The Penguin finale was great, but I wish they hadn’t done that to [SPOILER]

As a longtime fan of comic book adaptations, I have to admit that I was initially skeptical when I heard about The Penguin. A spinoff focusing on a villain? That didn’t seem promising. But boy, was I wrong! This show has proven to be one of the most captivating and well-crafted series of 2024.

2024 has arrived, and after airing its finale, the first season of “The Penguin” series left viewers impressed and satisfied – just as they’ve come to anticipate from this show. If you had told me back then that I would be counting down the days until a spin-off TV show based on “The Batman,” focusing on a villain character, would become one of my favorite shows of the year, I wouldn’t have believed it! But here we are, and “The Penguin” truly exceeded expectations.

In my opinion, the final episode, “A Great or Small Matter,” left no doubt for me that The Penguin is a daring series worthy of standing alongside other HBO’s prestigious productions. In Gotham City, Oz managed to outmaneuver Sofia and claim the throne of the underworld; I wonder what reaction Batman will have when The Batman: Part II premieres in 2026.

And some of the twists were heartbreaking. But before we get into that, let’s throw up a SPOILER WARNING. Beware what you read beyond this point.

For the love of The Penguin

The Penguin unabashedly portrays its protagonist as somewhat sociopathic. Oz is a compulsive liar, ready to betray anyone at a heartbeat if he perceives it advantageous, and exhibits ruthless tendencies in his violent actions. Yet, he displays intelligence, adaptability, and a certain charisma, albeit in a quick-witted, unaware manner. Being the lead character, we’re expected to find him likable, aren’t we?

We found ourselves appreciating him, but it became clear in the final episode that he was indeed a very flawed individual, to put it mildly, especially for those who may have harbored any remaining uncertainties. Interestingly, Oz appeared to care for only one person throughout the series – his mother Francis (played by Deirdre O’Connell). This woman held a grudge against Oz since he abandoned his two brothers to die as children. Unable to exact revenge and take his life, she suppressed her anger for her own protection, hoping that Oz would channel his antisocial tendencies into climbing the criminal hierarchy, thus elevating her living conditions.

And he does do that, but with a horrifying twist: Francis succumbs to her dementia in the end and is left basically comatose. Rather than honoring her wish to end her life with dignity, Oz keeps her hooked up to a life support machine in a lavish penthouse apartment, where she’s just conscious enough to know how miserable her life has become. Meanwhile, her son has his mistress Eve (Carmen Ejogo) dress up as his mother to give him the affirmation she never will, not caring that he’s condemned his actual mother, whom he purports to love, to horrible pain for the rest of her life.

This significantly strengthens my belief that Oz is irredeemable, should there be any doubt. To him, love holds no genuine value; he claimed to love his mother merely as a means to fabricate a narrative about himself being virtuous. His affection was never sincere, and we are faced with the chilling reality.

However, the incident known as “A Significant or Minor Event” provided an alternative perspective on Oz’s sociopathic behavior, and I found this particular demonstration to be somewhat overdone.

Justice for Vic

Before we delve into the fate of Francis, Oz, and his apprentice Vic – a boy who was raised by Oz as his trusted associate – they decide to take a seat on a bench for a conversation. After the events that unfolded, Vic confesses to Oz that he views him as family. However, this declaration of loyalty is difficult for Oz to accept due to its implications. Realizing that familial bonds could make him weak, Oz ends up killing Vic by strangling him.

It’s another shocking moment and definitely works given what we know of Oz. But it struck me as too much. To start, I’m not sure that family ties really do hold Oz back. Obviously he didn’t care to say anything about his brothers when they drowned in a tunnel under the city back when he was a kid. And although he appeared panicked when his mom was in danger, he also seemed ready to sacrifice her if it was in his best interests. If Sofia had killed Francis despite Oz having been able to stop it, I think he would have rationalized it to himself afterward.

Perhaps my assumption is off base, or maybe Oz thinks that family bonds will render him vulnerable, hence necessitating Vic’s demise. However, I feel that Vic could have contributed more to the story alive rather than dead. The notion that someone as self-centered as Oz can attract people who love him selflessly is quite chilling. In “The Batman: Part II,” it’s possible that Vic might sacrifice himself for Oz, only to discover that Oz never truly cared about him. Such a scene would be poignant indeed.

In “The Penguin,” his demise is certainly sad, but its impact lessens due to the accumulation of one tragedy following another. Frankly, I found Francis’ end more unsettling than Victor’s. At a minimum, I felt that Victor’s final moments could have been portrayed with more emotional depth.

Ultimately, this aspect doesn’t significantly detract from the overall quality of the show; The Penguin has been captivating throughout and has dealt some heavy blows particularly in the recent episodes. This critique might be a minor quibble at the final hurdle. Perhaps my reluctance to see Vic perish is more about my emotional attachment than any genuine flaw. Oh, poor Vic!

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2024-11-11 06:41