In just one month, The Penguin has turned into a major success within the DC Universe. The limited series, a continuation of Matt Reeves’ The Batman, has attracted audiences with its gritty storytelling, complex characters, and the dark, street-level crime world of Gotham.
With Episode 4, titled “Cent’Anni,” the series has officially reached its halfway mark, and it is now being reported that this episode has achieved the highest viewership debut of the series so far.
In this episode, much of the focus is placed on the backstory of Sofia Falcone, a key figure in Gotham’s criminal underworld, and her time at Arkham Asylum.
Her story has slowly unraveled for the series, adding layers of complexity to the power struggle between her and Oswald Cobblepot, better known as The Penguin. Episode 4 also introduces new plot twists that could change the course of the show, setting the stage for an explosive conflict in Gotham.
Episode 4 Sets New Viewership Records
The success of The Penguin has been steadily growing, and the numbers prove it. According to reports, Episode 4 drew 1.7 million cross-platform viewers in the United States. This marked a new milestone for the series, slightly surpassing the 1.6 million viewers who tuned in to Episode 2, “Inside Man,” which previously held the top spot.
The increased viewership from Episode 2 is significant as it had already seen a 17% jump from the premiere episode. The premiere has now accumulated over 13 million views across different platforms, making The Penguin one of the biggest hits on Max.
The show has had the platform’s biggest four-day premiere since the release of The Last of Us in early 2023. The steady rise in viewership highlights the growing interest in the show, and with four episodes left, there’s every reason to expect those numbers to keep climbing.
Sofia Falcone vs. The Penguin: Power Struggles in Gotham’s Criminal Underworld
At the heart of The Penguin is the power struggle between Sofia Falcone and Oswald Cobblepot. Set just a week after the events of The Batman, Gotham City is still reeling from The Riddler’s attack.
The city is in chaos, and the power vacuum left by the death of Carmine Falcone has set off a vicious battle for control of the criminal underworld. Oswald Cobblepot, known to Gotham’s citizens as The Penguin, sees this as his chance to rise to power.
Played by Colin Farrell, The Penguin has been a standout character in The Batman and now takes center stage in his own series. In the show, Oswald is ruthless and cunning, manipulating everyone around him to achieve his goal of becoming Gotham’s crime lord.
In the early episodes of the series, we see him working with his new apprentice, Victor, played by Rhenzy Feliz. Victor is a young criminal trying to make a name for himself, and Penguin takes him under his wing, teaching him the ins and outs of Gotham’s underworld.
However, Penguin’s ambitions soon bring him into conflict with Sofia Falcone, played by Cristin Milioti. Sofia is the daughter of Carmine Falcone, the former crime boss of Gotham. After her father’s death, Sofia is left to pick up the pieces of her family’s shattered empire.
Her relationship with Penguin is complicated, to say the least. In the early episodes, they appear to be working together, with both characters pretending to cooperate in order to outmaneuver the other. But it soon becomes clear that their partnership is built on lies and betrayal.
Penguin, in a calculated move, kills Sofia and attempts to frame the Maroni crime family for the murder. This strategy works, at least for a time, as Penguin and Sofia continue to play their dangerous game, each trying to gain the upper hand.
But everything changes by the end of Episode 3 when Nadia Maroni, played by Shohreh Aghdashloo, figures out Penguin’s plan. She confronts both Penguin and Sofia, holding them at gunpoint and threatening their lives. Though both characters narrowly escape, Sofia is left with a serious head injury, which leads to a significant turning point in her story.
Sofia’s Dark Past Revealed
In Episode 4, viewers are given a deeper look into Sofia Falcone’s troubled past, specifically her time at Arkham Asylum. This flashback is triggered by the head injury Sofia suffers at the end of Episode 3, allowing the audience to finally understand why Sofia spent ten years in the infamous asylum.
The revelation is shocking: the “Hangman” persona that had been tied to Sofia was based on a lie. Her father, Carmine Falcone, was the real monster.
Played by Mark Strong, Carmine Falcone is shown to have strangled all the women connected to the Iceberg Lounge, a notorious nightclub in Gotham, and even killed Sofia’s own mother.
After murdering these women, Carmine staged their deaths to look like suicides. Sofia’s connection to these murders has long been a source of mystery, but now the truth is revealed: her father framed her for his crimes.
The flashback also reveals the role that Oswald Cobblepot played in Sofia’s downfall. At the time, Penguin was Sofia’s driver, and he betrayed her by ratting her out to her father.
Summer Gleeson, a well-known reporter in the Batman universe, had been investigating the murders at the Iceberg Lounge and had tried to involve Sofia in her investigation.
But Penguin informed Carmine of Sofia’s potential involvement, leading Carmine and the rest of the Falcone family to commit Sofia to Arkham Asylum. In a brutal act of betrayal, Carmine pinned all his murders on his daughter, allowing her to take the fall for his horrific actions.
Sofia’s time at Arkham was filled with intense suffering and emotional trauma, and Episode 4 brings these dark moments to the surface. The betrayal by Penguin was the first domino to fall in the eventual collapse of the Falcone crime family. This episode is the most emotional one yet, as it highlights the immense weight of Sofia’s suffering and the betrayal that destroyed her life.
Sofia’s Revenge and the Start of a New War
By the end of Episode 4, Sofia’s path for revenge becomes clear. The episode concludes with a powerful and violent scene in which Sofia kills nearly all her remaining family members, sparing only Johnny Viti, played by Michael Kelly. With this act of vengeance, Sofia has set the stage for a new and deadly war in Gotham.
Now that Sofia knows Oswald Cobblepot was responsible for her brother’s death, her focus has shifted entirely. The conflict between Sofia and Penguin, which has been simmering throughout the first half of the series, is about to boil over.
With both characters fighting for control of Gotham’s criminal underworld, the second half of The Penguin promises to deliver even more intense drama and violence.
Sofia’s journey from victim to powerful force in Gotham’s underworld has been one of the central storylines of the series, and her transformation is now complete.
She is no longer the daughter of a crime boss, struggling to survive in a male-dominated world. She has become a ruthless player in her own right, ready to take down anyone who stands in her way—especially The Penguin.
The Future of ‘The Penguin’: What to Expect Next
With four episodes left, The Penguin is set to continue building on the momentum it has gained so far. The preview for Episode 5 suggests that the conflict between Sofia and Penguin will intensify as they each try to gain the upper hand.
Meanwhile, other characters, such as Nadia Maroni and Victor, will likely play significant roles in the upcoming episodes, adding even more complexity to the power struggles in Gotham.
The success of The Penguin is also notable for its contribution to the broader DC Universe. The series is part of Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe, which has been praised for its darker, more grounded take on the superhero genre.
The gritty tone and focus on street-level crime make The Penguin a unique entry in the superhero shows, and its success suggests that audiences are hungry for more stories set in this version of Gotham.
When to Watch the Next Episode
New episodes of The Penguin premiere every Sunday on Max and HBO at 9 PM EST. The next episode is scheduled to air on October 20th, and with the show continuing to improve in quality and suspense, the viewership numbers are expected to rise even further.
Fans of the show can look forward to more action, betrayal, and high-stakes drama as The Penguin heads into its final stretch.
As the conflict between Sofia Falcone and Oswald Cobblepot escalates, Gotham City is about to witness one of the most intense showdowns in its history. With only four episodes left, the stakes have never been higher, and viewers won’t want to miss a single moment of the action.
