‘The Penguin’, Episode 6 Review: Oz’s Rise To The Top Of Gotham Continues
With last week’s episode of The Penguin ending with Oz finding a suitable base for his burgeoning criminal empire, this week’s episode, “Gold Summit”, commences several weeks later with showing us how significantly Oz’s operation has expanded.
With his new underground base now fully operational, Oz has now ramped up production of Gotham’s new designer drug, Bliss, and has even recruited the downtrodden residents of Crown Point to work for him (where he is also hiding out after Sofia’s devastating actions last episode).
Warning! Spoilers for Episode 6 of The Penguin follow!
Despite the operation now thriving, Oz confirms that they need to get more of Gotham’s gangs integrated before they become fully established in the city. Zhao, the head of the Triad family, is now interested, and Oz quickly realizes that with Zhao’s partnership, they can take their business to an international scale.
Meanwhile, at the now Gigante estate, Sal stresses to Sofia that Oz currently has the upper hand but they formulate a plan to sabotage Oz’s good standing with these gangs by revealing to the remaining gangs the dire (and at times, fatal) consequences of getting into business with Oz.
Shortly after, Oz receives a phone call informing him that the Triads have backed out of the partnership. Bewildered, he orders Vic to turn on the news, which shows a news report that three bodies have been found hanging on the streets, each with a severed pinky finger. Oz quickly surmises that Sofia is behind this, and his frustration hatches a new plan: they’ll distribute Bliss for free, which will signal to the gangs that, whether they approve of it or not, Bliss has already infiltrated their neighborhoods.
While walking through Crown Point, Vic encounters Squid, a local dealer from his past. Noticing Vic’s new shoes, Squid questions his sudden wealth and demands a cut of the operation. He then threatens to track down Francis unless Vic lets him in. Sal and Sofia break into Oz’s old apartment. Sal notices a childhood photo of Oz with his brothers, suggesting they target someone he cares about, but Sofia reminds him that Oz’s family is already gone. While Sal wrecks the place, Sofia finds Eve Karlo’s (introduced to us in Episode 3) underwear and a Polaroid photo in a drawer.
As Oz’s mom, Francis, experiences a moment of clarity amid her worsening dementia, she tells Oz she no longer wants to live this way. She makes him promise that, if her mind deteriorates fully before her body, he’ll put an end to her suffering.
Oz later arrives at City Hall and waits until Councilman Hady is alone to confront him. Hady, aware of Oz’s former ties to Carmine Falcone, insists he’s already settled his debts. In response, Oz grips Hady’s nostrils with pliers, demanding he restore power to Crown Point (which has been directed to the rich areas of Gotham) and threatening blackmail if he refuses. Hady reluctantly agrees, with a deadline of sunup. As Oz heads back to his car, he receives a tense call from a member of the Sullivan Crime Family about Bliss showing up in their territory.
Meanwhile, Vic meets up with Squid and attempts to pay him off, but the drug dealer refuses the money, throwing it back at him and demanding a meeting with Oz. When Vic balks, Squid threatens to snitch on Oz to the Gigante family for a bigger payout. Terrified, Vic agrees, only to pull out his gun and shoot Squid in the neck when his defenses are down.
Sofia tracks down Eve at her apartment and holds her at gunpoint. When Sofia demands Oz’s location, Eve claims ignorance, noting that even if she knew, Oz wouldn’t risk himself to save her. Sofia’s title, “the Hangman,” spurs Eve to reveal the truth that Oz played a role in her father’s death and framed her, leading to her confinement in Arkham. Eve also discloses that Oz is hiding in Crown Point.
Elsewhere, Vic admits to Oz that he killed Squid which leads to Oz embracing him and reassuring him that his it only gets easier. Vic then returns home as Oz prepares to meet Gotham’s gang leaders at his “Gold Summit.”
At the Gold Summit, Oz declares a war against Gotham’s elite, including Sofia. Although Zhao initially dismisses him as foolish, Oz argues that collaboration would yield greater territory and power for them all. As he prepares to make a toast, he drops the bombshell that he was responsible for Alberto Falcone’s death. Gradually, the other gang leaders, including Zhao, begin to open their beers in solidarity. The episode wraps up in Crown Point, where the electricity suddenly returns. Francis and Vic celebrate their moment by dancing to a record, unaware that Sofia has entered the apartment, armed with a crowbar.
What did you guys think of Episode 6 of The Penguin? How do you think ithe war between Oz and Sofia will play out? As always, sound off in the comment section below, and don’t forget to stay tuned right here at The Cultured Nerd for all the latest updates and reviews on The Penguin.
Stream Episode 6 of The Penguin on Max.
