The Penguin episode 4 review: Cristin Milioti stuns in the best outing yet

The Penguin episode 4, Cent'Anni, premiered on Max on October 13, 2024. The episode picked up from the events of last week's outing, Sofia and Oswald were cornered by the Maronis, and then delved into the backstory of how and why Sofia was sent to Arkham and the struggles she faced there.

While Colin Farrell's Oswald Cobb didn't get much screen time in The Penguin episode 4, Cristin Milioti stepped up as Sofia Falcone as the episode was centered around her. With Milioti doing much of the heavy lifting, she doesn't disappoint in delivering a brilliant performance.

The Penguin episode 4 is easily the best outing of the show yet. Delving deep into the Falcone family, it showcases an intense breakdown of how a woman is betrayed by her loved ones and loses her innocence. Alongside this, Mark Strong's Carmine Falcone is a great recast and fits perfectly within The Batman universe.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

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The Penguin episode 4 is the best outing of the show

Cristin Milioti stuns as Sofia Falcone

The instant highlight of The Penguin episode 4 is Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone. With this week's outing being a much more character-driven affair, Cristin Milioti has to do much of the heavy lifting here and she chews up the scenery with ease. While she has displayed her talent before in the show, this week she gets to unravel Sofia in a way that will certainly shock fans.

With the episode picking up in the past, fans get to see a much saner version of Sofia Falcone who is still innocent. Endorsing charities for the mentally ill and more, her heart is in the right place, but when she questions her father's involvement in the death of her mother and other women, she is suddenly thrown into a world of pain.

Her development from innocent to damaged and finally turning into the queen of the Falcone family, is where Milioti shines. She showcases such different sides of Sofia with such ease, and that development feels so natural thanks to her performance.

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Mark Strong impresses as Carmine Falcone

While it is disappointing that John Turturro wasn't able to return as Carmine Falcone after previously portraying the character in The Batman, Mark Strong proves to be a fitting recast. Sticking close to some mannerisms that Turturro brought to the character, this version of Falcone seems much more threatening, which makes him interesting to watch on the screen.

Effectively framing his daughter for the crimes he committed, Strong's Falcone is a standout as he brings this ruthless character to the screen. He is angrier and meaner and will do anything to get away from trouble.

For the brief screentime, Michael Zegen returns as Alberto Falcone and delivers a stellar performance. His love for Sofia is felt, and he comes across naturally as a man desperate enough to help his sister in any way he can.

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A flawless hour

The Colin Farrell-starrer continues to get better by the week, and The Penguin episode 4 is perhaps the finest hour of television yet that it has delivered. Sofia's story is the heart of the episode, and while flashback episodes naturally hinder the pace of shows at times, this does the opposite by providing much-needed context that furthers the show's plot.

Sofia's rise in the Falcone family as a ruthless individual, who will stop at no cost, is as exciting as it is heartbreaking, and the team behind the show does a great job of realizing these ideas.

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Final verdict

The Penguin episode 4 is a flawless outing that sees Cristin Milioti deliver a brilliant performance. With the main lead of the show taking a backseat this week, The Penguin continues to be as exciting as it has ever been, and with the setup of Sofia taking over the Falcone family, the wait for next week's episode only gets harder. The Penguin episode 4 is streaming on Max right now.