THE PENGUIN Season Finale Spoiler Recap: A Shocking Ending And Betrayal As Stage Is Set For THE BATMAN PART II

THE PENGUIN Season Finale Spoiler Recap: A Shocking Ending And Betrayal As Stage Is Set For THE BATMAN PART II

The season finale of The Penguin just wrapped up on HBO, and the series delivers a series of gut-punches with a shocking, twisted ending that sets the stage for The Batman Part II. Here's our recap...

By JoshWilding - Nov 10, 2024 10:11 PM EST
Filed Under: The Batman

The Penguin finale, titled "A Great or Little Thing," opens with Rex Calabrese visiting Francis Cobb in flashbacks that are playing out thanks to Dr. Julian Rush’s manipulations. It’s revealed that she found the torch Oz took beneath the streets of Gotham when he left his brothers behind to die, leaving her to conclude that her needy son killed them so he could have her all to himself.

Rex offers to take Oz under his wing because it’s possible to make a child like that into something great, particularly if she steers him in the right direction. Alternatively, he can kill the boy. Ma chooses the latter and their big night out was actually meant as his last night on Earth before taking a bullet for what he’d done.

However, his promises of a better figure and a top-floor apartment seemingly change her mind.

Back in the present, Vic searches for Oz and pushes his luck by calling the various gang leaders cowards for leaving. Oz, meanwhile, wakes up alongside his mother as Sofia delights in delivering some home truths about his past and what Francis intended to do to him. 

Sofia tries to compel Oz into confessing to killing his brothers, but even when she promises to cut his mother’s fingers off, he still won’t tell the truth. With that, Francis drops the bombshell that she’s always known what he did and admits to always hating him. She stabs him with a broken bottle and collapses, leaving Oz to take advantage of the situation by escaping. 

He gets his mom to the hospital after gunning down Sofia's men and stitches himself up while Vic inspires him by reminding the gangster of everything he's achieved since they met. He tracks down Councilman Sebastian Hady and blames Sal Maroni and Sofia for what happened in Crown Point. Providing Hady with everything he needs to make her the villain, Oz demands an opportunity to get to know the Councilman's allies and be welcomed into their circle. He's agreeable but warns Oz that mayor-elect Bella Reál is cracking down on corruption and explains he'll need to make himself look clean moving forward.

While this is happening, Sofia decides to leave Gotham and offers up her home, territory, and businesses to whoever finds Oz. 

The Triads track him down and call Sofia; she arranges a meeting at the airport where she plans to kill him. However, it was all a set-up; Link, the second-in-command, kills Feng Zhao and Sofia's men. It turns out Oz successfully managed to convince the underbosses to murder their leaders. Like him, they're sick of having a boot on their throat. 

Oz takes Sofia for a drive and they argue back and forth; marching her out of the car, it appears he's going to kill his foe...until he vanishes and the cops show up and arrest her for that explosion. Sofia is returned to Arkham where Julian keeps a watchful eye on her and delivers a letter from a woman claiming to be her half-sister: Selina Kyle. 

Francis had a stroke and is now a vegetable, meaning she's unable to see what her son achieved. He sobs over her and begs his mother to say she's proud; he became a King for her, but she understands nothing. 

Outside, Oz thanks Vic for everything he's done and says he's become like family. He saw him at his lowest but can't allow himself to be weak like that again for anyone. With that, Oz strangles and kills the teenager, callously taking the cash out of his wallet and throwing Vic's ID into the water, leaving him just another unidentified dead body in Gotham. 

Later, we find Oz having met with his new high society pals returning to his new penthouse. His mother is in a hospital bed and a tear runs down her cheek as she looks out at the city. Oz then dances with Eve; she's dressed just like his mother and roleplays being her, telling Oz how proud she is and how much she loves him. 

However, just as she promises that Gotham is now his and that nothing can stop him, the camera pans outside where we see the Bat-Signal shining in the distance, setting the stage for a future clash...

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MisterBones
MisterBones - 11/10/2024, 10:13 PM
Oz really is a piece of absolute shit. Mesmerizing to watch him be one though.

The bat signal at the very end was such a cool touch
TheNewYorker
TheNewYorker - 11/10/2024, 11:13 PM
@MisterBones - They did a masterful job at making him some what likable and deplorable.
Making you root for a piece of shit is wild LOL
HAUSMAN01
HAUSMAN01 - 11/11/2024, 12:24 AM
@MisterBones - ​​I loved everything except for Julian Rush. His character just feels so random and lacking in substance. It's like he had a subplot that got scrapped late in development. My friend also has a theory that Rush isn't real and is just a figment of her imagination, but I think he's real
MisterBones
MisterBones - 11/11/2024, 12:53 AM
@HAUSMAN01 - I agree. He felt like something randomly tacked on and/or had to have subplots cut. For a show which gave plenty of side characters substance, he lacked it.

I think they should’ve leaned more into him being a full on corrupt doctor. Not in the way his superior was but in that he’s got a history of getting too close to patients. Him wanting to be the sub to patients while letting them dominate him.
IAmAHoot
IAmAHoot - 11/11/2024, 4:59 AM
@MisterBones - The best villains are always engrossing. That’s what elevates them to be better than good.
“It’s better than good. It’s the f***ing best.”
RockReigns
RockReigns - 11/10/2024, 10:14 PM
10 bucks says Vic is still alive and he will try to get revenge in Season 2.
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 11/10/2024, 10:16 PM
@RockReigns - Vic should be Emperor Penguin.
Taonrey
Taonrey - 11/10/2024, 11:03 PM
@RockReigns - doubt we get a season 2, Collin hated filming so much in that suit, more likely it will just be a film role from now on
dragon316
dragon316 - 11/11/2024, 3:55 AM
@Taonrey - what he choose tv show for he heated suit that much people choose do it once not over and over again for every episode luke skywalker new trilogy all over again mark hammil didn’t like how things was going did he speak up to director how he felt who knows ?
IAmAHoot
IAmAHoot - 11/11/2024, 5:03 AM
@dragon316 - The show speaks for itself. You think every actor only takes easy roles? Actors like to challenge themselves, and a great role will make them accept the challenge. Ask Colin Farrell if the hassle was worth it and he will undoubtedly say he was glad he did it, despite the pain in the ass of what the role physically entailed. Plus, his next appearance as the character is already now eagerly anticipated and really well established as a confrontation we want to see between him and Batman.
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 11/10/2024, 10:16 PM
So Batman was really washing his tights.
TheMarxican
TheMarxican - 11/11/2024, 1:47 AM
@Malatrova15 - will you marry me
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 11/11/2024, 2:44 AM
@TheMarxican - i dont belive in marriage but an open relationship would be fine.
TheRedLeader
TheRedLeader - 11/10/2024, 10:16 PM
Take a note: in Gotham, you only root for the Bat.
Oz, you piece of shit!
TheRedLeader
TheRedLeader - 11/10/2024, 10:19 PM
@TheRedLeader - having said that:WHAT A [frick]ING GREAT SHOW!

Take your hands off The Batman 2 , James Gunn.
kider2
kider2 - 11/10/2024, 10:23 PM
Best Comic Book show since Watchmen! What a finale!
Nothing even comes close to those 2 shows.
TheRedLeader
TheRedLeader - 11/10/2024, 10:27 PM
@kider2 - Watchmen was garbage
MisterBones
MisterBones - 11/10/2024, 10:47 PM
@kider2 - I still think Daredevil season 1 (and 3 too; depending on the day) is top of the mountain but this is close
ogrodafloresta
ogrodafloresta - 11/11/2024, 12:45 AM
@kider2 - HBO, baby. Still thinks “Watchmen” was better, since it was an anomaly. Nobody believed that show could be good, but it turned out an absolute banger.
HAUSMAN01
HAUSMAN01 - 11/10/2024, 10:30 PM
&
Saintsinnister
Saintsinnister - 11/10/2024, 10:32 PM
I wouldn’t be surprised if this show gets a few Emmys. It’s really going to be hard for Batman: Brave and Bold with this universe being so well received.
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 11/11/2024, 1:32 AM
@Saintsinnister - That movie isn't happening.
ElBlancoChoco
ElBlancoChoco - 11/10/2024, 10:34 PM
What an absolute guy punch at the end. Vic was the heart of this show. I couldn't watch him do it.
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 11/10/2024, 10:35 PM
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User Comment Image

Excellent!!!!!
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 11/10/2024, 10:37 PM
One of the Best, if not arguably the BEST, Comic Book TV shows ever produced!

SgtSoggybottom
SgtSoggybottom - 11/10/2024, 10:39 PM
…What did I just watch…?

Sweet baby Jesus, everything about this show was remarkable.
RealTurner
RealTurner - 11/10/2024, 10:40 PM
They couldn't resist it and went too hard. Batman not being all over this makes him look like a chump; things like Sofia killing her family were so simplistic, you couldn't even use that if Batman was involved because he would/should work it out (and prove it) in about 10 seconds. Still, good series.
Gambito
Gambito - 11/10/2024, 10:44 PM
Let that si k in that woman almost got oz killed after realizing his true colors yet he kept him around forgot selfish and greedy motives that completely re-contextualizes the relationship we have been watching instant warrant for a rewatch 10/10 Matt reeves you are our only hope keep it up
Godzilla2000Zer
Godzilla2000Zer - 11/10/2024, 10:52 PM
SCREW U OZ!!!!!!!!!
Supersperm
Supersperm - 11/10/2024, 11:12 PM
Dang , Great show. Now we have a reason to want Batman to end the Penguin in The Batman 2.
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 11/10/2024, 11:12 PM
The best thing about the series? It makes clear that Oz is a VILLAIN. Not an anti-hero, not a victim or a misunderstood guy. A VILLAIN.
TheNewYorker
TheNewYorker - 11/10/2024, 11:18 PM
Colin Farrells performance in this was legendary. Taking a silly character and turning it into something none of us could’ve imagined.

I spent the entire season trying to find him in the role and simply could not. Great episode, great show.
HAUSMAN01
HAUSMAN01 - 11/11/2024, 12:01 AM
Harloff interview Vic actor RHENZY FELIZ
SATW42
SATW42 - 11/11/2024, 12:37 AM
Vic orchestrated a plot that involved the number twos of every gang taking out their heads, I knew he was toast the second the montage started.
MahN166A
MahN166A - 11/11/2024, 1:03 AM
10/10 for me with this series!
Enough said.
Forthas
Forthas - 11/11/2024, 1:24 AM
Colin Farrel gave an Oscar winning performance (I know it is an award for a different medium).

A lot to unpack. Couple of VERY minor criticisms are that two things seemed implausible and/or not well thought out, first is the fact that Oz could have spit out his gag when he was tied up and interrogated by Sofia. They corectly used tape for Francis. Not sure how they got that so wrong. Also, I did not quite buy how Francis figured out Oz killed his brothers. It is just a bit farfetched. Finding a flashlight in his pocket is not exactly a smoking gun.

That stated the “red wedding” style massacre of the crime boss leaders was a mastermind boss move. Just epic! The psychological confrontation with Oz and Sofia as she held his mother captive was as tense as I have been during any of the previous episodes which had tense moments galore. Most shocking was the end of Vic was just a new level of viciousness especially after what had just occurred. Then to leave him there and not have the decency to bury him or anything. Just unbelievable. Finally the twisted relationship between Oz and his mother redefines co-dependency and simultaneously an Oedipus complex to an absurd extreme. Completely creepy!

All-in-all this show left me wanting more! Bravo to Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark and the cast and crew of one of the finest CBM series ever made!
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 11/11/2024, 1:32 AM
Penguin is a true monster, nothing redeemable here. With that said, what a masterpiece of a show.
LibraMatter
LibraMatter - 11/11/2024, 1:49 AM
The Penguin was sooo good. From start to finish. I liked that Vic was killed. He was the only thing that made it feel a little light but it was all to make his death mean so much at the end. I mean, Oz did kill his brothers and was going to let Sophia’s men cut off his mom’s pinky… Oz is a complete monster and it works for Reeve’s Batman world. That whole dance at the end with Eve was so messed up and a mind screw. The fact that he created a stand-in for his mom to get her approval was so strange and brilliant. Pretty twisted. It’s kind of like his mom made a deal with the devil(kid-Oz) to get her penthouse and her getting it at the end in such a messed up way was rough. Like a monkey paw situation.

The connective tissue of Sophia getting that letter from Selina and the Bat symbol was cool. I kept thinking that it was strange Batman was MIA throughout the show but it made some sense. This is still year two or three of Bruce being Batman. Seasoned Batman would be all over Oz, early low-tech entry level Batman might not be as on top of it. It took him awhile to catch Riddler. Also, I don’t know the timeframe of the show so it’s hard to say how quick Oz would be on Batman’s radar. Also, the fact that city officials are working with him can’t make it as obvious for Bruce to see through the smoke. So, when we see the Bat signal may be when Batman might start on the case. I wouldn’t mind if Penguin was the villain of Batman 2. It might be more exciting to have Mr. Freeze or Poison Ivy but I still would be cool if they continue Oz’s journey.
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 11/11/2024, 2:02 AM
@LibraMatter - "That whole dance at the end with Eve was so messed up and a mind screw."

That was by far the most messed up thing of this entire show. It really shows how far gone Penguin truly is.

"I wouldn’t mind if Penguin was the villain of Batman 2."

Although I still think there's truth to the rumors about the Court of Owls and Hush, it seems like Penguin's role will be just as big.
LibraMatter
LibraMatter - 11/11/2024, 2:09 AM
@TheJok3r - Penguin may also be a villain that lingers in Reeves’ Batman world, like the Joker, Catwoman and Riddler. The show may have just been an introduction and then another villain may be introduced and then another and another to add to world building. Some run-ins here and there but not everyone has to end up in prison or Arkham. But who knows!?! Haha. We’ll see.
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