After Hours

It's got everything you could ask for from a pilot episode. It ties in perfectly to The Batman, it builds the character of The Penguin further and does it really well, it establishes the supporting cast (or at least some of it) well...heck, it even humanises The Penguin/Oz pretty well by giving us a look at his relationship with his mother.

The cast are really well chosen, with Colin Farrell especially showing why he was such an inspired choice for this role. It shows again why this, far more grounded, take on the Batman mythos is so badly needed.

I eagerly await the rest of the series now, and hope they can continue to keep the quality this high.

Although is just a TV show , the quality is outstanding with amazing shots and amazing scenery that blends it all together to create the Gotham that we love . Acting performances are also Movie-level . I can see they have put their time on it ,At first i thought it was going to be a slow burn as time passed it became more and more interesting, Perfect example of pacing... We got a perfect introduction of the Penguin and the other new characters. Everything was pure Quality and not bland.

I loved how good it was connected to the Batman movie. What i mean by quality, the fact that if this was the start of the Batman 2 , u wouldn't even notice . Can't wait to see more ...

As a Batman fan, I'm pretty biased, but if you measure the quality from purely a series standpoint, it's an incredibly well done introductory episode. I can see why they wanted to bridge the film into this and give Colin Farrell the reigns as the iconic penguin character he continues to play. It's better than most crime thrillers of the last decade in its first episode. That says something. The production level is stunning as well with the settings in Gotham being as palpable as possible. You really don't even care that Batman isn't in this because it gives you the perspective of the penguin which is a nice breath of fresh air.

**"A Gangster Masterpiece: Colin Farrell Soars in Explosive First Episode of *The Penguin*****

Rarely does an actor disappear so completely into a character as Colin Farrell does in the debut episode of *The Penguin*. From the moment he graces the screen as Oz Cobb, it's clear that Farrell is reveling in the opportunity to embody one of the most complex and multifaceted figures in Gotham's underworld. His performance is nothing short of a masterclass in gangster cinema, echoing the iconic portrayals found in the legendary works of Scorsese and Coppola.

Farrell's Oz Cobb is a throwback to the gritty, charismatic mobsters of classic New York films, evoking shades of De Niro in *GoodFellas* or Pacino in *The Godfather*. There's a captivating duality at play here-on one hand, the audience is repelled by Cobb's ruthless, cold-blooded nature, but on the other, they can't help but be drawn in by his sharp wit and undeniable charisma. Cobb feels like a man you'd both fear and admire, an unpredictable figure in a crumbling city.

Where *The Penguin* diverges from its predecessor, *The Batman*, is in its stripped-back, raw aesthetic. The sweeping cinematography and operatic visuals of Matt Reeves' film are noticeably absent, leaving a grittier, more intimate portrayal of Gotham's dark underbelly. This choice works in favor of the series, making the violence and power struggles feel more personal, even though it lacks the grandiosity fans may have expected. Reeves, who takes a step back as producer here, allows the series to develop its own unique tone, and while it may not match the cinematic intensity of *The Batman*, it compensates with a deep dive into its characters' psyches.

The episode excels in portraying a Gotham that feels lived-in, grimy, and relentlessly unforgiving. Every corner of the city oozes tension, and Farrell's Penguin sits right at the center of it all, a man clawing his way to the top of a collapsing empire. The dialogue is sharp, with shades of the Scorsese-like banter that adds a layer of authenticity to the criminal machinations unfolding on-screen.

Fans of classic gangster dramas will find much to love here. Oz Cobb isn't just a villain; he's a tragic figure, driven by ambition but burdened by the weight of his own insecurities and trauma. Farrell plays him with a gleeful menace, giving viewers the impression that he's relishing every moment of chaos his character creates.

What *The Penguin* may lack in the stylistic bravado of its film counterpart, it makes up for in character-driven intensity. Colin Farrell doesn't just play Oz Cobb-he becomes him, and in doing so, he elevates what could have been a standard spin-off into something far more gripping. If the first episode is any indication, *The Penguin* is setting the stage for a dark, thrilling descent into Gotham's criminal underworld. Buckle up-this is one gangster saga you won't want to miss."

The show is put together very well. The writing is on point, the dialogue, the acting, it's very grounded. It captivated me from the first scene. Colin Farrell steps into this character and brings him to life and makes us believe it's real.

The city of Gotham feels realistic and gritty like it should. The supporting cast all deliver great performances. At no time is the immersion broken. All other show runners of Superhero/Star Wars/Fantasy shows should sit back and drink it in. This is how it's done.

The only thing I can recommend that could be improved is that characters don't have to say everything. For instance, there is a point that Oz takes Victors license and says: "I'm keeping your ID". He doesn't need to say that. It's more impactful if he just puts it in his pocket. Actions say things better than words sometimes, and there are a few moments in this show where dialogue could be said better with actions.