The Penguin review: Sofia takes her power back in excellent “Cent’Anni”

The Penguin review: Sofia takes her power back in excellent "Cent'Anni"

As a seasoned fan of Gotham’s dark alleys and twisted souls, I found myself captivated by this week’s episode of The Penguin. Sofia Falcone’s journey from a broken woman to a determined avenger has been nothing short of enthralling, and this episode was no exception.

From the onset of “The Penguin”, it has become evident that Sofia Falcone harbors secrets beyond what’s been shown. The fourth episode, titled “Cent’Anni,” explores her past and sheds light on the reasons behind her distrust towards others.

Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for The Penguin episode 4

In this tale, “The Penguin” portrays Oz’s ascension within the criminal world, but another significant character emerges in his narrative – Sofia, who has become a complicating factor since her discharge from Arkham Asylum. This episode is intense and heart-wrenching, as it’s hard not to empathize with her plight as she undergoes distressing “treatments.

For some time now, it’s been evident that Sofia is not the true identity of the Hangman serial killer as portrayed by the media. Now, it’s crucial to uncover the real perpetrator behind the murders and understand how Sofia was falsely accused.

The Penguin episode 4 review: “Cent’Anni”

Right from the beginning, we’ve held the view that Sofia’s mother took her own life. The discovery of her body in her room has cast a long shadow over Sofia, and this episode reveals that the traumatic event continues to haunt her. Given these circumstances, it’s not surprising that she battles with mental health issues. Witnessing such a tragic scene at the tender age of nine would undoubtedly leave deep scars. However, Sofia finds herself unable to discuss it openly. Her father, Carmine, has chosen to remain silent about this tragedy, as it brings him unbearable pain.

In this episode, Carmine offers an insightful portrayal of gaslighting techniques. At one point, Sofia recounts certain details from her mother’s passing, like the marks on his hands. Instead of addressing the issue, Carmine subtly shifts the focus to how Sofia is feeling about it.

Upon visiting Sofia following a charity event, Summer Gleeson’s presence stirs up Sofia’s suspicions about her mother’s demise. It appears that Sofia has long harbored the feeling that there was something unusual surrounding her mother’s passing. With the disclosure of additional women who supposedly took their own lives in a manner similar to her mother, all of whom had connections to Carmine’s club, Sofia becomes convinced that she needs to uncover more details about this mysterious situation.

In the last episode, we discovered Oz was the one who spoke to Sofia’s father regarding something; I had assumed it pertained to her mental health. However, it turned out to be a completely different matter – arranging a meeting with a reporter. It’s not shocking to learn that Summer Gleeson has been found dead, under similar circumstances as the other women, and Sofia is taken into custody for this crime.

The Penguin review: Sofia takes her power back in excellent "Cent'Anni"

How Sofia survives in Arkham

In a swift move, Carmine immediately acts against a danger to his liberty. He finds an ideal scapegoat to accuse of the murders. Earlier in the episode, he had expressed that Sofia would eventually lead the family; however, circumstances take a dramatic turn in the blink of an eye, making her a challenge Carmine must now address.

In Carmine’s plot, relatives are drafting affidavits claiming that Sofia is mentally unsound, intending to have her institutionalized. It turns out that one of these family members, Carla Viti, who might ring a bell from the family gathering scene a few episodes back, was uncomfortable around Sofia for a reason we now comprehend. Carla’s actions against Sofia were questionable, and as it stands, Sofia is now empowered to retaliate against her.

Despite all odds working against her, it’s determined that Sofia will spend six months at Arkham Asylum prior to trial for psychiatric evaluation. It’s a known fact that confining individuals within asylums can exacerbate their mental conditions rather than improve them. Even the most stable of minds can deteriorate in such environments.

As I step into the haunting world of Arkham, I can’t help but sense my own impending doom. Yet, strangely enough, there’s a part of me that feels relieved, almost as if it’s ready to succumb to this dark realm. I’m not just playing a game here; I’m living through a harrowing ordeal. My character is drugged, brutalized, and subjected to psychological torment. It’s all in the name of testing and “curing” me, but it feels more like a twisted experiment.

Observing her stay at Arkham, it becomes evident that the psychiatrist strategically shapes her speech to make her appear irrational. His ultimate goal is to provoke her into reacting violently, even defensively. She’s often placed in circumstances where murder could be falsely attributed to her, enabling doctors to subject her to electric shock treatments.

At one point, one psychiatrist expresses doubt about her honesty. The other replies cautiously, “Doctor beware,” indicating that the question of her guilt or innocence is irrelevant. As per Carmine’s instruction, they will comply with his orders.

Initially, I wasn’t permitted to receive visits from anyone outside. Naturally, my dear brother Alberto was the sole visitor I had. Unfortunately, he didn’t bring any uplifting tidings. My friend Carmine was still diligently working on something.

Alberto informs Sofia that she won’t face trial due to mental instability. Consequently, she’ll be confined in Arkham Asylum for an extended period. When someone loses everything they care about, they can become desperate. Cristin Milioti delivers a powerful performance during this scene. As you observe, her demeanor transforms significantly as she succumbs to despair. With no hope left, she crosses a dangerous line by attacking her cellmate, Magpie, with a tray.

The Penguin review: Sofia takes her power back in excellent "Cent'Anni"

Sofia makes her move

The episode opens by briefly showing the conclusion of Episode 3 of “The Penguin.” We see Sofia discovering that Oz murdered her brother, followed closely by a harrowing moment where Vic runs over a Maroni with a car. In a tense sequence, Sofia manages to make a call before she collapses unconscious.

It was discovered she contacted a psychiatrist from Arkham Asylum, who sympathized with her situation and resigned soon after Sofia found no escape route from Arkham. Since then, he’s been working alongside Alberto, and now he aims to assist Sofia as well. It took them a decade for this duo to finally help Sofia leave that institution behind.

He thinks Sofia should get on a plane to Sicily and get a fresh start. Instead, she decides to stay and take power back. Most of her living family members, and all the top men who worked for her father, have lied to her and used her time and time again. She calls them out at a family dinner, and I adore that she speaks the names of all the Hangman’s victims. These women were killed by her father and pinned on her, and their names deserve to be said. It’s something that needs to happen when it comes to any murder. Speak the names of the victims and not the killer.

Initially, I believed she was about to commit her initial murders during dinner. With six others present (excluding Carla’s daughter Gia), it would have been quite dramatic if Sofia had chosen that moment to exact revenge for The Hangman’s seven victims. Despite this, the unexpected turn in the story made it enjoyable for me.

Realizing Gia’s innocence, Sofia gently awakens her and leads her to a greenhouse for a cake-eating spree and an impromptu slumber party, noticing strong resemblances between herself and Gia, and intending to safeguard her at all costs. Additionally, the night before, Sofia had orchestrated the Falcones’ deaths through gas poisoning within their home. The following morning, Sofia, wearing a protective gas mask, entered the house where she found the Falcones deceased. After ventilating the house by opening windows and doors to dispel the lethal gas, Sofia successfully executed her plan of murder without detection.

Only Sofia survived: She opened Johnny’s window, leading her to enter his room and rouse him from sleep. It was crucial they conversed.

The Penguin skillfully briefed us on Sofia’s psychological condition and offered a glimpse of regaining dominance. Is it inappropriate that I root for her victory in the entire power struggle?

The Penguin airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.

Episode Grade: A-

2024-10-14 04:41

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