After Hours

The idea of this show was delivered with a lot of promise when it was first announced. This is not just a DC show or a spinoff to "The Batman," but a show that potentially shows how DC is going to do on HBO and if they can keep up the quality that we usually connect with that kind of reputation. The show has been compared to a lot of great crime shows, but it's also exciting to see how it will stand out, and this first episode does a great job of setting up this underdog story with a formidable performance from Colin Farrell.

More than anything else, the thing that immediately stands out is the show's tone. It feels very similar to "The Batman," with the exception that it has been given a TV-MA rating, which enables them to use profanity and more graphic violence. That may take a few people off-guard, but it also sets the stage for a more gritty entry into this world. And the grit is certainly there, as the opening minutes of the episode features quite a shocking event that is very violent, yet also surprisingly comedic in a very dark way. The show brilliantly balances that grit with dark comedy, definitely setting its own tone very smartly from the very beginning. It's difficult to properly judge where the show is going, but it is setting up a very formidable character in Oz and perfectly expanding on his role and his ascent to the top of the food chain. Farrell is still eclectic in this role and totally disappears beneath the incredible make-up work that's being done to make him into this Oz, but he gives it his all as well, totally changing his voice to sound so fundamentally different from what we're used to hearing from him. At the same time, Cristin Milioti also enters the stage as Sofia Falcone, in an unpredictable and suspenseful performance that fits so well with what Farrell is doing that we constantly want to see more with them. The budget is noticeable, but the pull of the episode's plot is enough to keep you fully invested.

"After Hours" does a great job of selling the show's premise and giving it a unique tone that makes it stand out among other crime shows. The character is so fascinating and his journey is relatable, and Farrell continues to amaze as this character, especially in his scenes with Milioti as Carmine Falcone's semi-psychotic daughter.

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.

If there was ever hope that storytelling after The Sopranos and Breaking Bad would return, here it is.

This first episode had me locked in from start to finish. The many layers it slowly unravels opens so many doors for these storylines and scenarios to be unveiled.

I have never been so satisfied with a pilot as I have with this episode, in several years, and many attempts.

This captures the rawness and dark elements of what makes DC so surreal and ominous yet so emotionally impactful.

I can't say enough about how blown away I am by all the performances. The cast makes me anxious for another episode because it truly seems that they have got it right, and that is a lasting affect.

The setting is brilliant. The colour schemes that MAKE it Gotham. The tiny nuances and appreciations that they give us, the viewer, has me beaming and thriving with respect.

I have to reitterate what a great job was done by the casting department as well as the cast themselves. Everything here just seems to click.

The perfect elements and the right amount of everything at just the right time, to tie you in emotionally. Its downright gripping.

I am ridiculously excited for the next episode.

Very, very few shows have ever left me with such anticipation after the first episode. And this one seems to do it so effortlessly, but that is the magic of all that was put into this affair.

(Just an example of some shows that had incredible debuts/pilots and went on to become some of the most intense and revered shows in television history: the aforementioned The Sopranos, Justified, The Shield, Breaking Bad, The Americans, The Walking Dead, and all these shows went on for several seasons and absolutely crushed it. The Penguin is next on the list of greats, bank on that)