The Penguin is nearing its end and things are getting really dramatic for Oz Cobb and Sofia Gigante (formerly Falcone). But there's still time for a brief interlude to find out more about how Cobb got to where he is and what exactly happened to his brothers. If Sofia's flashback episode thrilled you, 'Top Hat' takes it to another level, revealing the heartbreaking truth behind Oz's childhood and his relationship with his mother.
That's not all that happens in the penultimate episode of The Batman spin-off, either, as we also get closer to the final showdown between Oz and Sofia. Who will take Gotham's crown? Below, we take you through the biggest reveals from 'Top Hat' and explain how they set up an electrifying finale. We also looked at several Batman Easter eggs we saw. So grab your top hat and your cane and let's get into it.
The Penguin episode 7 recap *major spoilers*
The episode begins with a young Oz trying to convince his mother to watch a movie with him, only to be interrupted by his brothers, Benny and Jack. It's clear that Oz doesn't get along very well with his brothers, but the three of them go out for a day in Gotham and meet local gangster Rex along the way while their mother is working for him.
When it starts to rain, the brothers go inside to play flashlight tag in Gotham's underground tunnels. Oz is the first to try to find the others when he has an idea. His brothers hide in one of the sewers, which he cannot reach with his leg, so he locks them inside when it starts to fill with rain. He leaves them there and returns home to Francis, where he tells him that his brothers have gone to the movies. The rain continues and the children are still not home. They settle in to watch a movie themselves while their brothers drown in the sewers.
In the present day, Oz returns home to discover that Sofia has kidnapped his mother. But before he and Victor can leave and find her, Sal Maroni visits him and hits him with a golf club. Meanwhile, Sofia confronts Francis about Oz, pressing her for details about his childhood and what led him to become a monster. They are not good friends by any means, as Francis tells her that he will dance on her grave, before having a vision about her children.
Sal takes Oz to his headquarters, where he tells the men that he is now in charge of the operation and takes the drug supply. However, Oz, as his mother says, is always a few steps ahead and orders his men to turn on Sal, resulting in a shootout in the sewers. Oz kills him, adding to his growing tally this season.
Meanwhile, Sofia heads to visit her young cousin at Brookside Children's Home, asking her questions about the night Sofia killed her entire family. Here we see a softer side of Sofia, as she tries to convince the girl that it was all an accident before bursting into tears outside the room.
Oz calls her, reveals that he killed Sal, and suggests a final showdown. He offers her the crown of Gotham's underworld if she brings him Francis. However, Sofia isn't so sure and tells Dr. Rush that she wants Oz to “suffer” for what he has done. The Penguin sets a trap for her at her hideout, but Sofia sends him a car loaded with explosives while she takes her mother to Monroe's house. Appropriately, Oz survives the explosion by hiding in the sewer where his brothers died.
In a new flashback, we follow Oz and his mother in the days after his brothers' deaths. Francis gets Oz to dress up while the couple heads to Monroe's for a night out. On the dance floor, she begins to cry as Oz promises that he will always take care of her before she returns to the current day with the gangster waking up in the rubble of the explosions. It's chaos in Gotham, with buildings on fire and people injured everywhere. “Well, what if it's not the Penguin? I'm glad you made it,” a man says as he approaches. “Sofia wants to see you.” It will be an epic final showdown…
The Penguin Episode 7 Easter Eggs
Rex Calabrese: We've heard him mentioned in passing before, but episode 7 is the first time we meet Rex in person. The gangster appears in the Batman comics as a mob boss in Gotham long before the time of the Caped Crusader. Interestingly, her daughter is none other than Selina Kyle, but it's unclear if that's the story The Penguin will follow as well.
Top hat: The movie that Oz and his mother decide to watch the night of his brothers' deaths is Top Hat. Starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the sequence that unfolds shows several dancers in top hats and tails doing tap dancing. While Oz's version of the Penguin doesn't wear a top hat, this appears to be a nod to the classic costume worn by the Batman villain in the comics.
Gotham City Sewers: Much of the action in episode 7 takes place in the Gotham City sewers, which are a key location in the DC universe. Previously, they have been used by Batman villains such as Scarecrow and Catwoman in different adaptations.
The Penguin airs weekly on HBO and Max in the US, and Sky and NOW in the UK; Stay up to date with our The Penguin release schedule. For more information, check out our review of The Penguin and our guide to other upcoming DC movies and shows.
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