The Penguin episode 7 is packed with Easter eggs and DC references, dropping hints about Oz Cobb’s complex childhood.
Here’s a breakdown of the 13 best Easter eggs and DC references from the penultimate episode.
1What Is The Dolly Parton Connection?
The stage is set with Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ “Islands in the Stream” playing on Oz’s mother’s record player.
This nostalgic choice calls back to the premiere episode when Parton’s “9 to 5” played on Oz’s car radio, suggesting that his mother had a major influence on his taste in music.
2How Long Has Oz’s Leg Problem Been There?
Flashbacks show young Oz wearing a leg brace, establishing that his “bum leg” goes all the way back to his childhood.
This condition and his distinct limp likely inspired his “Penguin” nickname, differentiating him from his brothers, Jack and Benny.
3What’s the Deal with Rex Calabrese?
Fans finally get to see DC’s Rex Calabrese after hearing his name throughout the series. Known as “The Lion,” Rex was Oz’s hero, initially employing him as a driver and later propelling him into Gotham’s gangster scene.
We also learn that Oz’s mother did some “bookkeeping” for Rex.
4Is There a Hidden Story Behind the Trolley Coin?
In a jaw-dropping flashback, young Oz finds a trolley coin in Gotham’s abandoned tunnels.
This coin reappears in episode 5 when adult Oz discovers it in his mother’s belongings, foreshadowing the tunnels becoming the foundation of his criminal empire.
5What Does the Overflow Tunnel Door Symbolize?
One of the most chilling scenes reveals Oz locking his brothers in an overflow tunnel during a storm, leaving them to die.
This same door, glimpsed in episode 5, later becomes crucial for his escape after Sofia tries to blow up his drug base in the present timeline.
6What’s the Beetlejuice Reference?
Oz tells his mom that his brothers went to see Beetlejuice, the 1988 Tim Burton film starring Michael Keaton.
Since Keaton played Batman in Burton’s 1989 film, this nod hints at Gotham’s dark world, with Burton directing Batman Returns, starring Danny DeVito as the Penguin.
7What Does Oz’s Favorite Movie Say About Him?
In a heartwarming moment, young Oz and his mother watch Top Hat (1935), starring Fred Astaire.
Oz’s admiration for Astaire’s style hints at the inspiration for Penguin’s top hat, coattails, and cane in the comics. The episode title, “Top Hat,” is a direct nod to this.
8Why Mention Ginger Rogers?
While held hostage by Sofia, Oz’s mother says she’ll “tap dance on her grave like Ginger Rogers.”
This reference to the classic dancer and actress connects back to Top Hat, reinforcing Oz’s attachment to his mother and the legacy she instilled in him.
9What’s the Importance of “I Got You”?
In a tense scene, Oz tells Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown) “I got you” after Maroni dies of a heart attack mid-fight.
This line echoes Oz’s words during The Batman’s car chase scene with Batman, where he prematurely celebrates a win before a brutal takedown.
10What’s Special About Maroni’s Ring?
Oz acquires Salvatore Maroni’s ring as an indicator of triumph, gaining possession of one of the most sought-after tokens among the topmost mobsters of Gotham.
Previously possessed by Carmine Falcone and Alberto, possession of this ring by the Penguin symbolizes a significant rise in power.
11Why Did Sofia Use Her Father’s Words?
“Is that what you think?” And Sofia snapped.
In yet another psychological twist in the show, Sofia is seen to echo the words of her father when she is accused of betrayal by Gia.
When the quoted remark is pronounced, Sofia is seen to adopt her father’s ruthless tendencies in her quest for vengeance.
12What’s So Significant About Monroe’s Jazz Club?
A flashback scene in the show features Oz’s mother engaging in a cheery dance at Monroe’s Jazz Club, a place she’s known to cherish.
But when Sofia decided to keep her hostage at the same club, it comes across as a disturbing move of sick power-play, forming a blot on Oz’s memories, foreshadowing a sad curtain to the place that was once a cherished club for the two.
13Who Is Detective Marcus Wise?
Marcus, the infamous corrupt police officer appears again in the penultimate episode and is seen taking Oz to Sophia after he survives the bombing of his car.
Sporting the ill-repute in DC Comics, the reappearance of Wise hints that the showdown in Episode 8 would surely be nothing less than EPIC.
Before You Go
While the seventh episode in the story of Gotham’s biggest gangster sets up the stage for an epic showdown coming up ahead, the many layers it adds and satisfies adds a great deal of details as well.
The intricately detailed penultimate episode serves as the one masterful piece in the story before Oz’s feud with Gigante sees the final step. Here’s to another thrilling Sunday night on HBO Max!
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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