Review 46 – The Penguin - Episode 6, Dir. Kevin Bray
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I know I’m late with this review, but here’s the bright side: today is Thursday, October 31st—the same day we’re introduced to Batman in The Batman movie. In a way, it feels poetic.
Jokes aside, this show continues delivering amazing story-lines, action, and character insights. The writing is spot on, things like good dialogue and revealing backstory in just the right amounts without ever becoming overwhelming.
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As I predicted in my last review, there’s been a time jump. We now see Oz fully entrenched in his “Bliss” empire, which has expanded from two near-dead buckets of mushrooms to a sprawling operation. Say what you will about him, but Oz has a knack for maximizing his opportunities, no matter the circumstances.
The scene where he subtly but firmly intimidates the councilman shows just how powerful he’s become and how much more power he craves. It’s clear that he wants to emulate Carmine while aiming for Kingpin (From the Netflix show Daredevil) level dominance and recognition. His charisma and knack for persuasion make it easy to imagine him setting his sights on becoming mayor.
His conversation to his workers when things are going awry due to Sofia and Salvatore meddling shows how smart he is. He is appealing to their hunger for money and the strategy of creating demand by just giving it for free makes him a smart businessman.
In his conversation with the other families, he strikes the perfect balance between relatable and authoritative, especially with his analogy about corrupt politicians sticking together out of mutual self-interest. That’s what Oz is after: a team united by ambition and hate.
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The bond between Sofia and Salvatore is fascinating, it’s almost paternal. Given how alone they both are now, a betrayal between them seems unlikely. Despite past grudges, Salvatore recognizes that Sofia isn’t like Carmine, she’s her own person. With no close family left, they have a foundation for a potentially strong alliance.
Sofia and Eve’s scene is raw and brutally honest. Eve’s realization that Oz has been hiding dark secrets, like the truth about the Hangman murders which hits close to home. She’s known about some of Oz’s darker secrets, but this strikes a more personal chord. You can’t blame her for finally tipping Sofia about his whereabouts.
It’s intriguing to see Sofia recognize Eve’s subtle manipulations while knowing exactly how to respond. When Eve asks Sofia to look after her friends if anything happens to her, it shows vulnerability and respect. Meanwhile, Eve’s loyal friends, who keep her secrets, contrast sharply with Oz’s demand for respect without earning loyalty through trust.
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Victor’s story-line this episode is absolutely riveting. His confidence has grown, for instance he still stutters but it’s less out of fear. Taking matters into his own hands with Squid shows he’s ready to stand up and fight for his place. Oz’s understanding without a word being said speaks volumes. Treating the moment with care showed he might see him as a younger brother
The final scene is tense. It’s great to see Oz’s mom dancing under the lights, finally happy after an episode of her being depressed. But when Sofia appears with that crowbar, my heart drops. My guess is that it's now going to get ugly and a full out war is going to happen that will perhaps shake Gotham
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I can’t wait for the next episode. The show is reaching its climactic peak, and it’s thrilling to imagine where it’ll go from here. And in honour of today’s date, I’ll be watching The Batman.
Happy Diwali and Spooky Halloween to anyone reading this! 🎃🎆
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