates notwithstanding, the most noteworthy death is –soul-crushingly, might I add – Victor Aguilar.
Oz’s main lackey since The Penguin episode 1, fans were always concerned about Victor’s welfare. Indeed, numerous viewers expressed concern for The Penguin’s most lovable character just two episodes into its eight chapter run. But, as Victor took on more responsibilities for Oz, coupled with how close the pair became throughout the Batman spin-off series, audience confidence grew that Victor might actually make it out alive.
