The review contains spoilers forThe Penguinepisode 7.
1994sGreen Lantern #54changed superhero stories forever.
The end ofThe Penguins seventh episode tips right up the edge of Women in Refrigerators territory.
Sofias gambit works, driving Oz to bargain for his mothers life.
Hell give Sofia the Bliss if she gives him Frances.
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Thankfully, Oz does not pull back the coat to find Francess body.
Instead, its a bomb about to explode, leaving Ozs headquarters in shambles andThe Penguinwith ill-advised 9/11 imagery.
Sofia has given Frances to her creepy psychiatrist Dr. Julian Rush, for purposes still unclear.
Both women are right and, to the shows credit, it allows them to acknowledge it.
And she has seen where that leads, with seven women dead and Sofia taking the fall.
We havent talked too much about Rush in these reviews, mostly because hes been a non-entity thus far.
Theo Rossi has a very particular take on Rush, a softness that makes empathy feel invasive and controlling.
Then again,The Penguinhas had a habit of underutilizing great actors.
Deirdre OConnell just now in episode seven gets to show off her stuff as Frances Cobb.
Both women have been used and manipulated by men so long that they dont find the others posturing impressive.
The scene also gives Oz a chance to show off his skills as a master manipulator.
In fact, thats been the problem with The Penguin all along, as highlighted by the flashbacks.
Top Hat begins and ends with a look at Oz as a child in the 1980s.
But on a thematic level, the flashbacks add nothing.
Oz has always been cruel and manipulative?
Oz caused his mothers pain?
At his core, Oz is just a middle child who wants attention?
The Penguin finale premieres at 9 p.m.
ET on Sunday, November 10.
Rating:
4 out of 5
