The Penguin Season 1 Ending, Explained

The Penguin Season 1 Ending, Explained

As a dedicated fan who has followed Oz Cobblepot’s journey from the sewers of Gotham to the throne of its underworld, I can wholeheartedly say that The Penguin series finale was nothing short of a masterpiece. It was a perfect blend of action, drama, and character development that left me thoroughly satisfied, especially knowing that Oz will be rejoining forces with Batman in The Batman Part 2.


The following contains spoilers for the finale of The Penguin

Key Takeaways

  • The Penguin series finale tied up loose ends, ended well, & didn’t leave fans on a cliffhanger.
  • The episode revealed Oz’s dark past, included twists, and ended with Oz’s rise to power.
  • Oz faces betrayal, pulls off some betrayals of his own, and prepares for The Batman Part 2

It’s finally over. The saga of The Penguin has come to a close in the last of an episode run. At least it’s come to an end before DCU fans get to see where he goes in The Batman Part 2. And what an ending it was. The spinoff of The Batman that was built to let people get to know Oz Cobb just a little bit better had plenty of explosive reveals, twists and turns. And the episode didn’t stop right up until the very end.

The Penguin” has been one of the most acclaimed and well-attended series not just during the fall season, but throughout the entire year. It’s garnered outstanding criticism and pulled in a massive audience. The creators, Lauren LeFranc and Matt Reeves, treated their viewers with a satisfying conclusion. Although there are various paths that a potential Season 2 or film sequel might take, the series concluded without leaving fans on a cliffhanger – making it even more delightful. They honored the devotion of its followers by tying up loose ends effectively.

What Happened In The Penguin Episode 8?

The chess pieces, which have been strategically shifted across the board throughout the season, are now in place, signaling the start of the climactic game. The episode starts with a major surprise as Francis is led through a flashback depicting the aftermath of two of her sons’ murders, committed by Sofia and Dr. Julian Rush. In this memory, it’s uncovered early on that Oz’s mother had always suspected him for locking his brothers in the sewers to drown. This unexpected revelation serves to dismiss one popular theory about the season finale’s outcome, paving the way for the subsequent scene and shedding light on the extent of Oz’s determination to hide the truth.

ShowrunnerLauren LeFranc
StarsColin Farrell and Cristin Milioti
Release DateSeptember 19, 2024
Streaming OnHBO Max

In the upcoming sequence, Oz finds himself bound to a chair, confronting his mother Sofia, Rush, and some henchmen. Sofia demands that he confess to murdering his brothers, but when he refuses, she warns her about Francis’ finger. This doesn’t make him yield the truth, so Francis reveals that she already knew. Enraged, Francis smashes a bottle on a table and stabs Oz in the abdomen. In a delusional state, Sofia imagines her deceased sons before suffering a massive stroke, necessitating an immediate hospitalization.

Later on, Vic and Oz start devising a strategy to confront Sofia, which seemingly turns sour when her previous associates, now pursuing a reward placed by Sofia on Oz’s head, betray them. Eventually, they are summoned before Sofia as she prepares to depart from the town, marking the commencement of the climactic events depicted in “The Penguin.

How Does The Penguin End?

The Penguin Season 1 Ending, Explained

Towards the end of “The Penguin,” it was revealed that Oz and Vic were led to execution after being displayed, but it turned out that the henchmen had been double agents all along. Seizing Sofia as they drove off, Oz explained how he managed to seize control of their criminal organizations: he had enlisted individuals who, like himself, had been overlooked and discarded in the past. Meanwhile, a montage depicted various mob bosses being eliminated by their own underlings.

In the end, Oz and Sofia reach a place where it seems like he’s about to harm her, but suddenly, right when she thinks she’ll be shot, a light shines on them, and the police appear. It turns out that Oz had arranged a deal with a city councilman who framed her for the Hangman murders. As a result, Sofia is taken into custody and returns to a mental institution, though it doesn’t seem to be Arkham. While she’s in her room, Dr. Rush enters to give her a letter from Selina Kyle (a character known as Catwoman from The Batman)). In the letter, Selina reveals they are half-sisters, among other things. The viewers see Sofia for the last time as she reads through the letter, and a small smile spreads across her face.

In the end, the viewers witness Sofia one last time as she peruses the letter, and a gentle smile unfolds on her face.

In the following scene, Vic and Oz are seen in solitude, subtly relishing their joint success which has, in essence, made Vic the de facto leader of Gotham’s criminal empire. They exchange words about their bond, with Oz acknowledging that Vic was instrumental in winning the war. When Vic reciprocates by calling Oz like a family member, the tone abruptly changes, and what appears to be a brotherly gesture from Oz is actually him maneuvering into a position to choke Vic to death. As his faithful ally breathes his last, Oz reminds Vic that family can provide support but can also be a liability, thus Vic cannot accompany him further.

In the concluding moments of “The Penguin“, we see Oz basking in his newfound riches as he and his elderly mother, who was once hiding in the impoverished areas of Gotham, now reside in a luxurious high-rise. Their living space boasts a bedroom facing a vast bay window. The series ends subtly hinting at Oz’s future encounters, as he confides to his girlfriend, whom he addresses with maternal affection, that no one can obstruct him anymore – a likely reference to his impending return in “The Batman Part 2“, where the Dark Knight is expected to make a comeback after being absent throughout the entire series.

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2024-11-11 18:04