Monday, October 28, 2024

My Review of The Penguin: "Gold Summit"

 


Written by Nick Towne
Directed by Kevin Bray

Oz (to the gangs): "To taking back Gotham."

Oh, Oz. Every time you get a bit of success, you also manage to make things just that worse for you. It took very little time for both Sofia and Sal to get one over on you and they did it twice.

First, we had Sofia and Sal work together to put the frighteners on anyone caught selling Bliss on Oswald's behalf and when the bodies hung up, Oz had to think of another way to get back support. To his credit he had a plan that kind of worked.

I mean he assembled all the rival gang leaders, including Triad leader Zhao and shared a beer with the lot of them. He also delivered a speech about taking back Gotham, trashed Sofia and owned his faults. Apparently those things were enough to get rival gangs to his side. Too bad he wasn't paying closer attention to his enemies.

Sofia and Sal broke into his apartment to try and find evidence that there at least someone in his life he cared about. That led Sofia to seeking out and let's just say there's an exquisite conversation between both women. I mean Criston Milioti and Carmen Ejogo are utterly sublime in that scene with both Sofia and Eve coming out of it, knowing a bit more about each other. I think they even got each other too.

Of course, because of their exchange, Sofia knew that Oz was holed up in Crown Point and worse for Oz, she's now very much aware of Francis still being alive. Speaking of Francis, I got to give Deirdre O'Connell props because she's brilliantly heartbreaking in this episode with Francis becoming more aware of her deteriorating health and the scenes she had with both Oz and Victor.

Speaking of Victor, that poor boy's doom has definitely started to catch up with him. If he only has left Gotham when he had the chance. Now he killed Squid in order to stop the latter from ratting out Oz. Oz basically told him that killing would end up getting easier the more he does it. A great moment with Colin Farrell and Rhenzy Feliz too. 

Last but not least and I'm still in a praising mood, I love how dimensional this version of Sal Maroni has felt. Clancy Brown has done wonders with the character in these last two episodes. Sal's grief for Nadia and Taj felt palpable and the sort of bond he's formed with Sofia has been nice too. I still think he's a goner though.

- Julian seems to enjoy being in a somewhat BDSM relationship with Sofia and yes, he's the submissive. 
- Sal made Sofia a Persian dish with yoghurt (which Taj preferred). I thought that was a nice touch.
- Eve deliberately chose to reveal her natural self when preparing Sofia's visit. Oz doesn't like Eve as her natural self.
- With all this talk of Oz's dead brothers and father, we have yet to find out what happened to them.
- Standout music: Chris Isaak's Black Flowers and Mill Brothers Glow Worm.
- Chronology: About a week since the events of the previous episode.

Gold Summit continued the momentum with so many beautiful character moments through within the midst of the escalating gang wars. Sofia/Eve, Sofia/Sal and Oswald/Victor/Francis. The best scenes involved those characters and given the ending, I cannot wait for Sunday.

Rating: 9 out of 10 

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