The Penguin has captivated its audience remarkably. The best part about the Colin Farrell-led show is its unpredictability, a rare achievement in the current landscape of superhero films and shows. This unpredictability is only possible because Matt Reeves and the show's creators have avoided shaping it as a generic superhero story. Instead, The Penguin thrives without being constrained by the genre. Set in a world without Batman, the show allows for a broader range of stories and plots. Episode three takes this unpredictability even further. We now see Sofia Falcone and The Penguin collaborating to sell their drug, Bliss. But wait—Victor has his own tragedy, and are the Maronis back in play? 

The Penguin’s Climb to Power

The Penguin follows the journey of Oz Cobb, a have-not who has entered the criminal underworld and is determined to rise to the top. The legacy owners of the criminal hierarchy can't accept a man who was once hired to serve them now attempting to rule over them. Even in the world of crime, there is a divide between the privileged and the underprivileged. Oz Cobb is not one for the system, and Sofia and her associates won’t let him rise any higher. However, that doesn’t stop Oz from trying. He’s determined to overthrow any competition, even if it means eliminating them. Let’s discuss the highlights of the third episode of The Penguin.

Victor’s Tragic Past

Victor has been one of the most mysterious characters in The Penguin. He just appeared and stayed. While comic book fans know who he is and what he will become, for viewers unfamiliar with the comics, there has been little insight into his life. Episode 3 focuses more on him than anyone else. We are taken back to the day Riddler is about to blow up the city walls and flood Gotham. Victor loses everything he had and is left with nothing but his girlfriend. Episode 3 shows how the taste of power makes him forget his morals, as he grapples with his now-meaningless life.

Victor quits his job with The Penguin and flees in his purple car, only to realize that there is nothing for him on the other side of Gotham. Meanwhile, Oz, now obsessed with him, tries to encourage Victor, telling him to bloom and own his space.

Sofia Falcone and The Penguin: A Volatile Partnership

While we explore Victor’s backstory, another partnership is taking shape — Sofia Falcone and Oz Cobb are now partners. They are both eccentric and willing to do anything to achieve their goals. However, Sofia doesn’t see Oz as her equal, frequently reminding him of his lower status in their dynamic. In the climax of the episode, Oz abandons Sofia, and we witness his frustration as he realizes he will never be on equal footing with her. Meanwhile, Sofia confronts Oz about what he did to her years ago. It will be interesting to see if future episodes delve into this flashback.

The Maronis’ Return

Salvatore Maroni and his family have mostly served as scapegoats in The Penguin, and they have realized this. They are now tracking Oz, seeking revenge. In the climax, they confront Oz while Sofia is also present. While the focus shifts back to Victor for a while, it remains unclear if Sofia knows about Oz’s betrayal or if there is still hope for him. Only time will tell.

The Penguin premiered on September 20, 2024, with the first of its eight episodes. New episodes are released every Friday on JioCinema in India, available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Marathi. Stay tuned to Mobile Masala for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

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