In The Penguin Episode 5, several DC Comics allusions, intriguing Easter eggs from The Batman, and even a potential link to Tim Burton’s Batman Returns are cleverly woven into the narrative.
By the episode’s end, Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) triumphs over the Maronis, securing his place in Gotham’s underworld. At the same time, Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) steps into her rightful role at the table. Numerous references and hints accompany these developments as both characters gear up for a pivotal showdown.
In episode 5 of The Penguin, Sofia assumed control of the Falcone Crime Family and renamed it the Gigantes to remember her late mother, Isabela Gigante. After Oz murdered his wife and son, she also teamed up with Salvatore Maroni.
Penguin can establish his criminal empire in Gotham as Oz, and his right-hand man Victor Aguilar discover the ideal new location for expanding his new drug operation. In light of this, these are nine of the most significant allusions and Easter eggs in The Penguin’s fifth episode.
8Rex Calabrese’s Iconic Car: A Key Detail in Gotham’s Underworld
Oz Cobb and Victor burn the Penguins’ already-damaged purple Maserati at the start of The Penguin episode 5. Amid the fire, Oz shares another tale about Cobb’s childhood idol, Rex Calabrese, a Gotham mobster.
Oz likens Rex’s vehicle to his “chariot”—a gold Cadillac with white leather seats. That being said, it is evident that the purple Maserati was influenced by Rex, a vehicle that Oz had the privilege of owning.
Coming from the first DC Comics, Rex was an older Gotham crime lord known as “The Lion” before the Falcones drove him out. In some continuity, Selina Kyle’s father is also Calabrese. Given that Rex was ostensibly Oz’s childhood idol, it wouldn’t be shocking if he were to reappear in subsequent episodes after being first mentioned in The Penguin’s premiere.
7GCPD Chief Mackenzie Bock: Gotham’s Steadfast Protector
Sofia Falcone meets GCPD Police Chief Mackenzie Bock outside the Falcone mansion after killing her family members and making it appear as though there was a gas leak.
Con O’Neill portrays Bock, who wonders why the killings seem suspicious, given that they were all committed by members of one of Gotham’s most well-known criminal families. Bock debuted in 2022’s The Batman, where he clashed with The Dark Knight and Lt. Jim Gordon.
Notably, Bock informs Sofia that a new era is upon Gotham, particularly in light of Mayor-Elect Bella Reál’s plans to combat corruption and crime. Sofia does, however, remind him that the GCPD is far from innocent, given that many of its officers were paid by the Falcons and received kickbacks, in addition to their involvement in the Gotham Renewal Fund conspiracy. It will be fascinating to watch how the GCPD reacts as Gotham’s underworld develops further.
6Gloria (1980): The Classic Crime Thriller
The movie plays in Francis’ apartment when Oz sends Victor to get his mother somewhere safe—Gloria from the 1980s, starring Gena Rowlands. The film tells the tale of a former girlfriend of a gangster on the run and protecting a young boy being followed by the mob in search of information. Therefore, given that The Penguin also belongs to the gangster genre, it’s a pretty appropriate film to have playing in the background.
5Don Mitchell Jr. Billboard: A Hidden Symbol in Gotham’s Political Landscape
In The Penguin episode 5, after Penguin murders Taj and Nadia Maroni and makes off with a portion of the Bliss supply, an old campaign billboard from Don Mitchell Jr.’s mayoral campaign is displayed.
Don Mitchell Jr., introduced in 2022’s The Batman, was the first corrupt mayor of Gotham and a participant in the Gotham Renewal Fund plot. He was thus also the first victim of The Riddler, whose murder opened the film before Edward Nashton taped his face and left Batman and the GCPD their first puzzle.
Surprisingly, the slogan on the billboard reads “Continuity for Gotham,” which is precisely why Riddler killed Mitchell because, had he been reelected, his corruption would have continued. Don Mitchell Jr. was, after all, involved in the Falcones’ crimes.
To illustrate that Edward Nashton’s supporters still remember what The Riddler was fighting for, one of Riddler’s green question marks is spray-painted on the billboard.
4The Gigante Crime Family: Power Players in Gotham’s Underworld
Sofia Falcone chooses to adopt the last name Gigante, burying her father’s name and legacy in the past, after discovering one of her mother’s old coats with her maiden name embroidered inside.
The Falcone Crime Family is no exception, as Sofia formally renamed her new criminal enterprise “The Gigantes” before using the money her father had kept for himself to purchase the continued allegiance of her men. As a result, this is another awesome twist from the first DC comics.
Sofia Falcone Gigante was listed on the page as her full name because she married Rocco Gigante. But the new development in The Penguin episode 5—that her mother gave her the name—has much greater narrative significance. The family member who didn’t betray her—and who was also betrayed, just like Sofia herself—is the one Sofia is choosing to honor.
3Gotham Basketball Team: The Heart of Gotham’s Sports Culture
When Victor leads Francis into hiding in a section of Crown Point that has been condemned, a big poster advertising Gotham’s top basketball team is visible. The team appears to be called the Gotham Guardsmen, the same name in the comics and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, though it is difficult to tell. The basketball team has also used the name “Gotham Knights” in other continuities.
2“The Zoo” at Crown Point: Exploring Gotham’s Unique Attraction
“The Zoo” is a massive complex of Crown Point condos that Victor takes Francis to, and it is a condemned building. This might be a stretch, but it might reference the Penguin, played by Danny Devito in Batman Returns, based in the former zoo in Gotham. In particular, Devito’s Oswald Cobblepot had his hideout in the Arctic World of the Zoo, furnished with several penguins.
In light of this, it’s also important to note that Farrell’s Penguin is now based underground as of the conclusion of The Penguin episode 5. This is similar to the Penguin, played by Danny Devito in Tim Burton’s Batman sequel, who navigated the city using the underground sewer systems. Even though it may not be a deliberate allusion, pointing out the parallel is still entertaining.
1Gotham’s Underground Trolley System: A Journey Through the City’s Hidden History
Oz and Victor discover Gotham’s ancient trolley system beneath Crown Point, which brings back memories of his early years spent with his brothers. After exploring the tunnels and eventually finding a central hub and a generator, the pair realizes that the area might be the ideal base of operations moving forward. The trolley system is not only mostly forgotten and abandoned, but it is also ideal for reviving the Bliss operations due to its humidity.
Penguin’s new base does resemble the Batcave from The Batman, keeping that in mind. After all, the similarly decommissioned underground Wayne Termius station served as the location for Bruce Wayne, played by Robert Pattinson, to establish his covert hideout. Like the trolley system, the private train station was constructed in the 1960s and closed in the 1980s.
The abandoned Batcave was the ideal location for Bruce’s campaign against Gotham’s criminals because it was beneath Wayne Tower and had tunnels leading to the city. Similarly, it makes sense that Penguin will soon benefit from similar advantages, albeit for distributing his new medication.
About The Penguin
The Penguin is an American television miniseries created by Lauren LeFranc for HBO. Based on the DC Comics character Penguin, it is a spin-off from the film The Batman (2022) that explores the Penguin’s rise to power in Gotham City’s criminal underworld. LeFranc serves as the showrunner of the series, which is produced by DC Studios in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Colin Farrell stars as the Penguin, reprising his role from The Batman, alongside Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, Michael Zegen, Berto Colón, James Madio, Joshua Bitton, David H. Holmes, Daniel J. Watts, Ben Cook, Jayme Lawson, Michael Kelly and Mark Strong. Development was underway by September 2021, and HBO Max ordered it in March 2022, after The Batman was released. The film’s director, Matt Reeves, supervised the writing and was involved in hiring the creative team. Filming began in March 2023 in New York, but was halted in June by the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes. Production resumed in late November and concluded in February 2024. The series moved from HBO Max’s successor Max to HBO in July 2024. Craig Zobel directed the first three episodes.
The Penguin premiered in the United States on HBO on September 19, 2024, and is set to run for eight episodes until November 10.
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