The Penguin is one of the most layered ongoing shows, and episode four was further evidence of that. Following Sunday’s “Cent’anni,” we’ve reached the midway point in the HBO series. Given how the first four episodes have gone, there are so many turns this show could take in between The Penguin’s upcoming fifth episode and its finale (episode eight).
Speaking of the fifth episode, let’s get to the important details surrounding it.
This HBO show is hitting Max at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Sundays. Therefore, the fifth episode of The Penguin will become available on Sunday, October 20 at 9 p.m.
Timing notes
As opposed to a show like Agatha All Along, HBO’s The Penguin seems to have settled into a more consistent length-of-episode timing. After the one-hour, seven-minute season-opening episode, the ensuing episodes have all been right around one hour. Episode three, “Bliss,” was the longest of the bunch at one hour and a few seconds. “Cent’anni” was just over 58 minutes long.
Cast notes
(Warning: Spoilers for episode four of The Penguin ahead.)
- After digging into the show’s title character for a bit, the last two episodes have been driven by The Penguin’s two other major characters. Episode four was all about Sofia Falcone and the reveal that she has been a victim this whole time. Known as “The Hangman” to the rest of Gotham, we’ve learned Sofia did nothing to earn that title — other than ask the wrong questions of her now-deceased crime boss father. But just as we learn that she was a victim this whole time, Sofia shows done being pushed around — and that her father’s instinct to make her his successor as head of the family was right.
- This episode highlights not one, but two instances in which Penguin betrayed Sofia. Even though the ramifications of some of his actions weren’t intended, his stock dropped so much throughout “Cent’anni.” That said, Colin Farrell’s interpretation of Penguin remains fascinating.
- At least one more Batman villain entered the mix in episode four. Magpie (played by Marie Botha) was in the cell adjacent Sofia, whom she attempted to befriend. But Magpie was gone almost as quickly as she showed up — and by Sofia’s hand, no less. While she’s an easier character to track back to the show’s source materials, Dr. Ventris may be more subtle. He had a massive impact on Sofia’s past, but it seems like he may not factor in more in the future. There isn’t a Dr. Ventris in the comics, however, there was a Lloyd Ventrix, who took on the mantle of Mirror Man. Again, with Penguin’s last name changing from Cobblepot to Cobb for this series, small changes like this are something to take note of.
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