Review: The Penguin explains what happened to Oz’s brothers in Episode 7, “Top Hat”

As a film enthusiast with over three decades of immersion in the world of crime dramas, I have to say that “Top Hat,” Episode 7 of The Penguin, left me utterly captivated. It’s rare to find a show that manages to weave such an intricate tapestry of past and present, guilt and redemption, and power and vulnerability.

From the beginning, it’s been clear that Oz is surrounded by the spirits of his brothers, as we discover in Episode 7 of The Penguin titled “Top Hat”.

Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for The Penguin Episode 7

The start of the episode takes us back into the past, all the way back to Oz’s childhood. In the present day, Sofia and Sal gets the chance to hurt Oz the way they want.

The Penguin Episode 7 review, “Top Hat”: What happened to Oz’s brothers?

At the outset of the episode, we find a young Oz alongside his mother. It’s evident that he yearns for her affection, but his siblings often create obstacles. Moreover, they are not particularly gentle towards little Oz, teasing him relentlessly and exploiting his weak leg.

It’s not entirely unexpected that Oz regains some form of authority again, but he tends to overstep boundaries significantly. He, along with his siblings, venture into Gotham’s subterranean passages, yet Oz finds it difficult to descend the ladder due to his injured leg. Instead of risking a fall, he opts to leave, slamming the tunnel door shut behind him. Unfortunately, this action traps his brothers inside, and as rain pelts down, the tunnel begins to flood with water.

It’s not shocking that Oz keeps acting as he pleases after seemingly getting away with a crime, considering he managed to deceive his mom into thinking his brothers went to the movies while they were actually in danger, allowing him to spend the night with her watching a film. All he desired was achieved, and this contentment seems to be his only concern.

This marked the beginning of Francis’ deteriorating mental state and growing self-absorption. Naturally, given his affectionate attachment to his mother, he failed to recognize any issue with this and vowed to give her everything she desired.

Sofia and Sal get their chance at revenge

Currently, Oz makes his way back to Crown Point, finding all the lights ablaze – a sight that typically brings comfort, but now stirs unease. Upon arrival at their temporary residence, he notices the door ajar, damaged. Inside, Vic lies unconscious. Francis is nowhere to be found, and in an instant, Oz grasps the grim reality: Sofia must have discovered and abducted his mother.

Sal and his group arrive with a desire for retribution, but Sofia isn’t ready to harm Oz immediately. Instead, they both seek to inflict pain on Oz first, which in turn would hurt Francis.

It appears as though Sofia frequently questions her decisions, a moment that takes Francis back to the past. Worry about her two boys being caught in the rain prompts this realization from Sofia: Francis is dealing with dementia. Occasionally, Sofia taps into her compassionate side, particularly when conversing with others who have endured hardships. This was evident with her cousin Gia, and now it’s becoming clear with Francis as well.

In another unresolved matter concerning Sofia, it’s revealed that her cousin Gia has some crucial information related to the supposed “gas leak” incident. This information has led Sofia to arrange a visit to the group home where Gia now resides. During their encounter, Sofia appears to exhibit behavior similar to her father when she attempts to manipulate Gia into believing her mother’s death was an accident. However, upon noticing that Gia is self-harming, Sofia recognizes the urgent need to help her cousin.

Oz has to get himself out of a sticky situation again

Once more, Oz finds himself in an unwanted predicament that caught him off guard. Sal coerces Oz into revealing their drug operation’s hideout. At first, Oz attempts to sway Sal against Sofia, and later he chooses to provoke Sal about the manner in which Nadia and Tariq met their end. This is all a stalling tactic to give his own crew time to assist him.

By a strange twist of events, it appears luck is with Oz, as Sal suffers a heart attack during their confrontation. The way Oz reacts mirrors our own shock. It was expected that Sal would bring harm to Oz and dismantle his expanding kingdom, but instead, his health failed him. It’s one of those unforeseen moments that really took me by surprise. Kudos to the writers for pulling off such an unexpected plot twist!

In an interesting nod to the series premiere, Oz places Sal’s ring on his finger much like how Carmine and Alberto did before him.

In addition, I must acknowledge that Oz appreciates those who defended him. These individuals bravely fought to safeguard their home, a trait that Oz admires greatly. Unlike many others who might have fled, they remain because Oz has compensated and valued them more than any previous employer ever did, thus fostering loyalty.

It’s back to Sofia vs. Oz in The Penguin

Following Sal’s demise, the rivalry resumes between Oz and Sofia. Oz proposes to hand over his goods as a trade for his mother, who is at present under Julian’s care, and Sofia accepts this proposition.

Upon encountering Gia, Sofia comes to understand that Francis was correct – a simple name change doesn’t bring about any substantial alterations. Now, Sofia finds herself in need of devising a new approach, having moved from one establishment to another. What she yearns for most is freedom and to inflict genuine suffering on Oz.

It’s becoming evident how fragile Sofia’s mental state is. Unless she’s fixated on retaliation, she experiences debilitating panic attacks. Concentrating on anything else results in a loss of control, which she struggled with for an extended period in the asylum. I can’t help but wish that Sofia was surrounded by individuals who truly wanted to aid her, but such a scenario wouldn’t fit well into a Gotham tale, would it?

The mini-breakdown does help Sofia figure out her next move, though. She decides not to walk into Oz’s trap after all, but she does deliver a “present.” No, it’s not Francis’ dead body. It’s a bomb in a car.

Sofia demonstrates her development and desire to adjust. Inflicting pain on Oz through violence was not the appropriate solution. Destroying his operations, however, might be more suitable.

The penultimate episode concluded explosively, setting the stage for a thrilling final showdown. Given what we know about The Penguin from DC comics, it will be intriguing to see if Sofia emerges victorious. She’s discovered Oz’s vulnerability, but the question is whether Oz can identify her weakness and swiftly employ his problem-solving skills to safeguard himself and his mother from danger.

Episode grade: A-

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2024-11-04 05:41