Chris Connor reviews the finale of The Penguin…
The Penguin has built steady momentum across its run as alliances have shifted and there have been twists and turns aplenty. The penultimate episode saw Sofia with Oz’s mother and planting a bomb that put a dent in his drugs operation and the city itself. So, with just one episode left, how does the finale resolve the dangling threads and potentially set up events for The Batman Part II?
The episode really concludes the back-and-forth between Sofia and Oz, who have been jostling for control of the city’s underworld and the remnants of the Falcone and Marone operations to this point. We open with some well-constructed flashback sequences, seemingly inside Frances’ head as she thinks back on Oz’s childhood and the extent she knew of his involvement in what befell his brothers.
As The Penguin has so often proved, it is not afraid to go in some unexpected directions, especially within its openings which have often featured flashbacks that add some context to present events. This is no different, it really shows how Oz was manipulative and scheming even in his youth.
Cristin Milioti and Colin Farrell are at the heart and soul of this episode as we see who might eventually end up on top. The pair have really helped cement The Penguin as a great TV series regardless of the genre trappings it has fallen into. For Milioti in particular we can only hope this is a springboard to more character driven work, building on roles in the likes of Palm Springs and The Wolf of Wall Street.
The Penguin ends in a way that feels fitting for the series as a whole, with more twists and turns and surprising character developments. It does in its own way lay the foundation for the underworld specifically within The Batman Part II with some interesting crumbs dropped throughout for smaller details the film sequel might dive into. Matt Reeves and James Gunn’s commitment to further series that follow this mould is welcome as the universe will continue to expand. It is to the show’s credit though that is has strayed fairly far from the film to really excel as a series that can be watched in its own right.
The Penguin’s finale delivers an engrossing hour that builds on the themes touched upon throughout. It is a gripping, tense 68 minutes of television that keeps the audience on their toes and delivers the end the series deserves.
Chris Connor
