Episode three of the new series, The Penguin, gives audiences a closer look at Vic and how he ended up in his initial situation. It’s revealed that after the major floods, as shown in The Batman movie, Vic loses his home and family, leaving him to rob cars just to get by. This back story reveals his love interest, Graciela, who also lost her home. Upon their reuniting, she asks him to run away with her. Due to his situation being Oz’s right-hand-man and owing his life to Oz, Vic cannot leave this city so easily.
During this time, Oz is slowly gaining Sophia’s trust. She reveals the new drug that is being developed and makes him in charge of finding a distributor. He’s now Sophia’s partner, both avoiding the Falcones while they build this new business.
Vic becomes their ‘bag man’ and distributes the new drugs throughout the club as Sophia deals with the club owner to be a distributor. While this big deal is going on, Vic’s love interest texts him, hoping that he’ll take the bus with her to leave Gotham. Vic is at a crossroads in his life; either he continues to work in the drug business or has a happy ending with Graciela. Oz eventually finds out about this and sets him straight. Vic can leave if he wants but will be missing out on career opportunities.
Oz and Sophia’s history is brought up, revealing that they were romantically involved, but also had a hand in her being confined to Arkham. During this intimate moment, Nadia Maroni ambushes the two with backup, holding them at gunpoint. Before Nadia is able to reveal too much about Oz and his schemes, Vic drives into the Maroni group, rescuing Oz but leaving Sophia.
This episode offered more substance than the previous two episodes, revealing backstories and showing more character development. Not only did viewers learn more about Vic, his love interest, family, and PTSD, but also Oz’s manipulative, gaslighting tendencies, which are exceedingly apparent in how he emotionally manipulates both Sophia and Vic. While Oz announces his empathy and emotions towards Sophia, in that moment he also decides to leave her with the Maroni’s, her enemy/rivals. Overall this episode was enticing and filled with character lore. Not only did it offer thrills and emotional moments, but this episode also left audiences with a major cliffhanger. The next episode will hopefully be filled with pivotal moments, and perhaps Oz may get caught in one of his lies.
Rating: 8.5/10