The Penguin Episode 5 recap: Changes in status quo in the Gotham underworld 

Aashna
The Penguin Episode 5 recap| Image via Max
The Penguin Episode 5 recap| Image via Max

Episode 5 of The Penguin saw a change in the status quo in the Gotham underworld, with a showdown on the cards now. Originating from Matt Reeves' The Batman Universe, The Penguin chronicles Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) as he tries to become the new king of the Gotham Underworld.

After a power vacuum in the underworld, Oz tries his best to seize the city. Episode 4 of The Penguin showed the other side of the coin via Sophia Falcone's (Cristin Milioti) story.

In the last episode, we learned how Sophia murdered most of her family, who sent her to Arkahm prison, and it seems that the alliance between her and Oz is finally over, thanks to the Maroni Crime Family.

As the finale of episode 5 suggests, it will be interesting to see them pitted against each other. Here is a quick recap of The Penguin episode 5.


The Gigantes: Sophia's new Crime Family name in The Penguin Episode 5

The Penguin Episode 5 recap| Image via Max
The Penguin Episode 5 recap| Image via Max

In episode 5 of the show, Sophia Falcone embraces her mother's birth name, Gigante. This name change can be read as a metaphor for the change in power dynamics within the Falcone family.

In taking up her mother's name, Sophia not only honors her mother's legacy, which Carmine betrayed but also leaves her father's legacy behind to establish a new power structure within the Falcons.

We saw how she kept Johnny Viti alive to get his father's untraceable money. She wore her mother's coat and stood tall in front of the men who used to work for her father once. She later shoots Johnny when he speaks against her and offers Carmine's money to the men to secure their loyalty towards her.


Did Sophia and Sal team up against Oz in The Penguin Episode 5?

The Penguin Episode 5 recap| Image via Max
The Penguin Episode 5 recap| Image via Max

A turning point in The Penguin Episode 5 is the alliance between Sophia Gigante and Salvatore Maroni. This alliance could end the long war between Falcones and Maronis, proving to be massive trouble for Oz.

Despite breaking out of Blackgate, Sal was too late to save his wife and children, whom Oz lit on fire during the hand-off for the Bliss mushrooms. Sal is now a man on a mission to avenge the murder of his family, and this alliance with Sophia further strengthens his plan.

An alliance between Sal and Sophia makes sense at this point in The Penguin Episode 5 because they do not just want to defeat Oz. They are ambitious about taking over Gotham's organized crime world and ruling it.

Sophia's major power move can be fatal to Oz, who has little to hold onto after his encounter with the Maronis.


A new system of operations for Oz Cobb in The Penguin Episode 5

The Penguin Episode 5 recap| Image via Max
The Penguin Episode 5 recap| Image via Max

While the alliance between Sophia and Sal is a big threat to Oz, all is not lost for him. With his right-hand man Victor Aguilar by his side, he uncovers a key advantage for his operations by the finale of The Penguin episode 5.

The duo uncovers Gotham's underground and forgotten trolley system, which Oz remembers exploring with his brothers before their death. The abandoned trolley system could become the hub of their operations as the humidity there is perfect for growing more mushrooms.

This will expand their business of the new drug introduced into Gotham. Further episodes will see a major power struggle between Sophia and Oz in the Gotham Underworld.

Catch all the drama in The Penguin every Sunday night on Max.


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Edited by Yesha Srivastava