Episode 3 of ‘The Penguin‘, titled Bliss, starts with a news break that 28-year-old Bella Reál is crushing it in the polls, leaving current acting mayor Tomlin in the dust. She’s way ahead, and it looks like she’s a shoo-in to become Gotham’s next mayor.
If her name rings a bell, it’s because Bella Reál is the same political figure that Penguin and his crew tried to take out in “The Batman,” directed by Matt Reeves. Even though she caught a bullet in the shoulder, she lived to tell the tale, thanks to James Gordon.
Major Spoiler Warning
A Glimpse of Vic’s Past
The episode kicks off by revisiting one of Gotham’s darkest nights- the night Riddler blew up the sea wall. Vic had big plans that night, and instead of sitting down for dinner with his parents, he decided to skip out and take his girlfriend up a skyscraper to catch the fireworks. What he didn’t know was that this would be the last time he’d ever see his family.
A series of explosions rocked the city, and the sea wall gave way, flooding Gotham with billions of gallons of water. The devastation was massive, and tragically, Vic’s parents and sister were among those who lost their lives.
In the present, Vic learns that Oswald is now in cahoots with Sofia. Vic can barely wrap his head around it, but Oswald reassures him that once Luca catches wind of Sofia’s plans, she’s done for. Until then, Sofia’s their golden goose, a major asset to their plans.
Oswald also tells Vic that he will need to chauffeuring Sofia around from time to time. Vic is not sure about this, especially knowing that if Sofia even sniffs out his involvement in Alberto’s disappearance, she’ll make sure he’s six feet under. “She is the hangman,” Vic says to Oswald.
“Bliss,” Sophia Carmine’s Revolutionary Drug
Sofia arrives at Oswald’s place and takes him to meet Marco, the guy who hands them a sack full of some illegal chemicals, likely sourced from Arkham, in exchange for a bag of diamonds. Later, Sofia takes Oswald to their base of operations, where they’re cooking up a revolutionary new drug involving mushrooms and their potent basidiospores.
Ironically, it’s the same drug doctors used on Sofia in Arkham to keep her under control, and now, she’s using her connections in Arkham to produce the drug. Sofia proudly reveals that they’ve already got a small batch ready to hit the streets and need Oswald to find the perfect distributor to help unleash this new drug on the town.
Later, when Sofia walks back into the mansion, Viti hands her a plane ticket to Italy, telling her to get lost. We notice a dangerous edge in his voice, and he doesn’t sugarcoat it, which makes it clear that if Sofia doesn’t leave, she’ll be taken out.
According to Viti, Luca’s now the head of the Falcone family, and with Carmine and Alberto gone, Sofia has no claim to the Falcone throne. It’s crystal clear that Luca and Viti would rather die than let a woman take control of their crime empire.
Penguin Blackmails Johnny Viti to Make a Call
Oswald brings Sofia to meet his connection, Link Tsai, but things go south fast when the guy pulls a gun on him. Still, Oswald convinces the man to sit down and talk it out. During their little chat, Oswald lays out his grand plan, which is to restructure Gotham’s organized crime scene by taking over the Falcone Crime Family. To sweeten the deal, he claims Johnny Viti is backing their play, especially since Luca is short-sighted.
But Link Tsai knows Oswald’s got a habit of stretching the truth, so he’s not sold just yet and wants proof. Link tells Oswald that until he hears directly from Viti confirming he’s on board with Sofia and Oswald, the deal is off the table. Sofia’s not entirely sure how Oswald plans to pull this off, but he confidently reassures her that he’s got it all under control.
In case you missed it, Viti’s been sleeping around with Tina—Luca’s wife. So, Oswald and Sofia catch Viti red-handed in the middle of his little affair and turn the tables on him. They corner him and ask him to call Zhao, the head of the Triad, and back Sofia and Oswald’s play or face Luca’s wrath. Viti’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. He knows if he refuses, Oswald will inform Luca about him sleeping with Tina behind his back. Eventually, Feng Zhao agrees to use his clubs to distribute the “Bliss,” using his nightclubs.
Vic Decides to Call it Quits with Oswald
Vic’s possible love interest, Graciela, comes to see him, and they talk over a slice of pizza and some cold beers. Vic tells her that he has gotten a new job that requires him to drive a club owner who’s not only paying him well but also letting him stay in his apartment. As they talk, Graciela confesses that she’s tired of living in the FEMA camp and is planning to leave town.
Vic, on the other hand, isn’t so sure because he has struck a good and respected partnership with Oswald, and deep down, he’s afraid that if he bails, Oswald end up alone with no one to lean on. But when he hears Oswald’s approaching, he quickly tells Graciela to leave and even gives her some cash, asking her to buy a ticket for him, too.
At the nightclub, Vic finally tells Oswald he’s done and will soon be leaving. He argues that his late father wouldn’t be proud of the job he’s doing or the company he’s keeping. Surprisingly, Oswald doesn’t try to stop him. Instead, Oswald gives Vic a reality check, saying guys like them aren’t born into royalty, and the only way out of their gutter-destined lives is through hard work, taking risks, and staying loyal to their friends.
Vic heads to the bus stop but eventually realizes he and Cobblepot aren’t so different after all. So, instead of hopping on that bus, he turns back.
The Penguin Betrays Sofia Carmine
During the final minutes of “The Penguin” episode 3, after sealing a deal, Sofia steps out for a smoke, with Oswald following behind. He apologizes for outing her to Carmine, which ends with her being locked up in Arkham. But Oswald also adds that he didn’t know Carmine would go that far. Then, in typical Penguin fashion, he admits he doesn’t feel too guilty since it landed him control of Carmine’s club and drug empire.
Tension skyrockets when Nadia Maroni and her crew show up, guns blazing. She calls Oswald a traitor for cutting deals around town with the “Bliss,” which he’d promised to share with the Maroni family. Her men draw their guns on Sofia and Oswald, but Vic—who had second thoughts about leaving Gotham, slams his car into one of Nadia’s guys, saving Oswald. As they make a quick getaway, Oswald tells Vic to leave Sofia behind. As they speed off, two gunshots ring out, possibly aimed at Sofia.
Is Sofia Carmine Dead?
So, is Sofia Falcone really dead? Episode 3 leaves her fate hanging, but it’s highly doubtful she’s out of the game. One theory is that she managed to grab a gun and fired those shots herself. Another possibility is that she got captured. Either way, Sofia’s survival seems almost certain.
What’s crystal clear, though, is that her partnership with Oswald is officially over. Plus, The Penguin episode 3 hints that Oswald may have had a hand in Alberto’s death, laying the groundwork for their coming rivalry. In the upcoming episodes, we’re likely to see Sofia making moves against Oswald—and maybe even taking on the entire Falcone crime family.
Read More: ‘The Penguin’ Episode 2 Recap: Inside Man
