The Penguin: Why Oz Cobb's brothers died explained as series nears conclusion

The Penguin shared a critical part of Oz's backstory in a shocking flashback that explains his persona and dark side. In episode seven 'Top Hat', Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) continues to fend off Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) and her attempts on his life and a vengeful Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown).

Oz is desperate to protect his growing drug empire and his new base of operations at a trolley station underneath Gotham, but he barely survives a bomb and an attack by Salvatore Maroni.

But the episode also delves into Oz's early life and reveals his two other brothers Jack and Benny and Francis Cobb's (Emily Meade) life as a single mother.

Sofia, who has kidnapped Francis, probes for information about Oz as leverage and learns about the deaths of Jack and Benny and how Oz was involved.

As the series nears its conclusion, here we examine why Oz's brothers died and its impact on Oz and his mother Francis.

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What happened to Oz's brothers Jack and Benny?

Top Hat begins with a flashback into Oz's early life and sees a younger Oz and his two brothers Jack and Benny. Francis Cobb asks her children to go out and play but also deliver a “book” to gangster Rex Calabrese (Louis Cancelmi).

Afterwards, the trio entered the abandoned trolley station to take shelter from the coming rain and play a game of hide and seek. Oz, who has a leg brace, grew angry at his brothers for hiding in an overflow tunnel that could only be accessed through a ladder.

Oz cruelly shut the door to the tunnel and quipped "have fun getting out". As the rain continued through the night, Jack and Benny screamed for help but they drowned.

Meanwhile Oz served as a loving son to his mother who grew concerned about her sons' whereabouts. Oz lied they were watching a movie, but the truth was much darker.

Why did Oz kill his brothers?

The series implied Oz was jealous of the relationship his brothers had with their mother and how it was different to his own relationship.

In a twisted way, Oz wanted to provide for his mother and care for her. Oz also got a peak into life of a gangster and how he aspired to become a criminal.

While at a jazz club, Francis asked Oz to become successful enough to finally provide her a happy life.

The flashback is proof of Oz' dangerous and twisted outlook on life and how cruel and manipulative he can be. It's also implied the deaths of his siblings sparked his mother's pain, which will be surely covered in the final episode.

The final episode will air at 9pm ET on Sunday (November 10) on HBO while the finale will air at the same time at 2am on Monday (November 11) on Sky Atlantic in the UK.