The finale of The Penguin brought the ongoing battle between Sofia (Cristin Milioti) and Oz (Colin Farrell) to a dramatic climax. As the tension between them reached its peak, the episode gave fans several shocking twists, a devastating death, and a sense that the story was transitioning toward something bigger.
The episode, titled “A Great or Little Thing,” marks a turning point in the series, wrapping up the current chapter while setting the stage for The Batman Part II.
Francis Cobb Has Always Known the Truth
From the very start of the series, it’s clear that Oz has deep issues with his mother. The relationship between the two characters has always been complicated, but in the finale, it becomes much darker. After the chaotic shoot-out at Monroe’s bar, where Oz and Francis once danced, Oz barely manages to escape after being stabbed by his mother.
She stabbed him because of the murder of his brothers. At first, it seemed like a simple conflict of family loyalty, but this event sets off a deeper chain of emotions that will haunt Oz for the rest of the series.
Oz visits his mother, Francis (Deirdre O’Connell), later in the hospital after rising to the top of Gotham’s criminal world. Unfortunately, he is met with devastating news—his mother had suffered a stroke, leaving her in a vegetative state.
This is a bitter blow to Oz, who had promised her that he would make sure she would live a comfortable life after the death of his brothers. Though Oz has succeeded in making enough money and gaining enough power to fulfill that promise, he is now unable to share this success with her. Worse still, she is unable to express pride in him, leaving Oz with a sense of hollow victory.
Their already strained relationship becomes even more tragic as it evolves into something nightmarish. At the end of the episode, Oz has placed his mother in a hospital bed at the top of his penthouse. He walks in, and seeing Francis unable to fully respond, he pathetically tells her, “I know, it’s everything you wanted.”
Francis’s single tear rolling down her cheek is heartbreaking, but Oz’s lack of empathy is glaring. He seems to believe that fulfilling his promise to her is enough, but it’s clear he’s doing so for his own sense of validation.
Oz Kills the Only Family He Has Left
Oz’s rise to the top of Gotham’s criminal underworld is thanks in no small part to Victor (Rhenzy Feliz), a key ally who has helped him maneuver through the city’s complex criminal network.
Victor, who is loyal and has been by Oz’s side since the beginning, is an instrumental figure in Oz’s ascent to power. He played a significant role in orchestrating coups within the Gotham criminal world, making the path easier for Oz to follow.
In a rare quiet moment, Oz and Victor sit together on a park bench overlooking the Gotham waterfront. Oz, though a man of few genuine emotions, acknowledges that without Victor, he wouldn’t have made it to where he is now. The two share a rare moment of camaraderie as Oz admits, “I wouldn’t be here without you.”
Victor, visibly touched, responds with, “You’re family to me.” This moment seems to hint at a bond between the two that is beyond business, yet it quickly becomes clear that for Oz, “family” has always been a complicated term.
Despite their shared history and Victor’s unwavering loyalty, Oz sees no room for him in the next phase of his journey. As Victor smiles, believing they are in a place of mutual respect, Oz moves in closer. What happens next is both chilling and heartbreaking: Oz wraps his arm around Victor’s shoulder and suddenly tightens his grip around his throat, choking the life out of him.
Victor, helpless, begs for his life, but Oz remains cold and emotionless. As Victor’s breath fades, Oz speaks softly, “You’re a good man, Vic. You got a good heart. It wasn’t for nothing.” These words only make the betrayal more gut-wrenching.
Oz acknowledges that Victor was a good man, but in his world, that is precisely why he cannot afford to let him live. As Victor dies, Oz calmly takes his wallet, retrieving the cash inside.
He then pulls out Victor’s ID, looks at it briefly, and tosses it into the river. With that, he washes his hands of the man who helped him reach his goal, leaving him lying lifeless in the streets with no name, no identity.
Sofia Loses the War Against Oz
Sofia (Cristin Milioti), once a major adversary to Oz, finds herself in a situation she never thought possible. Throughout the series, Sofia has done many terrible things, but at her core, she is still a woman traumatized by the betrayals of her past.
She has been tossed aside by her family, and her desperation has led her down a dangerous path. At the start of the finale, Sofia takes a bold step by placing a bounty on Oz’s head. She decides to leave her family’s legacy behind and offers a reward to anyone who can capture Oz, even setting fire to the Falcone mansion as she walks away from her past.
For a brief moment, it looks like Sofia might win the war. As Oz is cornered, Sofia seems ready to die, looking almost at peace with the prospect of her own death. She fully expects Oz to kill her. However, in a twist of fate, Oz does not kill her. Instead, he pins the blame on her and her alleged alliance with Maroni (Clancy Brown).
He then strikes a deal with Councilman Hardy (Rhys Coiro), who is eager to increase his political power. Oz convinces Hardy that Sofia is dangerous and unhinged, painting her as a madwoman who escaped Arkham Asylum and went on a violent killing spree.
Oz spins a narrative about saving Gotham from a crazed woman, and the deal is too tempting for Hardy to resist. Sofia is captured once again and thrown back into Arkham. The episode ends with her sitting in her cell, near catatonic, unable to react to anything around her—until she receives a letter from Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz).
The letter is a small glimmer of hope in Sofia’s bleak existence. When she opens it, a small smile cracks across her face and Selina’s familiar musical theme plays. While it’s unclear what will happen next, it’s a small, emotional moment of connection in an otherwise tragic situation.
The Penguin Rises to the Top, But Batman Is Back
As the finale reaches its climax, Oz stands victorious, reigning over Gotham’s criminal empire. With Victor eliminated and Sofia defeated, he appears to have achieved his ultimate ambitions. Yet in Gotham’s unforgiving realm, dominance is never permanent, and the throne is always precarious.
As Oz returns to his penthouse, he is greeted by Eve (Carmen Ejogo), who is dressed in his mother’s sequin dress. This dress holds sentimental value for Oz, as it was worn by Francis during a night they went to Monroe’s bar.
Oz and Eve share a slow dance in the penthouse, and for a moment, it seems like their relationship might still have a future. Though their relationship is mostly transactional, there is a strange sense of intimacy between them.
However, even in this tender moment, Oz’s Oedipus complex takes center stage. He looks at Eve and demands that she tell him she loves him and that she’s proud of him. Eve coos, telling him that nothing is standing in his way anymore. At that moment, as they continue to dance, Oz says, “I did it, Ma. Tell me I did it.”
The scene is both disturbing and tragic. Oz is clearly lost in his desire for validation, using Eve as a replacement for his mother. But just as everything seems to be going in his favor, the camera pans out.
The iconic Bat Signal lights up in the distance, signaling the return of Batman. This final image leaves viewers with a sense of foreboding, hinting that Oz’s reign at the top may soon be challenged.
The episode ends with a powerful visual that ties into the larger world of The Batman. While Oz has reached the pinnacle of his criminal empire, the looming presence of Batman reminds us that no one, not even the Penguin, can hold onto power forever. With the Bat Signal flashing, it is clear that Gotham’s protector is not far behind, and Oz’s troubles are far from over.
This finale sets up several intriguing possibilities for the future. Will Oz continue his reign in Gotham, or will Batman put an end to his criminal empire? And what will happen to Sofia, who has lost everything?
With the Bat Signal in the sky, it’s clear that The Penguin’s story is far from finished. Whether this sets the stage for The Batman Part II or a second season of The Penguin remains to be seen, but for now, the story of Oz, Sofia, and Gotham continues to unfold in dark and unexpected ways.
All episodes of The Penguin are available to stream on Max.
