The Penguin episode 1 ending explained: [Spoiler] dies and a gang war brews

MAJOR spoilers ahead for The Penguin episode 1

The Penguin premiere, "After Hours," opened with a murder. We'd only been with Oz Cobb for 10 minutes before he made the ill-advised decision to kill Alberto Falcone. To be fair, it was a crime of passion and not one that was premeditated. Oz knows better than to murder the heir apparent to the Falcone crime family without a fully locked in plan to prevent getting caught. His volatile emotions just got away from him, after all Alberto was making fun of him. If there's one thing you don't do, it's treat Oz like he's an idiot or stupid especially not for his belief in "the noble criminal."

Oz's split second decision, however, did put him in a predicament. He managed to dispose of Alberto's body with the help of his coerced into it sidekick Victor Aguilar. Given Alberto's penchant for doing drops and flakiness, he might have gotten away with the murder without suspicion if Sofia Falcone weren't back in the fold.

She knew something was amiss and told Oz that she hadn't wanted Alberto to go out on his own the night he died. But he wanted to check on their father Carmine's loft in Oz's now abandoned establishment, 44 Below. Oz wound up in Sofia's crosshairs when he let it slip that he was aware of the new drug venture that was going to change the game for the Falcones. Only she knew of her brother's plans.

Quick on his feet, Oz explained to her over a nice meal (at her behest!) that Alberto had read him in on what they were planning to launch. Then he leaned on the fact that Carmine's heir was an addict and that disappearing like this with no word was to be expected. It was clear that Sofia wasn't really buying it so when Falcone thugs came after him, he wasn't surprised.

The thing about Oz is that he's always going to have a plan. When his words failed to convince Sofia, he turned to a ploy that will likely have major consequences for the Falcones and their sworn enemies the Maronis.

Penguin and Victor frame Salvatore Maroni for Alberto Falcone's murder

Salvatore Maroni is a figure fans of The Batman have been waiting to see in The Penguin. The crime boss' imprisonment, thanks to Carmine ratting out his drops operation, is the whole reason the Falcones were able to grab so much power in Gotham. Carmine had the DA, police commissioner, and the mayor in his pocket because they owed him for making their careers and he did it off the back of Sal's downfall.

Carmine was so proud of what he accomplished that he wore his rival's ring on his pinky finger as a symbol of his dominance and ability to topple Sal's empire. Alberto took to wearing the ring just like his father as a sign of his own power. Oz used that to his advantage.

It's all about the long game when it comes to scheming and Oz is a master at it. He paid Sal a visit and let him know the Falcones were getting ready to make a big mistake. They have plans to back out of the drug game and Oz knows that's a terrible decision. In Gotham, if you have control of the drug game then you have control of the streets.

He told Sal that he was willing to be his mole on the inside and that he'd set things up so that Sal's guys could nab the shipment the Falcones have coming in. They'd split the take 50/50 and he'd keep working with the Falcones so he and Sal can dismantle their dynasty piece-by-piece. The crime boss didn't believe him so Oz told him to think on it. He also presented him with the ring Carmine had taken.

Sal was surprised and wanted to know where Oz got it but the Penguin wouldn't disclose. He knew, however, that the gesture would help change how Sal sees him. What the Maroni didn't know was that Oz was setting him up. See, Oz had the foresight to know he'd be grabbed by Sofia. It's how she operates. A violent outburst to provoke answers was to be expected as she continued to unravel over Alberto's disappearance.

Oz was smacked around, tied to a chair, and threatened with death but his ace up his sleeve came through. He'd instructed Victor to go collect the car they'd placed Alberto's body in from the junkyard. He sent the unmanned vehicle speeding through the Falcones' gates. It crashed and they found Alberto in the trunk, dead, and his pinky missing. The same pinky finger that he and his father used to wear Sal's ring on, flaunting what had been done to the rival crime boss.

It was Oz's idea to make it look like the Maronis put a hit out on Alberto but Victor was the one who sent the perfect message via mutilation. To be honest, it was poetic. Now we wait to see just how the Falcones will respond and answer the Maronis in kind.

The Penguin episode 2 premieres Sunday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.