If there’s one thing HBO shows are known for it’s producing shows with memorable moments. The Red Wedding in Game of Thrones, Omar’s whistle in The Wire, and any time Logan told someone to “**** off!” in Succession were unforgettable. This was no different in The Penguin. That’s why there was no way this writer couldn’t do a top-ten list.
Each episode of The Penguin featured a different scene or line that could be considered among the best of the season. For example, Sal surviving Oz Cobb’s murder attempt (episode 5) and Sofia blowing up Oz’s drug lab (episode 7) were left off this list because other moments were more important or better. Also, calling them the best is loaded. Some of the scenes on this list are tragic, but so good that they can be considered among the greatest of the season. With that in mind, let's start with something happy.
10. Slushies
Episode 1: After Hours
Earlier in the episode, Oz mentions slushies from Buddy’s Grocery. It leads to something that bonds Victor Aguilar and him over a shared love of Crown Point. After preventing Oz’s death, he and Vic celebrate by drinking them. They laughed and joked and shared the first of many moments like this.
What made this so good was everything that came after. You were meant to believe that Oz had a heart beating in his chest and that he saw something in Vic. Half of that is true (more on that later).
9. Oz kills his brothers
Episode 7: Top Hat
There were critical times in Oz’s life when you could look and see what made him evil, but leaving his brothers to drown is at the top of the list. It's when you realize the extent of Oz’s selfishness.
His level of jealousy and pettiness was so high he’d kill someone his mother loved so he could have her to himself. I don’t know if it’s worse that he believes he didn’t do it or won’t admit it. Either way, it proves there's no limit to what Penguin will do to get what he wants.
The streets are talking again. pic.twitter.com/MHvG8k26WC
— The Penguin (@TheBatman) November 19, 2024
8. Acting with your eyes
Episode 1: After Hours
Cristin Milioti made cases for Oscars and Emmys throughout The Penguin, but this was the first time we saw it in action by how she (Milioti as Sofia Falcone) talked to Oz with disdain, anger, and contempt. As if that wasn’t enough, her eyes told the story too. You couldn’t escape the way she was disgusted by just being in his presence. Try watching the scene on mute. She will still get her point across.
7. The new boss
Episode 5: Homecoming
You have to be a special kind of person to order criminals. It’s even harder if you’re a woman. In this scene, Sofia Gigante (formerly Sofia Falcone) makes it look easy. She knows what she’s capable of so she walks and talks with confidence. It also helps that she just took down an entire crime family while getting a good night’s sleep. And for anyone who thought she was playing a game, she shot the old boss (Johnny Viti) for disrespecting her. That let everyone know where she stood and what she wouldn’t tolerate.
6. The gangs revolt
Episode 8: A Great or Little Thing
People can only get pushed so many times before they start pushing back. That’s what happened to the people working for the crime bosses of Gotham. After an extended time of being used, not listened to, and mistreated, they had enough. Combine that with Oz and Vic reminding them that they could be more and you end up with revolt.
This gets a high ranking because it will lead into the rest of The Batman universe. Without the new leaders, there could be a fight for the top spot. That means chaos in the streets and innocent people getting killed. Or, and this is scarier, the remaining crime families could start working together. If that happens, Batman will have a harder time keeping people in Gotham safe and drugs off the streets.
5. Oz kills Alberto
Episode 1: After Hours
With one bullet, Oz sets everything from The Penguin in motion and it’s the first example of Oz being impatient and self-serving. Instead of taking the insult from Alberto Falcone head-on, he overrated. This leads to Sofia going after him for revenge and the deaths of an untold amount of people.
Yes, this writer just mentioned pushing back when you’ve had enough, but Oz should know better. He understands how that world works and that you have to eat garbage at times. However, things worked out for him in the end. Maybe it was the right thing to do.
4. Vic saves Oz
Episode 8: A Great or Little Thing
Vic put his life on the line twice for Oz during episode 8. The first time was when Link and the other criminals left Oz to die after Sofia’s bomb went off. Link warned Vic that speaking to criminals in a certain tone would get him killed. Later in the episode, Vic does it again when he trusts that Link won’t betray him. It’s the only reason that Cobb wasn’t killed in the end. Unfortunately, the kindness wasn't returned.
3. Oz kills Vic
Episode 8: A Great or Little Thing
If there was any love for Oz Cobb, it was lost right here. Victor Aguilar was the only character on this show who seemed to be a good person. He may have done some questionable things, but he still had a good heart. It was his best quality and why Oz trusted him with his mother’s life. So seeing Oz choke him in the end was heartbreaking. Watching Oz throw Vic’s license in the water made it worse. He made Vic just another anonymous death in Gotham City. Meanwhile, Oz leaves to become…
2. The King of Gotham
Episode 8: A Great or Little Thing
Oz told his mother he’d get her in a penthouse overlooking Gotham City and he made good on that promise. He defeated and manipulated everyone from criminals to politicians to get what he felt he deserved. Unlike Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, it’s doubtful that Oz thinks it cost him anything. He believes his mother is proud of him. If he doesn’t, he still has Eve Karlo who he’s started calling Ma to tell him she's proud of him.
1. Sofia reigns supreme
Episode 4: Cent'anni”
There’s no way this doesn’t top everyone’s “best of the show” list for The Penguin. Cristin Milioti’s acting has been mentioned in multiple articles (including this one), but this was the icing on the cake. The best part is that multiple things can be highlighted to prove her greatness.
Do you talk about how she perfectly delivered her speech to her family? Or what about how she treated Lucia Viti with kindness and then switched to intimidating the adults? Maybe we can discuss the ways she struts through a house full of dead relatives without a care in the world. Any of these could be used as an example of Cristin Milioti’s brilliance in this episode. Or we could just say "Give her all the awards for being the year's best performance"
What did you think of The Penguin? Which moments do you think were the best? Let us know on the Bam Smack Pow Instagram and Twitter.