HBO
HBO’sThe Penguin , star Oscar campaigner Colin Farrell and ( hopefully ) future Emmy nominee Cristin Milioti , just wrapped up its eight - installment run with an explosive and tragic finis that boast a whole dissimilar Oz than the one we met in 2022’sThe Batman . This spinoff , which chronicles Oz ’s ascent in Gotham ’s underworld following The Riddler ’s ( Paul Dano ) reign of topsy-turvydom , say a remarkably glum floor of trauma , revenge , guiltiness , and family , climax in an operatic finale that surely left many viewer with their jaws on the flooring .
The Penguinfollows Oz Cobb ’s ( Farrell ) attempts to take over Gotham ’s Scheol . The urban center ’s crime is hold by the two principal law-breaking families : the Maronis , lead from prison house by the infamous Salvatore ( Clancy Brown ) , and the Falcones , presently undergo something of a succession crisis following the unexpected death of successor apparent Alberto ( Michael Zegen ) at Oz ’s hand . Things are further complicated by the dismission of Sofia Falcone ( Milioti ) from Arkham Asylum , send off the city into unexpected bedlam . So , how does this violent tale end ? Let ’s hash out .
HBO
word of advice : This article hold back spoilers forThe Penguin .
What is The Penguin about?
Mainly , The Penguinis a taradiddle of greed and retaliation play along three typical characters , each with open harm . Oz is haunt with making a name for himself in Gotham ’s criminal world , largely to finally earn the favourable reception of his dementia - suffering female parent , Francis ( Deirdre O’Connell ) . He attempt to secure it by becoming Gotham ’s new head honcho , form alliances with fairly much every major instrumentalist before promptly betraying them . Oz also takes command of Sofia ’s drug operation and kills Salvatore ’s married woman and son .
Victor Aguilar ( Rhenzy Feliz ) is a new homeless orphan who lost his parents during The Riddler ’s attack . He is Oz ’s unwitting confederate at first , but soon becomes completely truehearted to the next Gentleman of Crime . Victor ’s path turns increasingly dark , as he gets more tortuous with Gotham ’s gangs and even becomes a manslayer in the name of Oz ’s plans .
Finally , Sofia spent years in Arkham after being charge of committing numerous murders and obtain the moniker The Hangman . Upon her outlet , she require revenge against her crony ’s murderer . As she learns more about Oz ’s involvement in her unjust incarceration in Arkham and her father ’s hand in framing her for the Hangman ’s murders , Sofia becomes increasingly vengeful and unhinged , dropping the Falcone name and pursuing two principal goal : destroying the Falcones ’ legacy and kill Oz .
How does The Penguin end?
In the last instalment , titledA corking or Little Thing , Oz is taken captive by Sofia , who is also holding Francis captive . In a tense showdown at a rundown club , Sofia tortures Francis to force Oz into confessing he wipe out his brothers , but he ’s ineffectual to . Finally , Francis squeal she has always known the truth about Oz ’s guilty conscience , telling him she hat him and should ’ve killed him when she had the chance . She then stabs him in the catgut with a broken bottle , to Oz ’s repulsion . Shortly after , Francis suffers a monolithic cerebrovascular accident , let Oz to overpower his captors and escape the society with her .
Oz takes Francis to the infirmary and reunites with Vic . He then goes to see Councilman Sebastian Hady ( Rhys Coiro ) , a corrupt and gambling - hook quasi - ally of his and pick Sofia for the deaths of Salvatore ( who actually died of a pump onslaught in a fistfight with Oz ) and his family . Oz also say Hady that Sofia blew up a monolithic drug lab in Gotham ’s metro ( which she actually caused , to be fair ) , subsequently damage the neighbourhood of Crown Point . Thus , Oz makes it seem as though the events of the entire serial were organize by Sofia , exonerating himself in the operation .
Meanwhile , Sofia cite the gang of Gotham and volunteer them the Falcone family ’s resources , lay claim she only wants Oz and will pass on Gotham after she kills him . Although the head of the Gotham triads , Feng Zhao ( François Chau ) , pitch Oz to her , he is shit by his subsidiary and killed . Oz then have Sofia to a secluded location and leaves her for the authority , sending her back to Arkham and in effect eliminating the last of his obstacle .
However , the stroke left Francis in a vegetative commonwealth . As he speak with Victor , Oz realizes he has develop a soft smirch for the kid and kill him , not wanting to be vulnerable with anyone else now that he has reach his goals . Oz clog up Victor and have his ID into the river before abandoning his body .
Sofia returns to Arkham , where she get a letter from her half - sister , Selina Kyle ( Zoë Kravitz ) ; although the contents are not unveil , Sofia softly smiles while interpret the letter , a intimation of hope traveling across her face . Outside , Oz is now the king of Gotham ’s Hell and has moved his mother to a penthouse dominate the city . Francis is very obviously miserable , as she had made Oz promise he ’d kill her before permit her to suffer her judgment and body to her growing dementia . However , Oz is unable to let go of her and choose to keep her with him , even if it ’s in torment . last , he meets his lover , Eve ( Carme Ejogo ) , who is dressed in one of Francis ’ wearing apparel . The two dancing , and Oz make Eve say she ’s proud of him and love him . As the television camera pans away , the Bat - Signal shines in the sky .
Will there be a season 2 of The Penguin?
Who knows ! There is no official promulgation yet , but Farrell is confirmedto return as Oz in 2026’sThe Batman 2 . In fact , The Penguinsets upThe Batman 2quite neatly , placing The Penguin as a villain worthy of Batman ’s sophomore adventure . It would actually make a lot of sentiency to have Oz as the villain , asThe Penguinends with him a winner , having kill all his foe and effectively pack command of Gotham . Thus , Batman could finally give The Penguin his just penalization for murdering Victor and the many other crimes he committed .
As for Sofia , it ’s unclear if Milioti will return inThe Batman 2or if there ’s even a role for her in the account . The letter from Selina Kyle does hint at Sofia ’s potential return , maybe in a team - up between The Hangman and Catwoman , which could number in the movie continuation , a potential season 2 ofThe Penguin , or even in another TV spinoff centered around the two . In fact , Matt Reeves latterly confirm moreThe Batmanspinoffsare coming , which prognosticate well for a Bulgarian capital - centrical show , especially if Batman does indeed deal with Oz inThe Batman 2 .
For now , however , fans should enjoy the tremendously dark and bittersweet endingThe Penguinjust pulled off . It was bleak , frustrative , and exhilarating , a triumph of the criminal offense genre worthy of stand up alongside the best Batman storyline in alive - action . Hopefully , the Emmys will rememberThe Penguincome July because Farrell , Milioti , and O’Connell are all Emmy - desirable , proving that there is much to be enjoyed in the earth of comic book adaptations .
All eight episodes ofThe Penguinare available tostream on Max .
