In the thrilling and emotionally charged finale of "The Penguin," titled "A Great or Little Thing," we witness the culmination of Oswald Cobblepot's (Colin Farrell) dark and twisted journey to power. This episode masterfully weaves a tale of ambition, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of a dream, set against the backdrop of Gotham City's criminal underworld.
The episode opens with a haunting flashback, induced by Dr. Rush, where Francis Cobb (Deirdre O'Connell) relives the moment she decided to end her last living son's life. This scene sets the tone for the episode, as we see the origins of Oswald's monstrous nature, shaped by his mother's rejection and his own sociopathic tendencies. The flashbacks are a stark contrast to the present, where Oswald wakes up tied to a chair in the dilapidated Monroe's, now the center of Sofia's (Cristin Milioti) makeshift kangaroo court.
Sofia, adorned with a red scarf and a black dress, commands the room with the presence of a fully formed comic supervillain. She taunts Oswald with a tale from her childhood, drawing parallels between the ruthless behavior of the birds and Oswald's own actions. Francis, in a moment of clarity, confronts Oswald with the truth about his brothers' deaths, leading to a visceral and heart-wrenching confrontation.
As the episode progresses, we see the crumbling of Sofia's empire. Her offer to the triads and other gangs to bring her Oswald first sets a trap for herself, as Zhao's right-hand man, Link, tired of being overlooked, decides to tip off Oswald. This betrayal is a testament to the power of the overlooked, a theme that resonates throughout the episode.
The climax of the episode takes place at the airport, where Sofia and Oswald face off in an exhilarating confrontation. Despite knowing the show's title, the outcome of this showdown is still a thrilling moment, showcasing the exceptional performances of Farrell and Milioti. Sofia's defeat is a bitter pill to swallow, but the arrival of a letter from her half-sister, Selina Kyle, suggests her story is far from over.
Victory, however, is a cruel mistress for Oswald. He finds his mother catatonic from a stroke, and in a shocking twist, he strangles Victor Aguilar (Vincent D'Onofrio) to death, severing all ties to his past. This act solidifies his rise to power but at the cost of his humanity.
The episode ends with Oswald donning a penguin suit, dancing with Eve (who is dressed as Francis), and repeating the lines he so desperately craves to hear. The bat signal appears in the night sky, signaling future battles with greater enemies. This leaves us wondering about Batman's absence throughout the series, but it also highlights the success of "The Penguin" in telling a Gotham story without the Caped Crusader.
"A Great or Little Thing" is a powerful finale that encapsulates the essence of "The Penguin." It is a story of a man driven by ambition and rejection, who rises to power through manipulation and violence, only to find that victory is a hollow victory indeed. This episode, and the season as a whole, stands as a testament to the power of character-driven storytelling and the timeless appeal of Gotham City's dark underbelly.