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Episode 6 of The Penguin, titled “The Gold Summit,” reveals the fallout from Nadia and Taj Maroni’s murder. Sofia, now going by the name Gigante, has aligned herself with Salvatore Maroni, who escaped prison following an assassination attempt by the Penguin.
Meanwhile, the Penguin has established a covert mushroom operation beneath Crown Point, utilizing maintenance tunnels to discreetly store and distribute the drug, maneuvering through Gotham’s underbelly like a rat in the shadows.
The drug Oz stole from Sofia—called Bliss—is slowly spreading through the city, but it’s turning out to be a deadly business. Crime bosses working with Oz quickly realize that the Gigante clan, led by Sofia and Salvatore, is ruthlessly killing anyone caught selling Bliss to send a clear message: working with Oz is a death sentence.
This puts Oz in a tough spot. He knows that, despite Bliss’s popularity, no one will want it in their territory if it means facing constant danger. So, he comes up with a bold plan: he floods all territories with free Bliss, forcing the crime families into a corner. Now, they have everything to lose if they don’t make a deal with him.
Bliss is everywhere, but without profit, it’s only causing trouble for them. And with Sofia and Salvatore’s “shoot first, ask questions later” approach, the crime families won’t get a chance to explain they’re not actually working with Oz.
So, the gangs figure they might as well make some money off it. During the Golden Summit, Oz skillfully taps into the fears, paranoia, and insecurities of the rival gangs. He warns them that the Gigantes, looking to expand, are likely to encroach on their territories soon.
He pitches this as the perfect moment to act, suggesting they strike before the Gigantes can fully organize. Despite being remnants of the old crime families, the Gigantes are in disarray, making now an ideal time to bring them down once and for all.
Oz’s motivational pitch, however, comes at a price. Given his history of betrayal, it’s clear he could turn on them at any moment. Which raises the question—if everyone knows Oz has no loyalty, why strike a deal with him?
There’s a reason Penguin is one of Batman’s most powerful enemies and holds perhaps the largest criminal empire in Gotham. Oz doesn’t just sell drugs; he sells the illusion that you’re in control, all while pulling the strings himself.
Even when he’s lying, his appearance and ramblings make him seem harmless, like someone who “couldn’t possibly take me down.” The gang leaders are falling into the same trap as the Falcones, Maronis, and now the Gigantes: they’re underestimating the depths of Penguin’s ruthlessness and audacity.
In Batman comics, Penguin’s greatest strength is his strategic genius and command over the underworld. Unlike many of Batman’s physically imposing foes, Oz wields power through his intellect, business sense, and deep criminal connections across Gotham.
He’s a master at reading people, exploiting their weaknesses, moral codes, and even their vanity. Episode 6 lays the groundwork for Penguin’s brutal and inevitable rise to the top of Gotham’s crime empire.
By the series’ end, it’s easy to imagine Salvatore and other crime bosses eliminated from the game—but what about Sofia? She’s perhaps the only one who’s starting to grasp Penguin’s true nature, and she’ll likely be ready to use it to her advantage.
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