With The Penguin wrapping up its first season, many questions remain about the characters and their motivations. We saw Oz (Colin Farrell) rise to power, make some shocking decisions, and deal with his personal demons. But one thing that’s on everyone’s mind is: why didn’t Oz kill Sofia? Let’s break down the ending of The Penguin and discuss what it means for the future of these characters.
Why Didn’t Oz Kill Sofia?
One of the biggest questions that fans are asking after the season finale is why Oz didn’t kill Sofia (Cristin Milioti). Well, there are a couple of reasons. First off, Cristin Milioti’s performance as Sofia is just too good to cut short. She’s one of the standout actors in Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe, and it seems like the show didn’t want to disappoint fans by killing her off too soon.
But within the storyline, Oz had his own reasons. He didn’t want to kill Sofia because he was trying to gain the trust of Councilman Hady. Oz was trying to get in the good books of the mayor-elect, Bella Real, and part of his plan was to sell a story about Sofia and her father’s rivalry, blaming her for the explosion in Crown Point. By handing her over to the police, he hoped to gain the trust of the city’s political leaders.
Secondly, Oz didn’t want to free Sofia from her misery. Sofia had been a prisoner of her father’s legacy for so long, and even though she tried to leave Gotham for a fresh start, she stayed back to get revenge for her brother’s death. She had big plans to escape, but Oz was one step ahead of her. She thought he would kill her and free her from her pain, but instead, he locked her up in another cage—this time, the law’s cage. This was Oz’s cruel way of punishing her.
Also, the show made sure to hint at Oz’s future ambitions. When he sat on the mayor’s chair in the courthouse, it was a clear sign that Oz was eyeing a position of power. The show foreshadowed his desire to become Gotham’s mayor, a role explored in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. Oz’s ambitions were never about helping the people, but about helping himself.
Why Did Oz Kill Victor?
Oz’s decision to kill Victor Aguilar (his close friend) was a tough one, but one that he had to make. Victor had become too close to Oz, both emotionally and in terms of knowing all his secrets. Oz learned the hard way that you can’t trust anyone, especially not those who get too close. In his experience, friends can turn into enemies when ambitions take over, and Oz wasn’t about to let that happen to him.
Oz knew that Victor, like many ambitious men, could turn against him. Just like Oz had betrayed Sofia and Carmine to climb the ladder of success, Victor might do the same. So, Oz decided to eliminate the risk before it became a problem. Killing Victor was his way of cutting out the “tumor” before it could spread and threaten his future.
Did Oz Kill His Brothers?
The show left us hanging about whether Oz actually killed his brothers. We’re not sure, but there are two possibilities. Either Oz didn’t kill them, and it was just his mother, Francis, imagining the worst. Or maybe Oz did kill them but couldn’t face the truth, denying his actions to protect his own psyche.
Oz’s need for his mother’s approval and love is a central theme of his character. It’s possible that he locked his older brothers in a tunnel to ensure he was the one getting all of Francis’ attention. His fixation on her could explain why he would go to such extremes. In the end, Francis seemed to accept her son’s darkness, even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself.
What’s Next for Oz?
The ending of The Penguin shows that Oz has now set his sights on a new path—politics. Throughout the season, Oz realized that power in the government, no matter how corrupt, brings respect. Government officials have wealth, status, and influence, and that’s what Oz wants. It’s not about money for him—it’s about respect.
By the end of the season, Oz had already started to infiltrate Bella Real’s inner circle, and it’s clear that he is planning to run for mayor of Gotham City. He’s even rented a penthouse in a building called “La Couronne” (or “The Crown”), which symbolizes his ambition to wear a crown of his own. Oz promised his mother a lavish life, and now, he’s trying to fulfill that promise, even if it means sacrificing everything else.
But has Oz really left the life of crime behind? The answer is probably no. While Oz might be trying to position himself as a respectable figure, he’s still pulling strings from the shadows. He doesn’t want to get involved in the “Bliss” business, as it could ruin his public image. But he’s still a man of power, manipulating situations to his advantage.
In one of the creepier scenes, Oz’s lover, Eve Karlo, is seen dressing as young Francis, trying to fill the void in Oz’s life. But does Oz still love her? The answer is no. Oz is incapable of loving anyone but himself. He’s only saving his mother because he doesn’t want the deaths of his brothers to be in vain.
What’s Next for Sofia?
Sofia’s future looks uncertain. At the end of The Penguin, she’s in prison, but she receives a letter from her half-sister, Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman). It’s hinted that Sofia and Selina might team up in the next installment of Matt Reeves’ universe, possibly even working together to help Batman. However, Sofia is not a Gotham hero. She’s a loose cannon, willing to do whatever it takes to protect her own interests.
Sofia’s moral compass is questionable, and she could easily turn into a villain if it serves her needs. It will be interesting to see how her character evolves in future films, especially if she teams up with Selina and maybe even Batman. There are hints that Julian Rush, who was featured in The Penguin, will become The Scarecrow, adding another dangerous player to the mix.