The Penguin

I've been waiting for The Penguin ever since it was first announced it was going to series and I can tell you it's every bit as good as I expected. Colin Farrell is absolutely terrific as Oz Cobb a.k.a. The Penguin. He was a standout on The Batman and is even better in a lead role. On top of that Cristin Milioti is just as good as Sofia Falcone. The two of them fight to see who is the #1 gangster in Gotham and to "bring order in all the chaos." Some people were worried that a supporting character like The Penguin couldn't carry a show and it wouldn't work not having Batman or Bruce Wayne but fear not because this is more than just villain character on a superhero show, it's a great crime drama on its own. It's a gritty, violent crime drama that's so fun to watch unfold. I hope we get more stories like this from this world.

So, the first episode is done and it was excellent. I've never seen Farell so invested in a character. I mean yes, he's wearing a fat suit but you'd never know it. His attitude, body language, voice all make you submerge into the character and only see Penguin. It has no relationship to any of the other live TV penguins, Burgess Meredith or Robin Lord Taylor. This a New York mobster, a wise guy. He's a Scorsese mobster but without the florid language.

The plot is simple, similar to Lord Taylors Penguin in the CW's Gotham. The Penguin is a middle man in a mob organization. Up until now he's been doing his time, slowly moving up in the mob and then, with the effects of the Riddler blowing up the city sea wall and the death of his boss in that movie, he sees a chance to move up in the world. Now begins the game of cross, double cross and, I suppose, triple cross. Highly entertaining and very much recommended.

The first episode is a direct continuation of Matt Reeves' The Batman and I imagine those who haven't seen the latter will be a bit lost. But I watched The Batman a while ago and this show did an admirable job of quickly re-familiarizing me with where the movie left off, and without getting bogged down in a didactic recap. It also recaptures the movie's aesthetic and grim tone nicely, although the show has a lot more moments of sly levity than the movie did.

As in The Batman, Colin Farrell does an excellent job portraying The Penguin as a stereotypical mafia "street guy:" uncouth, profane, mercurial and quick to violence; but also savvy, cunning and able to read people. The character might have absolutely nothing to do with the comic book version but he's interesting in his own right.

I have my doubts about the show giving The Penguin at teenage sidekick; and I don't know if The Penguin's machinations will be enough to sustain a whole season. But so far it's off to a great start.

Colin Farrell has done for Penguin what Heath Ledger did for Joker......... GAMECHANGER ! MASTERFUL! ICONIC !!

I wouldn't have thought it for this role, but Colin Farrell has just turned in the.performance of his career with an incredible interpretation of Penguin. This will go down in history in the same way Heath Ledgers Joker changed that character.

If he doesn't clean up as Best Actor for the Golden Globes, SAG awards and everywhere else, there is no appreciation of how the producers, script writers and the incredible makeup team helped Colin Turin in this incredible performance that will be a hallmark of his career and the benchmark role of Penguin for the next 3 generations.

P. S. (I don't really write reviews ever. This performance has me typing because I am so impressed !

The new HBO show The Penguin, a spin-off of Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022), is an exciting dive into the criminal underworld of Gotham City. Helmed by Colin Farrell as the titular character Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, this series expands on the gritty, noirish tone set by the film and offers fans a fresh yet familiar experience in the Batman universe. Unlike most superhero-related content, The Penguin focuses on the darker, more human elements of Gotham's criminals, moving away from the caped crusader to spotlight the rise of one of Batman's most notorious foes.

Storyline Set immediately after the events of The Batman, the series explores Penguin's journey to fill the power vacuum left in Gotham's criminal empire. With Carmine Falcone dead and Gotham's infrastructure in chaos, Penguin seizes the opportunity to climb the ranks, determined to assert control over the city's crime syndicates. His transformation from an underboss to a major crime lord is the primary focus, which gives The Penguin a mafia-drama vibe more akin to The Sopranos than a traditional superhero show.

The show smartly avoids relying too heavily on Batman's shadow, allowing Penguin to truly shine as a lead. Without the overbearing presence of Gotham's protector, it creates a new and interesting dynamic, where Oswald is free to operate in a morally ambiguous space. This narrative shift feels fresh for the genre and adds depth to the Gotham crime world without focusing too much on superhero spectacle.

Colin Farrell's Performance Colin Farrell's portrayal of Penguin is nothing short of remarkable. Physically unrecognizable in his prosthetic makeup, Farrell fully inhabits the character with a nuanced performance that balances the brutality of a mob boss with the insecurities and ambition that drive him. The Penguin is no longer just a caricature of a deformed, umbrella-wielding villain; instead, he's depicted as a ruthless, calculated player in Gotham's criminal hierarchy, making him both terrifying and strangely sympathetic.

Farrell brings layers to the character, moving beyond the stereotypical villain portrayal. His Oswald Cobblepot is shrewd, manipulative, and ready to break bones, yet he's also a man driven by a deep-rooted inferiority complex and desire for respect. Watching him navigate the treacherous waters of Gotham's crime world is compelling and provides a grounded approach to the character, making The Penguin a fascinating character study.

Gritty Atmosphere and Tone In terms of atmosphere, The Penguin maintains the same gritty and rainy aesthetic that fans loved in The Batman. The dark, crime-ridden streets of Gotham are beautifully shot, with an emphasis on realism over comic book extravagance. The show's tone is grim, violent, and loaded with tension, reminiscent of neo-noir crime thrillers. Every scene is soaked in the corruption and decay of Gotham, and it feels as if danger lurks in every shadow.

The production design is top-notch, with set pieces that feel like a natural extension of Reeves' Gotham City. The dingy clubs, run-down alleys, and opulent crime lord mansions all add to the immersive feel of the show. The cinematography, with its moody lighting and cold color palette, enhances the show's foreboding atmosphere, making Gotham feel like a character in its own right-alive, pulsating, and full of menace.

Supporting Cast and World-Building While Farrell steals the show, the supporting cast also deserves recognition. Characters like Sofia Falcone and Salvatore Maroni (portrayed by Cristin Milioti and Clancy Brown, respectively) add layers to the Gotham crime landscape, each vying for power in the post-Falcone world. Their interactions with Penguin help expand the world and keep the narrative engaging.

Moreover, the show fleshes out the criminal network of Gotham in a way that hasn't been fully explored in previous Batman films or shows. By focusing on the mob world and its intricate dynamics, The Penguin gives fans a new look at Gotham's power structures without constantly resorting to capes and gadgets.