Meet the new president. HBO finale tonight Penguin It brought with it some major changes to the status quo of Matt Reeves’ future Gotham City. Limited series, located in between Batman A sequel was forthcoming, and served as a bridge between the two films, creating the 2026 film Batman II While fleshing out the backstory of Colin Farrell’s Goose Cobb, the titular penguin. And while Penguin The ending wrapped up the story in a fairly conclusive way, and the series also leaves some loose plot threads for Reeves to explore in future films.
Land of Oz
The most immediate fallout is that Cobb has now established himself as Gotham’s new crime kingpin – and he’s done so in a way that allows him to operate with almost complete impunity. As tensions mount between Oz and Sofia (Cristin Milioti) throughout the finale, Oz meets with a corrupt council member, and the two reach an agreement. With Mayor Bella Real (Jaime Lawson) now looking to bring hope back to Gotham in the wake of the Riddler’s attacks – as seen in Batman—The city is looking for someone to take responsibility for the sudden crime wave. And Oz has the perfect candidate.
After gaining the upper hand on Sofia, Oz grabs her and leads her to a quiet part of Gotham, presumably to kill her. Instead, as she closes her eyes and waits for a bullet, she is greeted by a spotlight and the Gotham City Police, who arrest her and return her to Arkham. Sophia becomes the supposed scapegoat for everyone From Gotham Cases. It is assumed that she will stand trial or remain in prison, with the idea that Gotham is now free of crime.
Oz alone is now responsible for everything. With the corrupt councilman in his pocket and the washed-up appearance of being an upright citizen, Oz can safely begin carrying out his organized crime. Here stands a very different man from the mid-level gangster we first met Batman. The film ends with Oz looking to destroy Gotham and seeing an opportunity to take it for himself, and over the course of the series he does so in a brutal way that confirms that he is a legitimate threat in Gotham. As the show reaches its final moments, Oz and his girlfriend Eve (Carmen Ejogo) are ballroom dancing throughout his luxurious new home, as he talks about how nothing will get in his way. As the camera pans away from the two dancing figures, we see the Bat-Signal lighting up the Gotham City skyline. While the man himself is not seen all the time Penguinit’s a timely reminder that the two are on an inevitable collision course — and they’re meant to be on that Batman: Part Two.
Catwoman connection
But the World’s Greatest Detective isn’t the only character from the broader Batman mythos referenced in the finale. In prison, as Sofia leafs through fan letters and marriage proposals, she receives a letter from Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz), who writes to Sofia to tell her that they are half-sisters. Although he leaves Gotham for Blüdhaven at the end BatmanSelina is also watching what’s going on and hopefully will connect with her half-sister at some point in the next movie. Creating the family connection is also a smart way to keep Milioti in the game moving forward.
As good as Farrell has been throughout the series – and he is very good – Milioti is the deserving star. Although she is the kind of strong actress that many people probably already know, whether from how i met your mother Or its star is shifting Palm Springs, Penguin She probably introduced her to a whole new audience with a searing performance that’s one of the best of the year. It’s refreshing to know that this is a card that Matt Reeves can pull Batman: Part Two If he so desires. Milioti, much like Sofia, has made a good name for herself, and being allowed to interact with Selena is an exciting thrill waiting to be explored when Batman: Part Two It hits theaters in October 2026.
