HBO’s The Penguin, from showrunner Lauren LeFranc, is a brilliantly crafted story set in Matt Reeves’ Gotham, a week after the events of The Batman (2022) film. And what a smart choice that was.
This review contains no major plot or character spoilers.
From the beginning, the viewer is dropped into the unrelenting chaos the city has degraded into after the explosions seen in the 2022 film. We meet each character in a state of violent transition as a result. A really excellent way to find out exactly who everyone is very quickly. Desperate, scared, and angry people tend to do things they never thought they were capable of.
Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin, The Batman) imbues Oz Cobb (inspired by DC Comics’ Oswald Cobblepot) with a relatable, conniving aura that is hard to look away from. This is a different Penguin than I’m used to and it’s for the better. Oz is quick-tempered, but very smart. He is quick on his feet and can problem solve in very high-stress situations. Which happens all the time. Like every single minute it feels like.
Farrell talked about Oz’s make-up at SDCC 2024 and it makes sense why he was so excited to see it. Audiences will have a visceral reaction when watching Farrell carry Penguin’s beaked nose, scarred lips and massive shoulders from scene to scene. His transformation is incredible, thanks to prosthetic makeup designer, Mike Marino. It’s actually very hard to tell, under the accent and make-up, that this is Colin Farrell.
Cristin Milioti’s (The Wolf of Wall Street, How I Met Your Mother) Sofia Falcone is a force to be reckoned with. Milioti is perfectly unsettling as Carmine Falcone’s daughter. Her dark eyes heavy with the weight of all that Sofia has been through. As a comic reader, her story took turns I wasn’t expecting. Milioti may not have the almost overbearing height Sofia has in the comics, but her facial expressions and physical movements sell it completely.
There’s almost two parts to Sofia that the audiences will get to learn about, through flashbacks and stories other characters tell about her.
Sofia and Oz’s relationship is a fascinating one and the best of the series. There’s a deep understanding between them, even if they’re almost always at odds. It never goes to a weird or uncomfortable place and I credit that to Milioti’s and Farrell’s performances and LeFranc’s focus.
Michael Zegen (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Boardwalk Empire) plays an adorably endearing Alberto Falcone. I can’t say too much here without spoiling a whole lot of stuff, but Zegen is fun. His Alberto brings a bit of lightness to some weighty scenes. A hell of a lot more likable than his comics counterpart.
The rest of the Falcones and the Maronis are pulled into the story with ease, even though this is Penguin’s story. Johnny Viti, played with sneering condescension by Michael Kelly, and Nadia Maroni, played by the best voice in Hollywood, Shohreh Aghdashloo, are particularly powerful. Their interactions with Oz provide just the amount of tension and violence.
There’s a scene featuring Oz, Sofia and Johnny that I rewatched a few times, the writing there was sharp and darkly humorous. Does anyone actually like Johnny Viti?
I can’t go any longer without talking about Rhenzy Feliz (Marvel’s Runaways) as Victor Aguilar. Vic is Oz’s newly appointed right-hand man and, honestly, the heart of the show. He wants better for himself and the situation he was born in. He has dreams bigger than what his family has and that makes him so much more human than any other character. It’s his strength, his weakness, and he is faced with situations that would make most seasoned, grown men cry.
Oz and Vic’s working relationship helps shape the Penguin’s soul, carving out who this man aspires to be. However, it’s Oz’s relationship with his own blood family that shows the real motivation driving everything he does. This series is a captivating peek into a more meaningful, thoughtful, ambitious Penguin.
Series score: A
Stay tuned to Multiverse of Color, as we’ll be continuing our Penguin coverage with episodic reviews as well as podcast recaps on DC Studios Podcast.
Starring Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb (aka “The Penguin”), the eight-episode DC Studios series continues filmmaker Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” epic crime saga that began with Warner Bros. Pictures’ global blockbuster “The Batman.” Developed by showrunner Lauren LeFranc, the series centers on the character played by Farrell in the film.
The HBO Original limited series THE PENGUIN , from Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios, begins with the series premiere on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. New episodes will then debut on Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max, continuing with episode two on Sunday, September 29.