The Penguin episode 3 review, "Bliss": Vic's backstory revealed

Oz continues to play the long game to take control of the Falcone empire in The Penguin episode 3, "Bliss." While he does that, he offers some lessons to Vic to help him grow as a mobster.

Caution: This post contains SPOILERS from The Penguin episode 3

This is the first episode of The Penguin that sees Sofia and Oz working together. They both have their strengths and connections, and it’s clear that they need each other. More like, Oz knows that he needs Sofia for now, but how long will they work together and when will one of them turn on the other?

We also get to see more of Vic, including his backstory. I adored the way the episode started by taking us back to the ending of The Batman, when the Riddler flooded the part of the city where Vic lived. We get a chance to see Vic’s life with his parents and the love he had for them. The moment all the sound goes as Vic tries to call him mom as the water takes out the apartment building and kills them is heartbreaking. All Vic can do is watch the devastation happen from the rooftop of another building.

The Penguin episode 3 review, "Bliss": Vic knows there’s no way out

We get to meet people from Vic’s past, including a girl he’s into, Graciela. The two are away from the devastation as it happens, but why haven’t we seen them together in the show yet? I think this is a great example of how different people deal with traumatic events. Vic ran with the crew he was running with before the event, while Graciela decided it was time to make a life for herself. She wants Vic to get out of Gotham with her, but Vic knows that he’s stuck. He’s seen things. Would Oz even let him leave?

At the same time, I think Vic enjoys the life that he’s experiencing right now. Oz is teaching him how to be a mobster, but he’s also teaching him some life lessons. Oz is patient with Vic’s stutter, making it clear that Vic needs to take up space. With his family gone, it’s no wonder why Vic has clutched onto Oz. He wants to find a place in life, and he thinks he has it.

Vic has serious PTSD, though, and this could see him in a world of trouble. While he’s in the club spreading around the new drug, Bliss, the music and lights trigger a memory. He breaks down in the club, thinking about the bombs and the flooding. Oz doesn’t see this, but he may hear about it. It’s clear that this is going to come up again in the future, but will it get Vic killed? Could it lead to trouble for Oz?

Sofia feels the threat from Johnny Vitti

Sofia is slowly making her move to take over the Falcone crime family, but not everyone in the family is keen on the idea. Johnny Vitti is very vocal about wanting Luca to take over, and he will do whatever it takes to ensure that. That means threatening Sofia.

Oz has a way around this. He is able to set Vitti up with Luca’s wife to blackmail him into silence. Vitti attempts to knock Oz down a peg, sharing that the Falcones have never trusted Oz and they don’t respect him. They keep “the Penguin” around for entertainment.

Building up their distribution network, Sofia and Oz to set up a meeting with the Triad mafia. Sofia now needs to use her skills. As crazy as she is, she is also good at thinking on the spot and making people do what she wants. It’s all about showing that she’s the one who is needed rather than the one who needs people. As she tells the Triad boss that Bliss is the way to control the streets and that she’ll find another partner to distribute it if they won't, the Triad gives in.

We’re getting to see more and more layers of Sofia. She used her own trauma to get the Triad involved. She also found out that Oz was the one who told Carmine about her mental health, which led to her being locked up in Arkham. She isn’t actually the Hangman, but Oz’s words have led to the people looking at her that way.

Despite all this, the two need one another. There’s a moment where it looks like Oz isn’t just in this to take over the family. It’s almost like he wants Sofia to be by his side as a way to apologize for his actions. At the same time, he has his own needs and dreams, and that means he needs Sofia out of the way.

Cristin Milioti and Colin Farrell are playing off each other beautifully, and they strangely have me routing for both of them.

Vic has the opportunity to get out of dodge

After dealing with the flashback, Vic heads into the club bathroom where Oz finds him. Vic opens up about how he doesn’t feel like he should be involved in this life. Oz is angry and hurt, but while he initially threatens to kill Vic, he decides to let him go. Vic takes Oz’s car and gets to the bus station, only to watch Graciela get on and leave.

As much as Vic knows he needs to get out, part of him doesn’t want to leave this life. We have this story of a lost boy who is looking for some sort of home, and it's such a realistic story to tell. I so wanted him to get on that bus and escape this life, but it was clear that everything Oz offered him was too enticing.

It’s not that surprising then to see him return to the club and choose Oz, although he’s clearly of two minds. He return at just the right time. The Maronis have caught up to Oz and are about to execute him and Sofia. Vic crashes into one of the Maroni goons and into a car, causing enough of a disturbance for Oz to get in. We see Oz's survival instinct kick in as he leaves Sofia behind. So much for her being able to trust him!

The Penguin airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.

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