The penguin episode 7: unraveling a dark past and present

A nightmare flashback sets the scene

In the gripping penultimate episode of HBO’s DC series The Penguin, titled “Top Hat,” Oz’s world is shaken to its core. The episode opens with a haunting flashback to Oz and his brothers’ childhood. It’s the first time viewers see his brothers alive, living with their mother, Francis, in a modest apartment. Francis makes a living doing the books for Rex Calabrese, the local gangster whom Oz had previously admired.

Childhood tragedy in trolley tunnels

One fateful afternoon, the brothers encounter Rex, who gives them $50 to take home to their mother. Seizing an opportunity for adventure, the boys decide to play flashlight tag in the abandoned trolley tunnels. Oz, handicapped by his bad leg, can’t keep up and gets left behind. Hurt by this exclusion, he locks his brothers in one of the tunnels and returns home, lying to his mother that they went to the movies. Tragically, his brothers drown in a flood that engulfs the tunnel shortly after.

Back to the dangerous present

Fast forward to the present day, and Oz returns home to find his mother missing and Victor knocked out cold. The tension escalates as Sal Maroni, still seething from Oz’s heinous act of murdering his wife and son in Episode 5, arrives with vengeance on his mind.

Maroni’s rage is palpable as he begins to savagely beat Oz with a golf club. According to actor Clancy Brown, portraying Maroni, the character is consumed by his desire for revenge. Maroni’s “tunnel vision” leaves him with a singular focus: to kill Oz. Brown reveals in an interview that the actors aimed to make the beating sequence as authentic as possible, to the extent that it felt almost too real at times.

A life-risking confrontation

As Maroni’s men prepare to end Oz’s life, one of Sofia’s henchmen intervenes, sparking a war of words between Oz and Maroni. Oz taunts Maroni, saying Sofia has him under her control, while Maroni hits back hard, reminding Oz that Sofia now holds his mother captive. This rivalry heightens further when we see Sofia interacting with Francis, mocking her and her son despite Francis’s struggles with dementia.

Journey to the trolley tunnels

Maroni forces Oz to escort him to the trolley tunnels and the clandestine Bliss drug operation. Attempting to reclaim dominance, Maroni declares that everyone now works for him and Sofia. The tension escalates as Oz baits Maroni by talking about the murder of Maroni’s family, pushing Maroni to grab a can of gasoline with the intent to burn Oz alive. Just before things get out of hand, chaos erupts when one of Oz’s workers cuts the lights.

Maroni’s violent intentions revealed

Brown shares behind-the-scenes details about Maroni’s dark plotting, expressing that the character wanted Oz to suffer in the most excruciating manner possible. There were initial plans for Maroni to douse Oz with gasoline, but practical constraints on set, especially concerning makeup, prevented this scene from being filmed as initially intended.

A shocking twist of fate

In an unexpected twist, Maroni collapses from a heart attack mid-brawl, delivering an ironic sense of unresolved vengeance for Oz. Brown reflects on the poignancy and frustration of this sudden demise, likening it to an unfulfilled narrative old score.

Sofia deals with new threats

The episode shifts to Sofia, who learns from Dr. Rush that her niece Gia might be tipping off the police. A troubling encounter ensues, where Gia recalls seeing a gas mask in Sofia’s possession, leading her to believe Sofia was responsible for the deadly gas attack at the Falcone mansion. This revelation visibly shakes Sofia, adding layers to her complex character.

A game of explosive stakes

As tensions reach their peak, Oz calls Sofia, suggesting a trade: her mother for the Bliss operation. Oz and his team prepare an ambush, but get struck by a shocking twist. Sofia leads Oz to believe that his mother is in the trunk of a car, only for Oz to discover a ticking bomb set to explode. The bomb detonates, causing massive destruction and, presumably, eliminating many of Oz’s men in Crown Point.

Flashbacks weave a poignant narrative

Further flashbacks take us deeper into Oz’s psyche, showcasing moments from his past at Monroe’s jazz club with his mother. These memories highlight the emotional scars and aspirations pressed upon him from a young age, creating a poignant juxtaposition to his current predicament.

The final blow

The episode closes with Oz, battered but alive, being taken by corrupt cop Marcus Wise. What awaits Oz remains a mystery, but this episode’s intense narrative, full of betrayal and vengeance, sets the stage for a thrilling finale.

Feel the suspense of The Penguin and stay tuned for more updates on this riveting series. Share your thoughts about Episode 7 on social media and join the conversation as we unravel the final layers of this dark tale.