As a dedicated fan of Gotham’s underbelly, I find myself utterly captivated by the complex web of characters that “The Penguin” has so skillfully woven. Each episode seems to unveil another layer of tragedy and intrigue, making it impossible to pick a single character as the saddest soul in this grimy city.
As the first season of “The Penguin” progresses, it becomes increasingly challenging to pick the saddest character from one episode to another. While Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell), the main gangster who is known for his quick thinking when danger looms, might initially seem like the prime candidate, characters such as Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti), Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz), Johnny Vitti (Michael Kelly), and many others in the vibrant cast are all contenders for the title of most broken character.
In episode 3 of “The Penguin,” the storyline centered around Victor, the criminal that Oz apprehended in the first installment, whom he subsequently took under his wing. To emphasize Oz’s psychopathic nature, the previous episode ended with The Penguin forcing Victor to lie down among fresh corpses in a grave, hinting at the consequences for any future mistakes. By the end of this episode, Victor was faced with a tough decision: either flee Gotham with his girlfriend on the bus or rejoin Oz and act as his informant. Ultimately, Vic chose Oz, a choice that will significantly impact the direction of the series.
Following the airing of Episode 3 from “The Penguin”, we sat down with director Craig Zobel for a chat about Victor’s choice. This decision carried weight, considering the extensive destruction caused by the flood in Vic’s neighborhood. Graciela (played by Anire Kim Amoda) presented an escape route for Victor (Rhenzy Feliz). In a bleak situation where everything was caving in on Vic, she was like a beacon of hope. However, as per Zobel, Victor’s decision to go back to Oz can be traced back to the crucial moments at the end of Episode 2, when he had to crawl into the freshly dug grave.
As Craig Zobel told TopMob:
After Episode 2 concludes, Victor finds himself drawn into the world, intrigued by its allure and discovering appealing aspects of staying involved. However, as the episode ends, he is thrust into a precarious situation, realizing that power dynamics are skewed unfairly. This realization seems to fuel the events in Episode 3, where Victor grapples with questions like, ‘Am I continuing down this path? Is this a decision I have to make?’ In response to his internal conflict, Graciela presents him with an authentic choice – he could choose to flee and abandon everything. Thus, Episode 3 appears to revolve around Victor’s fascination with this lifestyle, the benefits it offers, and the personal sacrifices he might need to make as a result – not only Graciela, but also morally, if he decides to continue down this path.
Oz Cobb isn’t particularly focused on moral matters. Instead, his unique talent for turning situations in his favor whenever he’s under scrutiny makes him an intriguing character currently dominating TV screens. As the season progresses, he becomes a figure worthy of examination and analysis.
In Episode 3 of “The Penguin,” we gained a bit more insight into Oz’s feelings towards Victor. This became evident in a significant bathroom encounter before Vic decided to stay in Gotham. During this confrontation, Oz explicitly showed his displeasure over Victor’s thoughts of departing. To Oz, anything outside of the life he has constructed on the grimy streets of this ruined city is inconsequential, as Craig Zobel shared with TopMob.
From Oz’s perspective, what strikes him as fascinating and intriguing in that particular scene is his bewilderment… He doesn’t seem to comprehend the idea that this child might be trapped. Instead, it appears to him that one wouldn’t hesitate to follow the same path as the character he’s observing. This statement seems to injure Oz on some level, stirring anger within him. It’s a rare moment when we see Oz feeling emotionally exposed, more vulnerable than usual. Such instances are intriguing because they provide a glimpse into Oz’s character that isn’t often seen.
Later, Zobel discusses a pivotal instance at the club where Oz finds himself present during a gathering with the Triad leader. This scene plays a significant role in shaping the Bliss deal’s progression. However, unlike the rest of the team, Oz has to remain standing, as Zobel notes. The director then informs TopMob that Oz holds a different status within their group.
At the conclusion of that particular scene, he experiences discomfort and exposure. This aspect, in my opinion, adds an intriguing layer to his character considering where his journey takes him throughout the series.
In the upcoming series, it remains to be seen where Oz ends up. Though The Penguin appears to be connecting the storylines of Batman and Matt Reeves’ forthcoming sequel, the show’s creators have emphasized that we should not expect to see Batman in this narrative as he is not a significant character for the weekly stories on HBO. With plenty happening in each episode, make sure your HBO subscription is current, and join us every Sunday night for fresh Penguin adventures!
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2024-10-07 19:37