The Penguin Episode 8 Highlights: The Batman 2 tease to Sofia’s Arkham Asylum return - A finale like no other

After a wait of over seven weeks, the day has finally come: the finale of The Penguin streams on HBO Max in the West and JioCinema in India. The show, starring Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti in the lead, has become one of the most trending topics globally due to its consistently high quality. Set right after the events of The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson, the show tells the story of Oz Cobb, who now wants to become Gotham’s new Crime Boss after Carmine Falcone's death leaves no one to take over. But he soon realizes that Sofia Falcone Gigante is out of Arkham Asylum and knows he killed her brother. Thus begins the cat-and-mouse chase. The finale held so much tension that fans have been theorizing about how the show would end. And it has lived up to that anticipation.

In case you don’t recall, episode 7 was about how Sofia Gigante would exact her revenge on Penguin. She has finally found his vulnerable nerve and is gripping it tightly. There is no one for her to rely on anymore as Salvatore Maroni is dead too. So when she meets Gia Viti, she realizes there’s no difference between her and her father because she’s playing the game just as he would. She then decides to go in all guns blazing and soon after, she has plotted a plan to hold Francis hostage and destroy Oz’s operation base. Episode 8 begins with Oz and Francis being held captive by Sofia, who is clueless that the man she thinks she has power over is actually as tough as a cockroach. What happens when Oz retaliates is the core of the finale.

The Penguin Episode 8 Highlights

Francis Knows Everything

Yesterday, we listed theories about how The Penguin might end. One theory was that Sofia would do the unthinkable and tell Francis that Oz killed her two sons, and they didn’t die in the flood. However, Lauren LeFranc chooses to open the finale with this reveal. Not only that, she establishes that Francis always knew it was Oz who killed his two brothers. When Sofia triggers that memory, Francis confronts Oz and calls him a devil. The scene is tragic because Oz seeks validation from his mother, but now he will never get it. The silence that follows becomes the highlight of the finale.

Also Read: The Penguin Review: Enter for Colin Farrell, stay for Cristin Milioti—DC's boldest series yet!

Oz Is Still Clever

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from Oz, it’s that he can survive the most brutal attacks and still find a way to re-establish himself. So when Sofia captures him and Francis, she doesn’t realize that Penguin is too clever to be held so loosely. She ends up losing again, as he takes Francis and escapes. Oz makes his way to the councilman yet again and, as before, offers a deal. This time, the deal includes framing Sofia Falcone Gigante for everything that has gone wrong in Gotham recently. When they come face to face again, he ensures that the police capture her and take her back to Arkham Asylum.

Did Oz Just Kill Vic?

We were all curious as to who Vic really was or what he would turn out to be. It turns out there’s a huge tragedy awaiting us, as Oz sits down with him for a conversation. In a vulnerable moment, Vic tells Oz that he considers him family. But in the very next frame, Oz grabs his throat and suffocates Vic to death, revealing that family is a weakness he cannot afford at this point. A lifeless Vic falls to the ground, leaving us in shock.

The Batman Part II Is Here

We always knew that The Penguin would set up The Batman Part II and serve as a bridge between the two films, but who knew it would be so cryptic? The setup begins with Sofia back in Arkham Asylum after being arrested again. She receives a letter from Selina Kyle. In case you don’t recall, Selina is Catwoman, played by Zoe Kravitz in The Batman. Sofia’s pleased smile upon reading the letter hints at a big reveal in store. Meanwhile, in his penthouse, Oz now has no competitor to challenge his position. Just as he’s celebrating and the camera pans out, we see a bat signal in the sky. This could be a warning for Oz that Bruce Wayne/Vengeance has returned to Gotham.

The Penguin premiered on September 20, 2024, and all eight episodes are now streaming on JioCinema in India, available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Marathi. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

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