In the riveting conclusion of The Penguin, titled Episode 8, Oz finds himself atop Gotham’s criminal hierarchy, exclaiming that he’s “the f**kin king.” However, with great power comes great sacrifice, and this newfound status lays heavy on his shoulders.
The previous episode turned the tide for Oz when Sofia kidnapped his mother, Francis. She ruthlessly taunted Francis about Oz’s violent past, including the murders of his brothers. In a dramatic turn, one of Sofia’s men detonated a car bomb in Oz’s underground Bliss operation, leaving destruction in its wake.
Despite the absence of Batman—an upsetting note for fans of Robert Pattinson—the stage is set for a turbulent finale. The episode begins with Francis grappling with fragmented memories, reflecting on a pivotal choice: nearly allowing Rex Calabrese, her son’s childhood idol, to kill Oz, only to change course and nurture his darker inclinations for her own benefit.
Oz awakens in a precarious situation, flanked by Francis, Dr. Julian Rush (potentially a secret foe), and Sofia. Remarkably, despite the chaos surrounding him, he maintains a semblance of joy, albeit an underwhelming version.
Is Victor Dead at the Conclusion of The Penguin?
The fate of Victor hangs in the balance. Oz’s brutal act of strangling him and leaving his lifeless body by the river raises questions: Is Victor truly dead, or is he on the path to becoming this universe’s take on Victor Zsasz?
To understand Victor’s predicament, we need to breakdown the events leading up to this moment. Following a hefty bounty Sofia places on Oz, Link contacts Victor, stoking suspicion that he might betray Oz. However, what audiences witness is a carefully orchestrated deception by Link and the other crime bosses’ deputies. In exchange for their allegiance, Oz offers them a chance at power, leading them to eliminate their respective leaders at the airport, thus saving Oz and sealing Sofia’s fate.
Oz’s decision to kill Victor stems from a complex rationale: the bond they shared, with Victor considering Oz family, posed a threat to Oz’s rule. In a moment of desperation, Victor pleads for his life, but Oz chooses ruthlessness over affection, choking him as he begs along the riverbank.
As Victor’s body crumples, Oz rifling through his wallet for cash and ID suggests a chilling finality—he does seem dead. However, could there be more to Victor’s character? What if he embodies the dark essence of Victor Zsasz, possibly setting the stage for his transformation in The Batman 2 or the next season of The Penguin?
Consider Victor’s backstory: he hails from Crown Point, a struggling area in Gotham, and yearned for his parents’ approval. His life took a tragic turn when they died in a flood incited by the Riddler’s malevolence. After an encounter with Oz during a petty theft, Victor placed his trust in him, only to face betrayal. In the comics, Victor Zsasz, after a life-altering encounter, becomes a serial killer, marking each of his victims with scars, a motif reminiscent of Victor’s own journey.
Oz’s Deadly Decision: A Reflection of His True Nature
Throughout the series, Oz has exhibited moments of violence. He coldly murdered Alberto Falcone, rationalizing it as necessary, but his relationship with Victor is more complex. Initially portrayed as a supportive figure, Oz fostered Victor’s confidence, offering encouragement and opportunities, only to later extinguish that bond in a brutal act of violence, emphasizing that family ties compromise his reign.
Oz’s killings paint a grim picture: his tenderness towards Victor was superficial, ultimately overshadowed by his monstrous instinct to eliminate threats. This moment crystallizes Oz’s transformation into an undeniable villain—his actions driven by an unyielding desire for control over emotional attachments.
Why Is Batman Absent at the Finale?
As the finale approaches its climax, Gotham’s skyline lights up with the Bat-Signal, yet Batman is conspicuously absent. Executives Matt Reeves and showrunner Lauren LeFranc opted to keep Batman distant to maintain focus on Oz’s narrative arc, primarily to explore the nuances of his character without overshadowing him with superheroic intervention.
In an interview with Esquire, Reeves elaborates on this decision, highlighting Batman’s role as a specter rather than a direct player in the story. “This show aims to center around the rogues’ gallery characters and provide their perspective—an exploration of Oz’s life post-movie events,”he stated.
LeFranc echoed these sentiments, stating that “Batman doesn’t patrol every inch of Gotham. He has his focus and priorities,”which means the narrative will unfold from the viewpoints of the characters entrenched within the underbelly of Gotham City.
Colin Farrell, during a roundtable interview, emphasized the distinct portrayal of Gotham’s world, stating, “It’s a very different part of Gotham that we explore, offering a deeper look into the city’s underbelly.”This deliberate choice allows The Penguin to carve out its own narrative identity apart from the typical Batman lore.
Selina Kyle’s Connection to Sofia
In an unexpected twist, Oz frames Sofia for a multitude of crimes throughout the series. Rather than executing her, he confines her to Arkham Asylum, where a letter from her half-sister, Selina Kyle, awaits.
Fans of The Batman will recall that Selina, better known as Catwoman, is the secret daughter of Carmine Falcone. Her mother’s tragic death at Falcone’s hands cultivated a complex backstory for Selina, who grew into a skilled thief while seeking closure and revenge.
Selina’s outreach to Sofia in Arkham hints at deeper familial ties, with speculation rife about the potential for Sofia to play a significant role in the upcoming The Batman 2. As the story stands, Selina’s intentions remain ambiguous, leaving audiences eager for further revelations in future installments.
The Penguin Finale Sheds Light on Oz’s Maternal Complex
The culmination of The Penguin makes one aspect abundantly clear: Oz’s psychological state is intricately tied to his mother, indicating a severe Oedipus complex. Flashbacks reveal his obsessive care and neediness towards Francis, to the point of prioritizing her desires over the safety of his brothers.
Oz pledged to provide Francis with the life she deserved, culminating in a lavish lifestyle filled with luxuries—yet this promise transformed into a hollow victory as she lay in a vegetative state after a stroke, eliciting only a single tear in Oz’s presence.
Dressed in a sharp tuxedo, he later engages in a disturbing interaction with Eve, who eerily mirrors his mother in appearance. His earnest craving for maternal affection, overshadowed by guilt over his brothers’ deaths, culminates in a deeply unsettling climax as they share a dance, contrasting the joy of a newfound connection with the torment of a severed maternal bond.
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