On paper, I get the logic of it. But it just didn't work for me. It felt like the plot needed it more than a real character moment for me.

If it was all about removing all weakness, he should've killed his mother too.

Those are both very different relationships. He suffers from some very severe issues regarding his mother, as we've seen throughout the show, especially this episode. Victor couldn't be a part of his future plans having known and seen what he did.

Brian Earl Spilner said:

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Being able to escape from Sofia even with a stab wound in the gut. Orchestrating Sofia's capture with one single meeting. Getting all the heads of the gangs to get offed by their seconds. It all seemed a little too easy.

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This is the only thing from your list that I agree with. I felt like completely missed the mark, but I just accept it because its ultimately a comic book tv show.
Rest of it is just personal opinions

THE BAD

- While I admire the thematic effectiveness of the sequence, how did Sofia and Dr. Rush have any idea that Oz's mom harbored such a dagger of a secret (that Oz killed his brothers and she knew). Did I miss something? Like, what gave them the idea to even go down that road and dig that memory out of her? Again, on one hand the psychological stage play/theatrics were cool on paper, but I have to admit that in execution was a little eye-rolling.

- Oz then escaping Sofia's clutches so easily, hobbling with his mother in tow to a car that just so happened to have the keys in it, and somehow having Vic's phone number memorized a scene or two later is a perfect encapsulation of things always breaking Oz's way, that Spilner mentioned above, distilled down to a single sequence.

- Dr. Rush quitting his job to become Sofia's henchman in the cringiest/laziest way possible, only to then somehow get his job back when she returns to Arkham, is so incredibly dumb, and feels like something from a completely different show. Just absolutely terrible writing.

- To the multiple people who saw early screeners and said some variation of the ending being "pretty obvious" as to the identity of at least *a* villain in the next movie… **** off. Because I still have no idea.


THE GOOD

Damn near everything else. Basically, starting with Oz and Councilman Hady (aka Billy Walsh from Entourage) in the courtroom, which was such a cool scene, one that finally tipped its hat to where all this was going, re: Oz ultimately becoming the corrupt, affluent politician we've always known past versions of the character to be. That whole arc/ending in the penthouse was handled so damn well, to the point where I can't wait to see this new iteration of Oz in the next movie.

Just one question, though... where is Oz's money coming from now? I guess he and the Triads have started a new drug operation? Political kickbacks? I realize Oz is now "king," but it seemed like he had to give up a ton in the end to get there. As great and as sad and demented as the final Penthouse scene is, it just caught me a bit off guard, that's all.

Colin Farrell says he's open to the idea of returning for a second season of #ThePenguin. He also shares that he's signed on for three total #TheBatman films, including "five or six" scenes in #TheBatman2: https://t.co/iSbch9kQjj pic.twitter.com/JdAZy7Y6lr

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) November 11, 2024

Quote:

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What's the latest on The Batman Part II?

I haven't even read a script yet.

Is there anything you would like to eventually experience with this character?

Not really. I certainly don't expect anything. I signed up for three Batman films, but I didn't know if I'd be in the second film. Matt Reeves is a brilliant writer and an extraordinary filmmaker, and what I'm most excited-slash-nervous about in the second film is not what Oz does or what predicaments he finds himself in, or what moments of success he gets to experience but what his voice is. How is his personality? It was forming and changing in the limited series, and, by the end of the eight episodes, it's concretized into something else. There is a degree of almost delusion psychopathy present in the last scene. So how is that taken up in the second film? I was told I have five or six scenes. I don't have any hopes or any expectations. I'm really an open book, and that's the way I get excited by **** or not. I think sometimes actors, if they have a career that has a certain length of time, they sometimes get to make too many decisions. Which isn't to say I won't push back or argue or fight in Oz's corner I do believe I know him better than anyone now.

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This is such a phenomenal, in-depth interview...

Colin Farrell Answers All Your 'The Penguin' Season 1 Questions and Breaks Down That Shocking Finale [Exclusive]https://t.co/2PDeH6dzq6

— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) November 11, 2024

Gotcha. I do vaguely remember that now. Still a little too convenient, but whatever.

Harvey Dent is 100% leading the anti corruption task force

— grant (@grxnt00) November 11, 2024

Matt Reeves on how 'THE PENGUIN' provides the groundwork for 'THE BATMAN PART II':

"Oz does become one of the entry points into the movie. I can't tell you where it goes from there, except to say that we're super excited about it." pic.twitter.com/xVyA0ymQKx

— The Art of The Batman (@thebatfilm) November 11, 2024

When I saw this post a month ago I think I bit my tongue so hard it was bleeding… https://t.co/teqjGtDSmt

— BSL 🎄 (@bigscreenleaks) November 11, 2024

TCTTS said:

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Gotcha. I do vaguely remember that now. Still a little too convenient, but whatever.

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I wonder if they cut a connecting scene from the final release

What was the letter that Sophia received at the end? I couldn't hear exactly what the doctor said when he gave it to her. I heard half sister but that was it.

mavsfan4ever said:

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What was the letter that Sophia received at the end? I couldn't hear exactly what the doctor said when he gave it to her. I heard half sister but that was it.

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It was from Selina Kyle

TXAG 05 said:

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mavsfan4ever said:

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What was the letter that Sophia received at the end? I couldn't hear exactly what the doctor said when he gave it to her. I heard half sister but that was it.

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It was from Selina Kyle

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Yea he said something along the lines of "its from a Selina Kyle, she says she is your half sister"

DannyDuberstein said:

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Enjoyed it. That said, the belief suspension required for his escapes increased as the season went on. Also, the creepy setup with his mom (and hoar fake mom) at the end doesn't mesh with why he killed Vic. It was like they were searching for the quickest (and creepiest) reason to have him don a tuxedo, but it seemed like a backtrack in a way

The best part of the episode was Sofia's tits

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Exactly my thoughts.

The decision to kill Vic is probably what they were always going to land on. But the whole thing felt like it was on fast forward.

Wish there was a bit more time/story showing how and why he came to that decision, because he's still holding on to his "weak" self by keeping his mom (and Eve) around.

I felt like the brother story was enough to help set it up, but they should have just had his mom die.

Also, 100% chance that Batman visits Sofia in Arkham, learns her story, and she helps him catch Penguin, Hannibal Lecter style.

And probably a good chance to show a little bit of Riddler and Joker while he's in there.

Brian Earl Spilner said:

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DannyDuberstein said:

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Enjoyed it. That said, the belief suspension required for his escapes increased as the season went on. Also, the creepy setup with his mom (and hoar fake mom) at the end doesn't mesh with why he killed Vic. It was like they were searching for the quickest (and creepiest) reason to have him don a tuxedo, but it seemed like a backtrack in a way

The best part of the episode was Sofia's tits

---

Exactly my thoughts.

The decision to kill Vic is probably what they were always going to land on. But the whole thing felt like it was on fast forward.

Wish there was a bit more time/story showing how and why he came to that decision, because he's still holding on to his "weak" self by keeping his mom (and Eve) around.

---

I was thinking part of it was from the councilman telling Oz that if he went through with the plan to lock up Sofia, he was going to be under a lot of scrutiny so he had to at at least appear clean. No one would take issue with him taking care of his mom, but Vic would be a liability with his knowledge of all of Oz's crimes, plus all the crimes Vic committed himself. I see it as a way of wrapping up that phase of Oz's life and moving to the next.

I took it as his Mom is no longer a weakness, as in she is a vegetable so there is really no threat that his enemies capture her or threaten to kill her. She's essentially already dead.

But with Vic, if they knew that Oz felt as if he was family and deeply cared for him, then his enemies could potentially use that relationship against him. It makes him more vulnerable, and he's safer not having anyone he cares about.

I agree with the post above saying that the end scene didn't really match with her not being a weakness any longer though.

I think that its possible he has transitioned into it being a "screw you, I got the penthouse. You hate me? Look at what I did anyways" sort of vengeful thing

Lots of interesting observations, always interesting to see where the common connections and viewpoints are.

While I completely agree that a lot of the details got slapped with "Easy Button" answers, most of them didn't bug me and certainly didn't affect my overall enjoyment of the ride.

Grateful they didn't kill off Sofia. At this point, I trust Matty R to keep her development as he sees fit. No idea if she become heroine or villain,

I enjoyed not putting any thought into each viewing, made the surprises along the way and the nod to The Batman 2 more enjoyable. And admittedly I cared less about some of the sloppy writing that's been mentioned thanks to that mindset. Solid A+.

The last wardrobe for Oz was fantastic, as was the progression to a purple Rolls Royce (upgraded from his Maserati).

The next film could be pretty rich if they only want to include Oz in five or six scenes.

Anyone have teens that watched? Initially planned to let my boys watch with me, but worry that my 13-year-old might spook during the Arkham scenes with Sofia. Less worried about my 15-year-old, but hard to only let one of them watch something like this.

Quad Dog said:

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The Arkham parallels were nice, but why would Sophia put her niece in a home instead of keeping her herself? Maybe not her choice?

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Sophia just got released from Arkham. They aren't going to put a kid in "The Hangman's" care.

Matt Reeves says they are having early talks about a potential Season 2 of ‘THE PENGUIN’

(Source: https://t.co/dIey2LSp6X) pic.twitter.com/j2IPEFavPW

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 11, 2024

Great show. The acting is incredible. I did notice the parallels to The Sopranos throughout the series.

On to Batman 2. Ferrell said he only has a handful of scenes so where does that leave the bad guy for Batman to fight? Or is this going to be about Bruce finding himself, the never ending corruption, and Catwoman working to free her sister? And maybe a bad guy we haven't heard about?