The Penguin Episode 4 Sets A New Standard For Character Episodes

The Penguin Episode 4 Sets A New Standard For Character Episodes

As a longtime fan of Gotham City and its intriguing characters, I must say that the fourth episode of The Penguin has left me thoroughly impressed! In this series, it seems that the supporting actors are stealing the show – and frankly, I’m here for it!


Warning: This article contains spoilers for Episode 4 of The Penguin.

Key Takeaways

  • Episode 4 of The Penguin focuses on Sofia Falcone, proving supporting characters can be more interesting.
  • The episode delves into Sofia’s backstory, revealing her innocence and how she was framed.
  • Even though the spotlight shifts away from the main character Oswald Cobblepot, the episode is a standout.

Occasionally, the most exceptional episodes of a TV show don’t revolve around the primary character. This was evident in The Penguin’s fourth episode, as it delved into the backstory of Sofia Falcone, played by Cristin Milioti, making it a memorable episode for the HBO series and establishing high standards for character-centric episodes on television.

In the realm of Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, I find myself immersed in “The Penguin,” the initial spin-off that follows the early life of the infamous Oswald Cobblepot, portrayed by Colin Farrell, long before he donned his villainous mantle. This series is surrounded by a vibrant cast of characters, among them being Victor Aguilar, played by Rhenzy Feliz, who joins Oz in his endeavors, and a host of adversaries such as the Falcone and Maroni families. The story primarily revolves around Cobblepot’s transformation into the menacing figure from the DC comics. However, Episode 4 of this HBO series introduces a new central character to the foreground.

The Penguin’s Fourth Episode Breaks Away From the Main Character

CastColin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Clancy Brown, Theo Rossi, Mark Strong
ShowrunnerLauren LeFranc
Number of Episodes8
Streaming onMax

In simple terms, Episode 4 of “The Penguin,” titled “Cent’anni,” signifies the halfway point of the miniseries, leaving us with just four more episodes until it wraps up in November. Previously, most episodes had primarily centered around the title character, but a brief detour to Victor’s story was made in Episode 3. This week, we delve into the story of Sofia Falcone, a character known as “the Hangman,” who has just emerged from a ten-year stay at Arkham Asylum for the murder of multiple women.

The episode turned out to be an enlightening one for Sofia’s character, revealing that she did not, in fact, murder any women, but was framed by her father, Carmine Falcone (Mark Strong), after she revealed her suspicions that he had a hand in killing her mother. For her sin of seeking the truth, Sofia was condemned to a decade in Arkham Asylum, which eventually twisted her into the murderer she was branded as. All of this bleeds back into the present timeline, where Sofia enacts revenge upon her family for supporting her father’s lies, by poisoning them with toxic gas while they slept.

In Episode 4 of “The Penguin,” Oswald Cobblepot makes a brief appearance. During this episode, we learn about his past with Sofia. As Sofia’s chauffeur, Oz played a role in Sofia’s conviction because he told her father that she was talking to a journalist about her mother’s death. This revelation led to Carmine falsely accusing Sofia of the crimes. This long-standing grudge continues into the present day, as Sofia no longer trusts Oz and distrusts him even more after learning that he killed her brother.

Episode 4 Is A Series Standout

The Penguin Episode 4 Sets A New Standard For Character Episodes

The fourth installment of “The Penguin” series has clearly stood out among its peers. Key performance indicators for the HBO production reveal that Episode 4 surpasses all previously released episodes in both audience viewership and IMDb ratings. Additionally, this episode received widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike as one of the show’s finest. What sets “The Penguin” Episode 4 apart is its unique storyline, which deviates from the central focus on Oz by highlighting other characters instead. This narrative approach isn’t unprecedented and further supports the idea that sometimes, the supporting characters possess more captivating tales than the primary protagonist.

Supporting Characters Steal the Spotlight

The Penguin Episode 4 Sets A New Standard For Character Episodes

The Penguin’s fourth episode about Sofia Falcone is just one in a trend of great episodes on TV right now that happen to not focus on the titular character. Some other recent examples of this include The Last of Us’ widely acclaimed Episode 3 “Long, Long Time” which took time away from the story of Joel and Ellie to instead tell the sweet love story between Bill and Frank. A similar tactic was employed by The Bear in the episode “Forks” which follows Richie’s internship at a high-class restaurant. Both episodes saw their respective lead actors win an Emmy for their performances, which just proves that sometimes it’s worth giving supporting characters a time to shine in the spotlight.

In Season 2, Episode 9 of Ted Lasso, titled “Beard After Hours”, the show took a different approach similar to a bottle episode. This particular episode delved deeply into Ted Lasso’s assistant coach, Beard (portrayed by Brendan Hunt), during an unusual night out. Steering clear of the series’ central narrative, this episode offered a unique glimpse into the usually reserved Beard, allowing viewers to better comprehend his character.

In simpler terms, these episodes centered around characters have been well-received by both viewers and critics, yet they still draw some criticism, usually due to slowing down the show or veering away from its usual genre. However, this can also be beneficial since character-focused episodes allow a series to inject fresh creativity, as it deviates from its regular pattern and delves into an unexplored facet of its world that might not have been previously explored. Although these episodes could potentially deter audiences if they’re just interested in the main plot, they can also be delightfully unexpected. It becomes evident in The Penguin’s case, as with other examples, that sometimes the best episodes aren’t necessarily about the primary character, and they tend to be even more captivating because of it.

You can watch the first four episodes of “The Penguin” series right now by streaming it on Max. Fresh installments are uploaded every Sunday evening at 9 pm.

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2024-10-20 21:03