The Penguin Reveals Oz Cobb’s Dark New Backstory in Episode 7

The Penguin Reveals Oz Cobb’s Dark New Backstory in Episode 7The Penguin Reveals Oz Cobb’s Dark New Backstory in Episode 7

As a longtime fan of the Batman Universe, I must say that The Penguin Episode 7 has left me utterly spellbound and shaken to my very core. The flashback sequence alone is a masterclass in storytelling, shedding new light on Oswald “Oz” Cobbs’ dark past and fundamentally altering our perception of this enigmatic character.


In the seventh episode of “The Penguin,” titled “Top Hat,” we witness a pivotal moment that drastically alters our understanding of Oswald “Oz” Cobb’s (Colin Farrell) family history. The story unfolds with a flashback to when Oz was growing up in an apartment in Crown Point, living with his mother and brothers, Jack and Benny. However, even die-hard fans of the “Batman” Universe were taken aback by just how complex and disturbing Oz’s backstory would become. By the end of this episode, it becomes clear that “The Penguin” is a villain whose corruption runs deep, having been rotten to the core from the very beginning.

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS!

In Episode 7 of The Penguin, we revisit a pivotal day in the lives of Oz and his siblings, when they were sent out to enjoy themselves by their mother. On this particular day, Jack was entrusted with an important errand – delivering goods to local gangster Rex Calabrese (Louis Cancelmi). Afterward, the three Cobb boys chose their favorite haunt, the deserted subway and sewer tunnels, for a round of hide-and-seek.

Previous instances at the Cobb residence subtly suggested that Oz felt out of place among his siblings, marked by his limp leg and larger build. Beyond this physical difference, Oz exhibited a strong desire for his mother’s affection as an adult, which manifested in his jealousy whenever she showed favoritism towards his brothers. This resentment reached a breaking point when Jack and Benny chose to slide down a ladder and hide in a sewer passage; when Oz found it difficult to follow suit, he felt humiliated by his brothers’ actions. To retaliate, Oz closed the tunnel door, effectively trapping them.

After feeling queasy with anticipation, Oz returns home to enjoy his mother’s undivided attention, sharing a movie and cuddling with her. When it drizzles, instead of fetching his siblings, he deceives his mother, claiming Jack and Benny are off to watch “Beetlejuice” at the movies while plying her with alcohol. The narrative then alternates between Oz’s blissful enjoyment of a movie featuring a top-hatted gangster in a cabaret performance, and Jack and Benny frantically calling for help and pounding on the locked door. This continues until the chamber is flooded by rainwater, and the boys’ cries turn into sounds of drowning, eventually fading into silence.

The Penguin: Why Oz Cobb Killing His Brothers Changes Everything

The Penguin Reveals Oz Cobb’s Dark New Backstory in Episode 7

This memory reshapes everything we thought about Oz Cobb and his values. It’s shown that his deepest emotional bond (his mother) was actually a warped fixation, and the tales of his family and siblings he used to evoke sympathy from others were mere fabrications. The Penguin, in essence, is a true sociopath – as we now understand him better.

In an impressive twist for the penultimate episode, the series subtly shifts our focus to reveal a new central character. The hat “Top Hat” intensifies the dramatic confrontation between Penguin and Sofia Falcone, suggesting that Oz’s bond with his mother is now just as precarious as her own life may be.

The Penguin airs new episodes Sunday nights on HBO and streams on Max.

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2024-11-04 05:39