*Warning – This TV show is rated TV/MA for heavy violence and gore, frequent vulgar language, scenes depicting drug use, and frightening images*
“The Penguin” is a miniseries created by Lauren LeFranc. This series is a spin-off of Matt Reeves’ 2022 film “The Batman”, but don’t worry; this is by no means a show about superheroes. This show does not require previous knowledge about the Batman universe, and watching the film is, although recommended, not necessary to understand the plot. The show directly precedes the events of the film in which the city of Gotham falls into chaos after the boss of a major crime family, Carmine Falcone, is killed, leaving a crime-ridden city uncertain of who is in control of the streets. The show contains eight episodes, each roughly an hour long.
Oswald “Oz” Cobb, portrayed by Colin Farrell, is a mobster who finds himself at arms with the Falcone crime family with his only ally, a petty street thief named Victor Aguilar, played by Rhenzy Feliz. Among the crime family is Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone, the daughter of the former boss who, after serving 10 years in Arkham Asylum for a crime she didn’t commit, returns to the business, bent on making the people who wronged her suffer. Upon release, expectations were high for “The Penguin” as it followed up the highly regarded film, and I can happily say that the show not only met but exceeded expectations.
“The Penguin” does a lot of things right, and there’s one thing that stands out especially: the acting. Colin Farrell’s portrayal of the titular character shines as he brings out the complexity of his character’s motivations and thoughts and turns the Penguin, who is typically written as a stone cold villain bent on destruction, into an fleshed out character who ultimately feels human despite the questionable things he does throughout the series. Beyond Farrell’s stardom, however, the cast is composed of generally unheard of actors and actresses, and this is actually something that works in the show’s favor. Milioti and Feliz in particular give stellar performances of their respective characters by bringing their own unique styles, something not often possible with star-studded actors as people have already attributed them to other popular roles.
At its core, this series is a crime drama, full of action and gunshots, but if you look past the intensity and violence, the plot goes much deeper. One of the most important storylines is that of Oz’s mother, Francis Cobb, portrayed by Deirdre O’Connell. After losing two out of her three sons, Francis is heartbroken and as a result, Oz’s motivation throughout the series is to make his mother proud. The relationship between the two is surprisingly complex, and the strong portrayals by both actors bring out emotion in the otherwise gritty series as their backstory is explored and the dynamic between Oz and his mother shifts throughout the show. The revelations that come later on in the storyline are made only more shocking and heartbreaking because of the excellent development that the two characters receive as the plot unfolds.
Oftentimes in modern cinema and television, directors overuse flashbacks and flash-forwards to the point that it jumbles and complicates the plot. However, “The Penguin” effectively and creatively utilizes flashbacks, not only to provide context, but also to make the “villains” of the story feel more relatable, Sofia Falcone especially. The frequent use of flashbacks provides interesting insights on Sofia’s character and gives her actions, although extreme and gruesome at times, a level of justification, and subsequently softens her character as a whole.
It is important to reiterate, however, that “The Penguin ” is a crime drama, and as a result, it contains copious scenes of profanity, action, drug use, and violence that could seem excessive to some, and I would therefore not recommend this for anyone who dislikes the “mafia” genre as a whole. However, beyond the dark and gritty filter lies a well-paced and engaging plot and characters who all feel real and relatable to some extent, and based on the latest reviews of the young show, it would be fair to assume that a second season is in store. Overall, the series is masterfully directed, produced, and written, and despite its place in the DC universe, the show finds its own feet, independent from other characters which have been thoroughly explored in past projects, and I will be highly anticipating a second season.
“The Penguin” is viewable exclusively on Max, as is its precursor, “The Batman” for anyone who wants to watch.
