As a long-time Batman fan who has seen every iteration of the Dark Knight on screen, I must say that “The Penguin” was a delightful surprise. Having grown up with the comics, it’s always fascinating to see how these complex characters are brought to life in different mediums. This series, in particular, did an excellent job of delving into the psyche of Oswald Cobblepot and Sofia Falcone, two characters I’ve followed for years.
WARNING! The following contains MAJOR spoilers for The Penguin Episode 8!
Quick Links
- Vic’s Death Transformed Oz Into The Penguin
- Sofia Falcone Could Team Up with Catwoman
- Where Is Batman in The Penguin?
Throughout an impressive eight-episode run, “The Penguin” has presented one of today’s most compelling modern TV crime dramas, interestingly set in the city of Gotham. The narrative followed Oz Cobb’s (superbly portrayed by Colin Farrell) journey from obscurity to the infamous Batman nemesis we recognize. Contrasting his comical comic book version, this show’s Penguin is a much darker character, with some viewers drawing parallels between him and Gotham’s own Tony Soprano – a complex villain capable of both sympathy and malevolence when necessary.
In Episode 8, entitled “Great or Little Thing,” marked the end of an extraordinary season. The finale is said to be closely connected to the upcoming “The Batman: Part II“, a sequel that reportedly has a completed script and will have significant consequences for Gotham City as well as any future spin-offs. Now, let’s delve headfirst into the final episode of “The Penguin” to explore where it left Oz Cobb — unlike in “Black Adam“, the power dynamics within the DC Universe are poised to shift dramatically.
Vic’s Death Transformed Oz Into The Penguin
Through the character Victor Aguilar (played by Rhenzy Feliz), viewers were given a glimpse into the world of Oz Cobb. Originally from Crown Point, one of Gotham’s most impoverished neighborhoods, Vic was personally impacted by The Riddler’s floods that ruined his home and left him without family. With no means to assume the role of Batman, Victor instead chose a life of criminal activities. Surprisingly, he found himself becoming Oz Cobb’s closest ally during his ascent to power.
In Episode 8, audiences were left shocked when Oz took Vic’s life with his bare hands, viewing him as a potential threat and vulnerability. Having effectively thwarted Sofia Falcone’s schemes, Oz choked Vic outside Gotham City Hospital. As Vic expired on a park bench, Oz rifled through his wallet, reminiscent of their first encounter, then tossed the ID into the river, showing no trace of regret and walking away unscathed by guilt.
In Episode 8, it becomes crystal clear and profoundly disheartening that Oz Cobb, the antagonist in The Penguin storyline, is indeed a sinister character. Contrary to the portrayal of characters like The Joker who often explore villainy through a compassionate lens, The Penguin delves deep into this concept. However, Episode 8 serves as a stark reminder that, within the realm of the Batman universe, Oz Cobb is a ruthless, power-seeking villain, and poses a grave danger to Gotham City.
Sofia Falcone Could Team Up with Catwoman
While Batman was nowhere to be seen in the Penguin, standing in Oz Cobb’s way was Sofia “The Hangman” Falcone. Played excellently by Cristin Milioti (who could be looking at an Emmy nomination next year), Sofia slowly transformed into the comic book villain after being repeatedly betrayed by her own family. Her relationship with Oz bounced back and forth across the eight episodes, but “Great or Little Thing” brought their rivalry to a head as Sofia managed to capture Oz and his mother, Frances (Deirdre O’Connell). Sofia revealed that Frances once planned to have Oz killed after he murdered his own brothers. But Cobb’s twisted love for his mother blinded him from it. In a fit of rage, Oz managed to escape and devised a plan to bring down Sofia, gaining immense power in the process.
In a deserted section of Gotham, Sofia feared Oz would murder her, but he vanished suddenly, leaving Sofia to be apprehended by GCPD vehicles and returned to Arkham Asylum. The cacophony of the inmates once more assaulted her ears, yet a cryptic message arrived from her estranged sister. Delivered by Zoë Kravitz, the missive came from Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, who claimed they shared the same father, Carmine Falcone. Neither Kravitz nor Milioti have been officially announced for The Batman: Part II, but fans eagerly anticipate their potential collaboration on screen following their captivating performances.
Where Is Batman in The Penguin?
During the chaos caused by Oz Cobb among the Falcones and Marone crime families, a significant figure of Gotham City was mysteriously absent. It was already known that Batman, played by Robert Pattinson, wouldn’t be featured in “The Penguin,” and true to its word, he didn’t appear in Episode 8. The farthest fans got from seeing the Dark Knight in the series was a glimpse of the Batsignal glowing in the sky during the final shot, as the camera swept over the Gotham City skyline.
In the series “The Penguin,” which depicts an entire town in Gotham being destroyed, some viewers might find it surprising that such scale seems insufficient for “The Dark Knight.” This is because, at the beginning of “The Penguin,” it’s implied that Bruce Wayne is still recuperating from the injuries he suffered in “The Batman,” including a close-range shotgun blast to his chest. However, the show skips over a month, allowing Bruce sufficient time (by his own standards) to heal. The likely reason could be that the villain in “The Batman: Part II” is so formidable that Batman is fully engaged with them, leaving him with little time to handle Oz Cobb. This aligns with the central theme of “The Batman,” which highlights that Bruce Wayne is just one person. Now, all episodes of “The Penguin” are available for streaming on Max.
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2024-11-11 03:01