The Penguin episode 1 recap: It’s Batman meets The Sopranos in “After Hours”

The Penguin episode 1 recap: It's Batman meets The Sopranos in "After Hours"

As a longtime fanatic of the Gotham City underworld, I must say that this episode of “The Penguin” has truly piqued my interest. The dynamic between Oz and Victor is reminiscent of a twisted version of the buddy cop duo, and it’s a delight to see Cristin Milioti bring Sofia to life with such intensity.

As a dedicated gamer, diving into the DC Universe just got more exciting with “The Penguin”, the fresh spinoff of Batman. But don’t worry, this new mobster drama is self-reliant, delivering nail-biting tension, intricate character narratives, and an exceptional leading act that deserves a standing ovation. Tonight, I caught the first episode, “After Hours,” which aired on both HBO and Max, and let me tell you, it’s got me hooked! This is one series you won’t want to miss out on.

Colin Farrell reprises his role as Oz Cobb/Penguin in the HBO series, with a talented supporting cast including Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone, Deirdre O’Connell as Francis Cobb, Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni, Carmen Ejogo as Eve Karlo, Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar, and others. From just the first episode of The Penguin, it’s evident the limited series will become one of the best superhero shows yet. We break down all the biggest moments from episode 1 below!

WARNING: Major spoilers for The Penguin episode 1 are ahead.

A week following the incidents in “The Batman,” the narrative commences with news broadcasts updating us on Gotham’s tumultuous condition. The Riddler’s assaults have brought chaos to the city, leading to widespread looting, riots, and a surge in drug abuse. The influential crime lord Carmine Falcone (portrayed by Mark Strong) has been assassinated, with his son Alberto (Michael Zegen) poised to assume control.

At Iceberg Lounge, Oz (Farrell)’s nightclub where Carmine had his base, we witness Oz accessing Carmine’s safe and examining a collection of files and photographs inside. He slips the file into his coat pocket before noticing some valuable jewelry within. However, before he could closely examine them, Alberto arrives and points a gun at him. Oz explains that he was merely securing the jewels to present to Alberto before anyone else reached the safe, which Alberto finds unconvincing. Oz then praises Alberto for assuming control of the operation and speaks highly of Carmine.

As a gamer myself, let me rephrase that scenario: I share a drink with the new boss, Alberto, and he confides in me about the weight of his new role. He drops a bombshell – there’s a game-changing drug in the works. The conversation becomes more intense as I sense Alberto believes I covet the power he currently holds. He calls me out, labeling me “pathetic.

The Penguin episode 1 recap: It's Batman meets The Sopranos in "After Hours"

Goodbye, Alberto Falcone

In the end, Alberto oversteps boundaries, leading him to derisively label Oz as a “coward.” This provocation prompts Oz to instinctively pull out his firearm and fatally shoot Alberto. A moment of laughter escapes him before he comprehends the gravity of his actions. Covering up the murder of the newly appointed crime boss won’t be an effortless task.

In another version, Oz finds himself needing to dispose of a corpse, and as he steps outside, he encounters a gang of youngsters attempting to steal his vehicle. He starts firing at them, managing to capture one, a lad named Victor (Felix). Oz demands that Victor assist him in disposing of the body, implying they’re now partners in this predicament. This situation understandably frightens Victor, but he complies. What other choice does he have?

In a turn of events, Oz gets Victor to drive his car, and they head towards Eve Ejogo’s apartment. Oz is seeking an alibi, and Eve kindly consents to vouch for him after 10:00 PM. Following this, their journey takes them to a food joint before leading them to a scrapyard. In the trunk of an abandoned car, Oz deposits Alberto’s body without forgetting to remove the ring from his pinky finger first. This ring is significant as it belongs to a rival mob group, the Maronis, and we’ll delve deeper into their storyline later on.

It’s bad news for Oz and his plant

After wrapping up my business, I find myself trembling with apprehension, convinced that this man, Oz, might end my life. I plead for mercy, vowing to do whatever he requires, and surprisingly, he agrees to keep me nearby, at least for the moment. He escorts me back to his apartment, where he prepares for his workday. In the living room, I spot a picture of three children on a desk.

In another scenario, Oz receives a phone call from one of the gangsters, prompting Victor to chauffeur him to a grand residence. Victor frets that they might suspect Oz has murdered Alberto, yet Oz remains uncertain. He instructs Victor to stay in the vehicle while he converses with a pair of associates. Regrettably for Oz, he’s informed that he must halt production at his facility and relocate it to Robbinsville. The authorities are too close to the plant, and they believe it’s too hazardous, but Oz remains perplexed. They engage in an argument, and Oz informs them about a substantial consignment of a novel drug that will “transform” the market and enable them to broaden their business. Unbeknownst to them, he is referring to Alberto’s grand strategy.

The Penguin episode 1 recap: It's Batman meets The Sopranos in "After Hours"

In a surprising turn of events, Alberto’s sister, Sofia (played by Milioti), appears on the scene from Arkham Asylum. Her immediate concern is Alberto’s whereabouts, as she informs Oz that he went missing the night before without his guards and hasn’t returned since. Oz receives a timeframe of 48 hours to close down the plant and departs. Outside, Sofia persistently inquires about Alberto again, and Oz replies negatively, insisting that he’s likely safe.

Sofia is a major highlight of The Penguin

Sofia spots Oz’s unique purple vehicle, teases the color, and invites him out for lunch. At the eatery, Sofia indulges in food and swiftly downs martinis, catching Oz off guard. This behavior seems to bewilder Oz. Other patrons cast curious glances at them, and Sofia acknowledges their attention, jokingly referring to herself as a “psycho killer.” She then queries Oz about his night out at the club, wondering why he was discussing his new drug. She reveals she’s been collaborating with Alberto on this project, and inquires why Oz would claim credit for it. She suggests that either Oz is naive or he’s aware that Alberto won’t return.

In a bid to make it seem like I was in on things with Alberto, too, and that he was playing us both, I casually hinted that I decided to stick with the plan while he was off his rocker due to a drinking spree. This revelation caught Sofia off guard, and I confided in her that Alberto has an issue with addiction. As we part ways outside the restaurant and exchange warm goodbyes, Sofia subtly suggests that others might underestimate me, but she doesn’t fall into that category. She definitely harbors a sense of suspicion towards me and isn’t fully on board with my story.

The Penguin episode 1 recap: It's Batman meets The Sopranos in "After Hours"

Oz and Victor board a subway train, and when “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton begins playing, Victor gives a sly grin. They head to Oz’s mom Francis O’Connell’s house, reminiscent of Tony Soprano’s mother Olivia in characterization. Oz informs her that they need to take a short trip, and upon searching, he unearths a hidden stash of money. As Victor explores the house, he notices the same photograph on the wall as in Oz’s apartment, hinting at Oz’s affection for his family.

Oz’s family life

Francis asks her son what he has been up to, and he confesses that he killed Alberto because Alberto had made fun of him. In a surprising turn, Francis criticizes her son by calling him a “coward,” but then offers words of support. Oz later sends Victor off on an important mission, which Victor is initially reluctant to undertake, but Oz eventually convinces him to go through with it.

Later on, Oz goes to meet a member of the Maroni crime family in prison, named Sal (Brown). He informs Sal that he’s breaking ties with the Falcone clan and wishes to join forces with him instead. This proposition seems to irritate Sal, as he suspects Oz has hidden intentions due to his quick change of allegiance. Sal is hesitant to trust someone so prone to switching loyalties and declines the offer, although this doesn’t deter Oz. Before leaving, he gives Sal a ring that was once worn by Alberto. This leaves Sal surprised and curious about how Oz obtained it, hinting at the actions Oz may have taken.

In a different turn of phrase: Sofia pursued Oz, leading to a short high-speed pursuit and a brutal incident resulting in an injury. After capturing Oz, one of her associates confined him, stripped him bare, and brutally assaulted him while Sofia conversed with him about Alberto. She mentioned that Alberto used to visit her at Arkham, providing her the resolve to persevere. Upon hearing this, she began investigating and learned about Oz supposedly firing upon children outside of the club. She then disclosed having one of those children bound. Oz vehemently denied the accusations, but the child Sofia held was shot and killed by her when the boy asserted he was lying.

The Penguin episode 1 recap: It's Batman meets The Sopranos in "After Hours"

You really shouldn’t underestimate the Penguin

In another phrase, here’s how we can rephrase the given text: Sofia inquires of Oz if she’s simply overreacting or if he has any connection to Alberto’s vanishing, all while they’re subjecting him to torment. Moments before Oz could respond, they hear a blaring car horn outside. Swiftly, Sofia and her men dash outdoors to investigate. They discover a vehicle with a cement block on the horn and the trunk partially open. Upon opening it, they find Alberto’s deceased body, lacking his pinky finger, with the words “REPAYMENT” scrawled across the trunk lid.

In this assignment, Oz tasked Victor with a job that made it appear as if the Maronis had slain Alberto out of vengeance. Later, when they were by themselves, Oz praised Victor for his performance and questioned why he hadn’t followed through with the initial plan. Victor admitted that he couldn’t sever Alberto’s head but did the best he could instead. This was satisfactory for Oz. Oz expressed his intentions to govern the city and invited Victor to join him in this endeavor. As the episode concluded, the song “9 to 5” played once more, with both characters basking in their success.

Beginning with its first episode, “The Penguin” promises to be a captivating series to watch. The unusual partnership between Oz and Victor, reminiscent of buddy cop stories, is particularly enjoyable for me. Additionally, Cristin Milioti delivers an outstanding performance as Sofia. Thus far, it’s off to a strong start; I have no doubt that the DC drama will be among the most highly-anticipated shows this year.

2024-09-20 05:28