After a strong episode that focused on Sofia Falcone’s time in Arkham, “The Penguin” shifts back to Oz in the latest episode titled “Homecoming.” In Episode 4, we went back in time ten years, where we saw Sofia Falcone, played by Cristin Milioti, making donations and starting charities to help women with mental illness.
She was haunted by finding her mother’s body and learned from her father, Carmine Falcone, played by Mark Strong, that it was a suicide. Sofia’s morals are tested when a reporter, Summer Gleeson, reveals that other women close to her father have also been found dead, all having committed suicide in the same way.
Realizing that her father might be a serial killer targeting women, Sofia tries to gather proof, but Oz catches her and tells her father.
Carmine then accuses Sofia of the crimes. The other members of the Falcone family, except for Alberto, testify against her. The media dubs her “The Hangman.” Sofia tries to plead her innocence but ends up being sent to Arkham Asylum for the next ten years.
This experience shapes her into the ruthless mobster we saw in the first three episodes. The episode ends with Sofia killing almost the entire Falcone family using carbon monoxide poison but sparing Johnny Viti, at least for now.
Sofia Tortures Viti in ‘The Penguin’ Episode 5
“Homecoming” starts right after the events of Episode 3. Oz, played by Colin Farrell, and Victor, played by Rhenzy Feliz, set fire to Oz’s beloved purple Maserati.
As Oz lights the match, he reminisces about Rex Calabrese, a mobster who used to roam Oz’s childhood neighborhood in a gold Cadillac, which he compares to a chariot. They walk away, and Vic apologizes for wrecking the car, but Oz brushes it off. He thanks Vic for saving his life, showing where his true loyalties lie.
Soon, Oz’s men arrive and show him a TikTok of Salvatore Maroni’s son, Taj. Oz and his men rush to Taj’s location, shooting his guards. The young Maroni tries to flee but gets tackled by Vic. Oz holds Taj at gunpoint before quickly knocking him out. This action demonstrates Oz’s ruthless nature and establishes his willingness to take drastic measures to secure his power.
At Blackgate, Oz shows Salvatore and Nadia a Polaroid of a beaten Taj. They are furious and accuse Oz of using their son as a pawn. Oz responds that the only way to get their son back is for them to return the stolen supply of Bliss.
Initially, Oz requests that Nadia come to the exchange alone, but Salvatore refuses. Eventually, Oz allows her to bring only one guard. He assures them that Taj will be safe as long as they honor their end of the bargain.
As Oz leaves Blackgate, he sees a news report about a deadly gas leak at the Falcone estate, with Sofia as one of the few survivors. This moment raises questions about how Sofia managed to survive such a tragedy and hints at her dark intentions.
As Sofia leaves her home, she is approached by GCPD Chief Mackenzie Bock, a character we saw in “The Batman.” Bock questions Sofia about what happened with Viti’s young niece, Gia, who spent the night in the greenhouse. Sofia lies and says that Luca and Viti were fighting over Luca’s wife, Tina.
She claims she took Gia into the greenhouse for safety. Bock asks her if she knows where Viti is, but she denies it, saying he must have left that night. Bock becomes suspicious and presses her further. Sofia responds by taunting him, accusing him of making light of her family’s death.
Although the scene may not feature Robert Pattinson or Jeffrey Wright reprising their roles, the appearance of Bock is still significant. Many superhero shows hype up the return of characters, but “The Penguin” portrays Bock’s appearance casually. This subtlety reminds viewers that while Bruce Wayne and Commissioner Gordon may not be on-screen, they still exist in the background of Gotham.
Later, Sofia arrives at her family’s burial site with a bucket of cold water. It is revealed that she has Viti tied up and gagged. She starts torturing Viti, demanding to know where her father hid his money, promising to let him go if he cooperates. Viti refuses, believing that Sofia will kill him anyway.
To prove her determination, Sofia douses him with freezing water. This scene demonstrates her cold-heartedness and willingness to use extreme measures to achieve her goals.
Meanwhile, Oz and his men keep Taj at Eve Karlo’s apartment, much to her concern. Oz assures her that he will protect her, but she is frustrated and warns him that she needs him to “fix” the situation.
Oz instructs his men to disregard what happened to the Falcones, believing Sofia has done them a favor by eliminating them. He instructs Vic to pick up his mother, Francis, while he and his men take Taj to Nadia.
Sofia continues to torment Viti, who finally reveals that her mother, Isabella, was planning to leave Carmine the night of her death. He says she attempted to escape before but stayed to protect her children. Angry at this revelation, Sofia chokes Viti and accuses him of lying. Viti eventually relents, offering to help her.
He pleads, “I couldn’t help your mother; let me help you.” This moment adds depth to Viti’s character, showing that he is not entirely villainous but rather a desperate man trying to survive.
Vic arrives at Francis’s home only to find it disorganized. He discovers her sitting in her bedroom, lost in memories. When she mistakes Vic for one of her sons, she begins showing him an old baseball glove. Vic reminds her of who he is, and she snaps back to reality. When Vic tells her about the Falcone family’s death, she asks if Oz was responsible. Not knowing what to say, he confirms that Oz killed the family, which pleases her.
Oz Sets the Maronis on Fire (Literally) in ‘The Penguin’ Episode 5
In his prison cell, Sal is visited by Mikey, one of Oz’s men disguised as a guard. Mikey attempts to kill Sal on Oz’s orders. Sal manages to grab the guard while being stabbed, leaving both their fates uncertain. This moment emphasizes the dangerous game Oz is playing, where loyalty can quickly turn into betrayal.
Meanwhile, Oz meets Nadia and her armed guard in a parking garage. She immediately demands to see her son. Oz brings out Taj, who is covered in gasoline and has duct tape over his mouth. He instructs his men to check the Bliss and drive away, but Nadia insists on seeing Taj first.
After they are reunited, Oz and his men are ambushed by the Maronis’ crew. However, they quickly overpower them. In a shocking act of revenge, Oz lights a match, setting Taj and Nadia on fire, leading to their gruesome deaths.
Oz’s brutal actions demonstrate how far he is willing to go to maintain control over his empire. He shows no remorse for killing Nadia and Taj, showcasing his ruthless nature. As they drive away from the scene, the fire alarm goes off, underscoring the chaos that surrounds Oz.
Once at their safe point, Oz discovers that most of the Bliss has gone bad, leaving only two buckets salvageable. Panicked, he calls Mikey, only to find Salvatore on the line. Sal reveals that Mikey is dead and that the head of the Maroni crime family has escaped from Blackgate.
Salvatore threatens Oz, who tells him to call Nadia, implying that he knows the gravity of the situation. Oz then calls Vic, who reassures him that Francis is okay. Oz instructs Vic to take Francis to a safe location where “nobody would think to look.”
At the Falcone estate, Sofia is visited by Dr. Julian Rush, who tells her he kept quiet after being questioned by the police. He pledges his loyalty to her. While Sofia examines her mother’s fur coat, she notes that “Isabella Gigante” is embroidered on it.
Wearing the coat, Sofia enters her men’s presence, including Viti. She admits to killing the Falcone family and feels no regret. She calls her men expendable except for Viti, who remains loyal. Sofia declares her father’s legacy dead and decides to take her mother’s maiden name, Gigante.
Viti warns her not to make any rash decisions, but she interrupts him by shooting him in the head without hesitation. This moment solidifies Sofia’s transformation into a cold-blooded leader willing to eliminate anyone who threatens her power.
She then opens a duffel bag filled with her father’s money, telling her men that Carmine profited from their hard work while keeping it all for himself. She promises her followers that if they pledge their loyalty to her, they will receive the money they deserve.
Sofia’s cold demeanor sends chills down her men’s spines as they watch her take control. Julian observes Sofia in awe as she dumps the money onto the table, cementing her status as a formidable leader in Gotham’s underworld.
We already knew Sofia was capable of violence, having just killed the majority of her family. However, seeing the woman she used to be in the previous episode adds an unsettling layer to her character. She shoots Viti without a second thought.
The Ruthless Sofia Falcone Takes Full Control
Sofia’s transformation in this episode from a victim of her father’s betrayal to a remorseless leader of Gotham’s criminal underworld solidifies her place as one of the most dangerous characters in “The Penguin.”
Her cold execution of Johnny Viti is the culmination of a growing ruthlessness that has been building since her time in Arkham. While Carmine Falcone was a master manipulator who could instill fear through control and order, Sofia is a force of chaos, driven by revenge and a deep sense of betrayal.
Her decision to take her mother’s maiden name, Gigante, signals not just a rejection of her father’s legacy but also the birth of something new and even more dangerous.
In claiming Carmine’s hidden money, she secures the loyalty of her remaining men, promising them wealth that her father had selfishly kept from them. This not only strengthens her grip on Gotham’s underworld but also sets her up as a formidable rival to Oz and the Maroni family.
With Viti’s death, Sofia sheds the last vestiges of her old life, fully embracing her role as the new head of her criminal empire. Her brutal tactics and complete lack of remorse make her a unique figure in Gotham’s dark and violent world, where even the most hardened criminals now fear her.
Oz’s Game of Survival Intensifies
Meanwhile, Oz’s actions in this episode reveal the increasing pressure he faces as he faces the volatile power struggles in Gotham. His calculated decision to use Taj Maroni as leverage against Salvatore and Nadia shows his strategic thinking, but his choice to set both Taj and Nadia on fire in a parking garage is a chilling reminder of how far he’s willing to go to maintain his control.
Oz’s pragmatism in dealing with the Maronis, along with his swift and brutal retaliation, highlights his desperation to keep his empire intact. However, his plan is far from foolproof.
The Bliss he recovers is mostly spoiled, leaving him with only a small fraction of the supply he hoped to regain. On top of that, Salvatore’s escape from Blackgate marks the beginning of what could be a bloody war between the Maronis and Oz.
Salvatore’s ominous phone call, where he reveals that he killed Oz’s inside man, Mikey, underscores the dangerous game Oz is playing. His control over Gotham is tenuous at best, and with the Maronis seeking revenge, he’s left scrambling to protect his few remaining assets.
His phone call to Victor to secure his mother’s safety further emphasizes the personal stakes for Oz, who, despite his power, remains vulnerable due to his emotional ties.
Gotham on the Brink of a Mob War
As the episode concludes, the stakes for both Sofia and Oz have never been higher. Sofia’s ruthless ascension to power and Oz’s increasingly desperate efforts to maintain control over the city set the stage for a massive power struggle in the coming episodes.
With Salvatore Maroni on the loose and gunning for Oz, it’s clear that a full-blown mob war is on the horizon, one that could reshape the criminal view of Gotham.
Sofia’s rise to power represents a shift in the balance of Gotham’s underworld, and her willingness to destroy anyone who stands in her way makes her an unpredictable and dangerous foe.
Oz, on the other hand, is starting to lose his grip, and while he’s managed to survive thus far through cunning and ruthlessness, his empire is crumbling around him. His strained alliances, limited resources, and growing list of enemies put him in a precarious position, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s forced to confront Sofia head-on.
Themes of Betrayal, Survival, and Power
Thematically, “The Penguin” continues to show the corrupting influence of power in Gotham, where betrayal is as common as loyalty, and survival often depends on who can strike first.
Sofia’s transformation is driven by a deep sense of betrayal — not just by her father but by the world around her that allowed her to be framed and locked away in Arkham for a crime she didn’t commit. Her decision to murder her family and take their money is an act of reclaiming her own destiny, but it also marks her complete descent into darkness.
Similarly, Oz’s actions throughout this episode are driven by his need to survive in a world where loyalty is fleeting. His decision to kill Taj and Nadia is not born out of hatred but out of necessity — he understands that showing weakness could cost him everything.
But Oz’s increasing reliance on violence and manipulation is also a sign of his growing desperation, as his once-strong hold over Gotham’s criminal underworld begins to slip.
The looming mob war between Oz and Sofia raises the question of who will ultimately come out on top. While both characters have proven their ruthlessness, they represent two very different approaches to power: Sofia, the embodiment of chaos and revenge, and Oz, the calculating strategist who uses fear and violence to maintain control.
Their inevitable clash promises to be a bloody and brutal showdown that will leave Gotham’s criminal view forever changed.
The Return of Familiar Faces and Gotham’s Ever-Present Danger
Although “The Penguin” exists as a spinoff to Matt Reeves’ “The Batman,” the show does an excellent job of weaving in elements from the larger Gotham universe without overshadowing its own story.
The appearance of Chief Mackenzie Bock is a subtle reminder that Bruce Wayne and Commissioner Gordon are still out there, quietly operating in the background, even if they aren’t directly involved in the events of this episode.
However, the show is careful to maintain its own identity, with characters like Oz and Sofia standing on their own as compelling and dangerous figures.
The show’s gritty portrayal of Gotham’s criminal underworld and the intricate power struggles between its factions make it clear that “The Penguin” offers more than just a setup for future appearances by Batman or other well-known characters. It explores Gotham’s darker side, where survival often demands sacrificing one’s humanity.
What’s Next for Oz, Sofia, and Gotham’s Criminal Underworld?
As “The Penguin” moves into its next chapter, the question of who will emerge victorious in the brewing mob war looms large. Oz’s tenuous hold on his empire is slipping, and while he’s managed to outsmart his enemies in the past, Sofia’s rise to power presents a new and unpredictable challenge.
Her ruthless ambition and willingness to kill even those closest to her make her a formidable opponent, and it’s clear that she won’t stop until she has complete control over Gotham’s criminal underworld.
For Oz, the stakes have never been higher. With limited resources, dwindling allies, and the looming threat of Salvatore Maroni seeking revenge, he’ll need to rely on his wits and his ability to manipulate those around him if he hopes to survive.
His relationship with Victor, who has proven to be a loyal ally, will likely play a key role in the coming conflict, but even that may not be enough to save him from the storm that’s about to hit.
Sofia, on the other hand, is just beginning to assert her dominance. Having eliminated most of her family and secured their fortune, she now controls a significant portion of Gotham’s criminal underworld.
But her actions have also made her a target, and with both the Maronis and Oz vying for power, she’ll need to be as ruthless as ever if she hopes to hold onto her newfound control.
Conclusion: The Penguin’s Power Struggles Intensify
The fifth episode of “The Penguin” sets the stage for what promises to be an explosive and violent power struggle in Gotham.
Sofia Falcone’s rise to power and Oz’s desperate attempts to maintain control are two sides of the same coin, both driven by ambition and survival. But as the stakes continue to rise and the body count grows, it’s clear that not everyone will make it out alive.
With a mob war on the horizon and the future of Gotham’s criminal underworld hanging in the balance, “The Penguin” delivers a gripping and intense portrayal of the dark side of power.
Sofia’s transformation into a ruthless leader and Oz’s growing desperation make for compelling character arcs, and as the show moves forward, viewers can expect even more shocking twists and brutal confrontations.
Who will emerge victorious in this deadly game of power and survival? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: in Gotham, no one is safe, and the line between predator and prey is razor-thin.
