Reviewer Rating: 4.8/5.0
4.8
In Penguin Season 1, Episode 5, the name Falcone has disappeared from the streets of Gotham.
Sofia quickly eliminated the old regime and seized the throne her father had promised her when she was a little girl.
But her reign was about more than just power, it was about redefining who she was by honoring her mother Isabella with a new surname, Gigante.
It’s an important choice for a writer, and a weighty one, especially for those who know the history of the gang.
Vincent “Chin” Gigante, the real-life boss of the Genovese Family (one of New York’s notorious five Ivy League families), feigned madness to evade the authorities. famous.
Dubbed a “weirdo” by the media, he would wander the streets of Greenwich Village in a bathrobe and slippers, drooling all over himself and mumbling incoherently.
One of the craziest stories about him is that he was once served a subpoena by the FBI and found him naked in a bathtub holding an umbrella.
Therefore, the similarities between Sofia and Gigante feel intentional.
Sofia donning her mother’s fur coat may be a subtle nod to Gigante’s bathrobe, while the image of an umbrella ties back to the Penguin lore in the Batman universe.
Just like Gigante is far from crazy, Sofia may not be as unhinged as she seems.
She is playing a long game, ruthlessly and strategically, but there is a sense that she is walking a fine line between brilliance and madness.
Ruthless moves and strategic alliances
Sofia’s plan to transform the former Falcone Empire into her new Gigante family demonstrates her strategic brilliance.
Vitti achieved his goals by gathering Falcone’s remaining associates, but Sofia never intended to keep him around. When he questions her authority, she shoots him in the head without hesitation.
It was truly heartless and sent a clear message to everyone at the table: Join her or die.
Sophia isn’t just shaking things up – she’s offering her crew a bigger share – an offer they can’t refuse (can’t resist). But unlike Ozzy, she’s actually delivering.
Oz may promise the world to his team, but he’s a manipulative liar who never tells the truth.
Sophia, on the other hand, sincerely wanted to create something different, even though she didn’t feel like she would be in the industry long-term.
Her alliance with Sal Maroney has two clear goals: to find Oz and eliminate him.
There is a deep-seated distrust between the Falcone and Maroni families, but Sofia has proven to Maroni that she means business.
Sal is fully aware of what Carmine has done to her, and may have some empathy because she knows her father played a role in her suffering.
Unlike Carmine, Maroni values family above all else and he would never treat Sophia the way her father did. Sofia knows this too, which is part of the reason she seeks him out.
Sofia isn’t afraid to show her cards right, although I’m not sure if that’s a strength or a weakness.
Returning to the Falcone mansion, she openly admitted to her associates that she had murdered the entire Falcone family.
It’s a mic-drop moment, bold and defiant, cementing her as a force to be reckoned with. She wants everyone to know that she’s not playing games and is ready to go to war with anyone who opposes her.
At that moment, even Julian was proud of her. What’s his deal, anyway?
Still, when Vitti tries to stop her from admitting it, he might be right. He understands the world better than Sofia does, but that doesn’t matter now – Vitti is sleeping with the fishes (sort of).
While Sofia’s alliance with Maroni is a smart move, and Maroni may see it as useful in the fight against Oz, it may not work out the way Sofia envisions.
As I mentioned, it’s possible that Sofia doesn’t actually want to rule Gotham’s underworld.
Maybe she’ll take action like Gigante, who finally gave up on his madness to save his sons – but in Sofia’s case, she’ll drop everything to save herself.
Maybe Sofia’s only goal is to take down Oz, and once that’s done, she can walk away and leave the underworld to Maroni.
But Maroney doesn’t know that—at least not yet. Unless she reveals her true intentions, Maroney likely won’t keep her around for long.
The self-destructive land of Oz
While Sophia is busy building alliances, Oz spirals into self-destruction.
He kidnapped Maroni’s son and tried to trade him for those valuable mushrooms, but he was ruthless and ended up burning Maroni’s wife and son alive.
Now, with nothing left to lose, Maroni is driven by revenge, while Sophia—an orphan at heart—has the same goal: taking down Oz.
Oz is smart, but not smart enough. He’s impulsive and reckless, and his empire is crumbling. His constant references to Rex Calabrese should be erased from his mind because no matter how hard he tries, he will never be Rex Calabrese.
His only allies are his mother and Vic, and even Vic’s loyalty is questionable, even when he lied to Frances about Oz defeating the Falcons.
Vic clearly felt marginalized, especially when Oz kept him out of the action during the double crossover. His motives remain unclear.
It’s hard to understand why he persisted with Oz, unless the brief taste of violence while slaughtering the Maronites awakened something within him.
Even Eve is separated from Oz as she fully realizes that he is not the one to be seen now.
The tunnels play a crucial role in this episode, as they could become Oz’s hideout once the kid from Vic’s past comes looking for them – and you know he will.
This could also be the moment when Vic finally sees Oz’s true nature, even if it was right in front of him the whole time.
If anything happens to Frances because Vic makes the bad choice to hide her in Crown Point, Vic will likely end up sleeping with the fishes (no “kind of” this time).
When Oz returns to the tunnels where he and his brothers used to hang out, he calls it “coming home.” But it also has a sinister side.
He hesitated before the small door that led to another tunnel, as if he was hiding something—perhaps even the truth about his brother’s death.
His stories about them keep changing and I bet he killed them – or was it just a brother? Francis’ memory seems to indicate only one.
It’s also possible that Oz’s hesitation is plotting something bigger – like the emergence of another Batman rogue: Poison Ivy.
The tunnels are dark and damp, making them an ideal environment for bliss mushrooms, or even a greenhouse. They’re also connected to Arkham, where Poison Ivy may be lurking.
Could the show introduce her as a player who takes over the mushroom business, perhaps using it as the basis for her poisonous plants?
These mushrooms—even the ones Oz saved—have been contaminated with flame retardants. If you remember, the chemists from Arkham have already said in previous episodes that they’re very sensitive.
It’s an interesting idea, especially since Oz is way over his head with the whole operation, even if he doesn’t realize it yet.
explosive showdown
With only three episodes left, we’re in for an explosive showdown.
Will Sofia and Maroni team up to defeat Oz? Or can Oz somehow survive despite the growing number of enemies?
He has to be in Batman 2, right? But producers recently hinted that Penguins might get more seasons, so maybe we’re in for some big surprises.
I’d love to see a twist? Kill the penguin.
It would be a bold move, but it’s possible the Maroney/Gigante alliance could win, opening the door to a whole new power structure in Gotham.
At this point, Oz had no choice.
His moral compass is non-existent, and while that may keep him alive for a while, it’s not enough. Sophia is smarter, more calculating, and more dangerous. All I see is doom for Ozzy Cobb.
Over to you, TV fanatics. Who do you think will stand out? Will Sofia and Maroni eliminate Oz? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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