The Penguin Episode 4 Unleashes Sofia Falcone (2025)

Given the titular villain's eight-decade-long connection to Batman and DC Comics' lore as a whole, The Penguin is inextricably bound to the voluminous mythology around Oswald Cobb, or Oswald Cobblepot in the comics. Even Sofia Falcone existed in the comics for about 30 years, and isn't someone made exclusively for this critically-acclaimed The Batman spin-off series. While The Penguin Episode 4, "Cent'Anni," features a few DC Comics Easter Eggs, the episode makes a major change to the identity of the Hangman serial killer from Batman lore.

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale first introduced Sofia Falcone in 1996. Their sequel to Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Dark Victory, evolved her from the Falcone family's loyal enforcer to a towering serial killer called the Hangman. Her victims were people connected to Harvey Dent, who, as Two-Face, killed her father Carmine Falcone. So, when Sofia was announced for The Penguin, comic fans assumed some version of this backstory, especially the Hangman, would appear. Episode 4 finally reveals what happened to its version of Sofia, and how the Penguin betrayed the member of the Falcone family he was closest to. While wildly different from the comics, Sofia's story might be the one that defines The Penguin as a series.

The Penguin Episode 4 Delves Into Oz Cobb’s & Sofia Falcone’s Relationship

The Episode Turns Sofia Falcone Into a Tragic and Scorned Figure

Oz's "superpower" is improvising his way out of certain death. Despite all evidence to the contrary, people ultimately trust him. The cliffhanger ending of the previous episode, "Bliss," was bittersweet. After impulsively killing Alberto, the new drug operation was his prize. Oz then rebuilds his relationship with Sofia to get it. Yet, thus far, his only motivation is to survive long enough to take over Gotham. He explicitly stated this in a deleted scene from The Batman.

Both meetings with Nadia Maroni open by threatening Oz with death. Arguably, this scene should've appeared later in the episode, where it could strengthen the emotional impact of how quickly Oz betrayed Sofia to Nadia. Until "Cent'Anni," viewers simply believed Sofia saw Oz as the others did, hence the distrust. Her backstory provides a level of context which then elevates and deepens the scenes that preceded it.

Sofia ended up trapped in Arkham Asylum because almost everyone she loved betrayed her. With this in mind, her immediate hostility to Oz makes obvious sense. Despite the majority of their relationship being amicable, he was still just an employee. Her family, especially her father Carmine, were people she truly loved. Truth be told, Carmine was probably the only one fully complicit in the abuse she suffered. Her father's betrayal was the most significant, but his murder in The Batman robbed Sofia of her chance to get revenge or, at the very least, confront him. Her rage had to go elsewhere. Naturally and tragically, it went to Oz.

Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti sell their characters' genuine but doomed relationship magnificently. Even if they're larger-than-life characters who star in a cross between a comic book adaptation and a pulpy crime story, Oz and Sofia are two of The Penguin's most compelling and human characters. The fact that they resort to violence, betrayal and other evil deeds more out of necessity than pleasure emphasizes how tragic their entire existence is. Every time Farrell and Milioti share the screen, emotions and tension are all but guaranteed. It's not an exaggeration to say that their dynamic is the show's best selling point.

The Penguin Episode 4 Changed the Identity of the Hangman for the Better

The Episode Gave the Hangman a More Complex Backstory

Carmine choking a woman to death was a key moment in The Batman. He committed this murder to cover up the Falcone family's criminal enterprise, and it also established the fact that someone as high up the chain of mob's command as Carmine was not averse to strangling women. The Penguin, meanwhile, expands upon this detail to change the identity of the Hangman from Sofia to her father. Sofia was the philanthropic face of the family, allowing her to subtly serve the criminal organization. Unlike the rest of her family and Gotham City's criminals, Sofia is a morally gray character. She knows her father is a killer, but still does his bidding. In fact, she's "honored" when he chooses her as his successor.

Yet, a chance encounter with reporter Summer Gleeson (who originates from Batman: The Animated Series), makes that knowledge more personal. Sofia's father hanged her mother. It's possible she wasn't his first such murder, but it affected him. After his wife's death, Carmine began to recreate that murder scene with women from 44 Below as his intended victims. Given the implication they were sex workers and Carmine's influence, masking these deaths as self-inflicted was easy. To cover up his wife's death, Carmine lied and claimed that she took her own life during a depressive episode.

Oz reported Sofia's meeting with Summer to Carmine, who is still his boss. Talking to reporters as part of an organized crime family is a definite faux pas. However, Sofia couldn't hide her suspicion of her father. Carmine likely didn't fear Sofia would reveal family secrets, but he knew she'd never forgive him for the murder of her mother. Also, such an accusation would harm his standing in the Gotham City underworld. Still, even the Hangman couldn't bear to kill his own daughter. Instead, he discredited her completely and locked her in Arkham indefinitely.

The Penguin's choice to change the Hangman's identity from Sofia to Carmine was a good idea. Not only did this give comic readers a surprise and amplify the characters' drama, but it made the Hangman more disturbing. Originally, the Hangman was just a creepy codename for a mob boss' vengeful daughter. But now, the Hangman was a moniker for a deeply monstrous man. Worse, he threw his own loyal daughter under the bus to evade justice by passing this name to her. In more ways than one, this single change greatly improved and deepened two of the Falcone family's most prominent members.

The Penguin Episode 4 Explored Oz Cobb’s Betrayal & His Guilty Conscience

The Episode Reveals How Oz Cobb Underestimated His Actions’ Consequences

Just like the Dark Knight's cowl, the Penguin is merely a mask Oz wears as it suits him. Even though he hates the nickname, he laughs it off, so those who use it think he's their friend. When Alberto used it derisively, Sofia defended Oz, subtly evoking how Oz stood up for Vic and his stutter. It is intentionally difficult to tell when Oz is being genuine. Perhaps he's such a good liar because he believes what he says in the moment, without him even realizing it. At least in the episode's first flashback, Oz seemed to genuinely care for Sofia. For what it's worth, he didn't subconsciously fear her like he does most of his associates.

Sofia acknowledged Oz's presumed loyalty and his diligence, and she treated him like a person. Yet, while processing the realization that her father killed her mother and other women, she snapped at him. Perhaps, if she'd reacted as she did in the earlier scene and confided in Oz, he may never have turned on her. Yet, Oz is who he is. He recognized the opportunity this presented. Knowing Carmine was a serial killer, Oz may have collaborated with Gleeson himself, if only to clear Carmine off the board.

As far as Oz knew, Sofia was Carmine's beloved daughter. Alberto seemingly made such mistakes all the time, but he was always forgiven. The clearest sign Oz actually cared for Sofia was how he dropped his usual survival instinct, actively fighting the corrupt cops when they took Sofia in. Oz probably told the truth when he told Sofia he never expected her to spend a decade in Arkham. For this great betrayal, Oz was rewarded. He was put in control of the Iceberg Lounge and 44 Below, Carmine's preferred hunting ground. It goes without saying that Farrell is once again at the top of his game in both flashbacks and present-day scenes, even if he isn't The Penguin Episode 4's main character.

The Penguin Episode 4 Unleashes Cristin Milioti

The Episode Sets up the Coming Gang War by Wiping Out an Entire Faction

The destruction of the relationship between Oz and Sofia developed over the past two episodes is a tragedy. It humanized the characters, despite them both being despicable people. Hearing from Nadia Maroni herself that Oz killed Alberto means Sofia will be gunning for him next. This, unfortunately, isn't a surprise given that she finally became the kind of sadistic killer she was falsely accused of being. After all, killing her only Arkham friend, Magpie (another comics reference), was how she survived. The Arkham staff's motivation to set up Sofia to kill that aggressive inmate is debatable. The result, however, was the erosion of whatever moral, empathetic person existed in her.

Sofia's murder of the Falcone family was the culmination of her journey, and a grand showcase of Cristin Milioti's acting chops. Along with being more peaceful than the Hangman murders, using natural gas or carbon monoxide to kill them creates reasonable legal doubt. Similarly, keeping Johnny Viti alive also seems strategic. Still, the ruthlessness of the act and her visible joy afterwards shows her time in Arkham did change her for the worse. Her break with reality started when she hallucinated her mother's bedroom wallpaper under the paint in her Arkham cell. She is now a deadly force and formidable opponent for Oz. Milioti has been crushing it in every episode thus far, but The Penguin Episode 4 is where she really shines. She's equal parts pitiful and terrifying, and this episode solidifies her as one of The Batman's most fearsome yet tragic villains.

Instead of a glut of Falcone family members, Oz's enemies from that side were dwindled down to one. Of course, he still has to deal with the Maroni family and the Triads. Yet, those are problems Oz will solve when he's faced with them later on. He has bigger priorities right now, specifically anything related to Sofia. Luckily for him, the Falcone underbosses and soldiers may choose to align with someone who throws parties for them rather than the recently "rehabilitated" Arkham patient who murdered her blood relatives. By eliminating her family, Sofia only helped her primary rival get closer to his goal. And for Oswald Cobble(pot), having a target on his back is how he does his best work.

The Penguin debuts new episodes Sundays at 9 PM Eastern on HBO, and the episodes stream on Max the following day.

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The Penguin, Episode 4 - Cent'Anni

TV-MA

Crime

Drama

Following the events of The Batman (2022), Oz Cobb, a.k.a. the Penguin, makes a play to seize the reins of the crime world in Gotham.

Where to Watch

Season

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*Availability in US

Release Date

September 19, 2024

Cast

Colin Farrell , Cristin Milioti , Rhenzy Feliz , Michael Kelly , Shohreh Aghdashloo , Deirdre O'Connell , Clancy Brown , James Madio , Scott Cohen , Michael Zegen , Carmen Ejogo , Theo Rossi

Seasons

1

Creator

Prequel

The Batman (2022)

Story By

Bill Finger, Bob Kane

Writers

Lauren LeFranc

Streaming Service(s)

HBO Max

Franchise(s)

Batman , DC Elseworlds

Directors

Craig Zobel

Showrunner

Lauren LeFranc

Character(s)

Oz Cobb , Sofia Falcone , Victor Aguilar , Johnny Viti , Nadia Maroni , Francis Cobb , Salvatore Maroni , Milos Grapa , Luca Falcone , Alberto Falcone , Eve Karlo , Julian Rush

Avg Episode Length

60 Mins

Pros

• The episode perfectly blends Sofia Falcone's comics history with The Batman's world.
• Oz Cobb's presence as a supporting character offered a new perspective on the Penguin.
• The relationship between Sofia Faclone and Julian Rush is an enticing character mystery.

Cons

• The storytellers should have had thte patience to resolve the cliffhanger later in the episode.
• The evolution of Sofia and Oz's relationship was fantastic, and losing it is bittersweet.
• Likely an intentional decision, too much off Carmine's conspiracy was left to subtext.