‘The Penguin’ Episode 4 Recap: Cent’anni

Sofia Falcone has been pretty vocal about not trusting Penguin, and it looks like her instincts were spot on. Episode 4 of ‘The Penguin’ starts with Penguin turning on Sofia Falcone. Nadia and her crew even have their guns pointed at his head, but before things go south for him, Vic comes to the rescue and slams the gunman with his car, helping Penguin escape. As for Sofia, she tries calling for backup, but she passes out before she can share her location.

Why Sofia Falcone Was Sent to Arkham?

Just like the last few episodes, episode 4 jumps between past and present moments. In one flashback, we find Sofia at a fundraiser, back when Oswald, aka was just her driver and Carmine Falcone was still alive. At that time, journalists were investigating Carmine and his Iceberg Lounge, suspecting it had something to do with a string of mysterious staff deaths later written off as suicides. One reporter, Summer Gleason, even approached Sofia about it, but she brushed it off.  It was the time when Carmine had big plans for Sofia to take over the Falcone Crime Family, as he found Alberto to be unreliable. Sofia began meeting with Summer, who asked her to get the employee records of the women working at the Iceberg Lounge. To stay on Carmine’s good side, Oswald tipped him off about Sofia’s meetings with Summer, the journalist investigating the deaths linked to Carmine’s club. That same day, the police arrested Sofia for the murder of Summer Gleason, Yolanda Jones, and several others. The press labeled her “The Hangman,” and soon, the police report, backed by affidavits from Sofia’s own relatives, painted her as mentally unstable and cruel, who derives pleasure in animal torture. Sofia’s case was set for trial, but first, she was sentenced to at least six months in Arkham. It was all orchestrated by Carmine himself, who was punishing Sofia for talking with the press.

Why Sofia Falcone Never Got a Fair Trail?

In Arkham, Sofia faced brutal physical and mental abuse. No matter how much she screamed about being framed and insisted on her innocence, no one cared to listen. Locked up in a cage, she was surrounded by some of Gotham’s most dangerous criminals and lunatics. To make things worse, Sofia wasn’t even allowed visitors. While in Arkham, she noticed the inmates were being given a red pill to keep them under control—this was the same drug, Bliss, that she would later tell Oz about. To make matters worse, Ventris, the head doctor, filed a false report declaring Sofia mentally unfit, which meant she lost her shot at a trial altogether.

Why Did Sofia Killed Her Entire Family?

In the present, Sofia wakes up at Julian Rush’s place, the only person at Arkham who ever treated her decently. When Rush asks how she’s feeling, Sofia bluntly says she feels like a fool for trusting Oswald, even when her gut is screaming not to. She doesn’t hold back on Rush either and throws some harsh words his way for leaving her to endure Dr. Ventris’ torture alone. Sofia makes it clear that she’s ready for a fresh start. But that doesn’t mean running off to Sicily like Viti suggested. She is to take control of her life and settle the score with everyone who wronged her. With that intention, Sofia hijacks the Falcone family dinner and delivers a retrospective monologue where she calls out her own family, including her uncle, aunt, and cousins, for betraying her and lying about her mental health, getting her caged up in Arkham for ten years. As it concludes, Sofia raises her glass and announces that she’s starting fresh tomorrow, but her version of a fresh start means wiping out everyone who has ever tried to control or rewrite her life. Later that night, after everyone’s asleep, Sofia poisons the whole family with carbon monoxide, killing them all—except Viti. And since Sofia’s not a complete monster, she spares Gia, Carla’s daughter, letting her live.

The Penguin Episode 4 Review

Episode 4 of The Penguin is an absolute knockout, cementing Sofia as a real contender for the Falcone throne. She’s completely transformed. She is no longer the feeble girl begging for help or trying to prove her innocence. Now, Sofia’s in control and will exact revenge on anyone who tries to wrong her. She has wiped out almost her entire family tree, sparing only Viti and Gia. But why did she leave Viti alive? The most likely reason is that Sofia wants answers. She needs to know the truth about her mother’s death. Was it really suicide from depression, or is there more to the story? Sofia’s sights are set on Cobblepot next. He betrayed her one too many times, and she’s not going to let him get away with killing her brother either.

Read More: ‘The Penguin’ Episode 3 Recap: After Hours