The Penguin: Wak Wak

The Penguin is a sequel, premium TV series, to The Batman (2022), spinning off from the final events in the film and picking up with Gotham one week after The Riddler’s flood turned the city upside down. Reprising his role from the film, Colin Farrell returns as the titular character, who has been renamed Oswald Cobb in this cinematic universe. Oswald, or Oz, as most call him, is one of the many crime bosses in the city who seeks to make a play for the crown after the events of The Batman (2022) saw the death of Gotham’s head crime family, Carmine Falcone. What ensues is a premiere that harkens back to the spectacular HBO and Showtime dramas of the early 2000s, while still maintaining all of the aspects and tone of The Batman (2022) film.

Just to get this out of the way, not everything about this premiere is as brilliant as the rest of the show, specifically a car chase action sequence towards the end of the episode. This felt like a tacked on element of action that really didn’t serve the story any purpose or benefit it in any way. And the only reason it really stands out is because of the shotty special effects that attempt to make it look like Oz is driving fast, almost creating that uncanny valley for an otherwise very grounded and beautiful looking show. Thankfully, this is the only truly negative aspect of an otherwise stellar episode, so let’s switch gears to the positive.

As the title implies, this show is about the Penguin, Oz Cobb, before anything else. Yes, the story itself is about the power vacuum in the city; however, this premiere episode goes to great lengths to show all the layers of the titular character. Right off the bat, Oz’s insecurities and personality jump off the screen, with one of the best opening sequences of any show this year. But the best scene in the entire episode is when Oz visits his mother, using a car he has stashed away near her home. Oz not only has Dolly Parton playing in his car, but he has it on a CD, so you know he’s a real fan. Oz’s relationship with his mother helps show his humanity, all behind the facade of his high rolling crime boss persona. Strangely enough, she is the only one he’s honest with, even about his own insecurities. Seeing her portrayed as his enabler while he works to keep her sane and healthy is shockingly poignant. This short scene in the hour-long premiere shows more insight and character than some shows in entire seasons.

Needless to say, this premiere captures who The Penguin is perfectly. Colin Farrell seems more recognizable in this than he is in The Batman (2022); however, his performance is stellar. From the accent he puts on, to the mannerisms and facial expressions, Farrell is The Penguin. There is no doubt that his performance will be held in the highest regard of comic book portrayals, up there with Robert Downey Jr and Ryan Reynolds.

It’s not just Farrell who delivers an excellent performance. Cristin Milioti comes in swinging with her portrayal of Carmine Falcone’s daughter, Sofia. When Milioti first appears, she steals the show. She may not be wearing any fancy prosthetics like Farrell, but she falls into her character in a very similar manner. Milioti’s demeanor and facial expressions highlight how scary her character can be, regardless of her smaller stature when compared to her costars. But it is Milioti’s eyes that really steal the show, with her intense stare showing how crazy she actually can be. A few hints about her character’s past are revealed here, creating even more excitement for what Milioti is going to do in this role.

But there is one big question that always comes up when these shows based on comic book properties are released: how does this show work as a comic book adaptation and as a standalone TV show? The Penguin makes a great case for being a great success in both of those areas. As a comic book adaptation, The Penguin perfectly captures the grittiness and seediness of Gotham’s underworld. This world feels like the most realistic depiction of Gotham to date, capturing all of the tonal elements of the comics in a way that works on every conceivable level. As a standalone TV show, the premiere would benefit from having seen The Batman (2022); however, its opening scene catches the audience up very concisely. From then on, this show can be viewed entirely on its own. The Penguin really draws that fine line and creates a unique viewing experience that works for any audience.

A lot of viewers are going to draw comparisons between The Penguin and other classic mob shows like The Sopranos. While the obvious comparisons exist, these really are not the same kind of shows. For starters, The Sopranos is a long format drama that spanned over several seasons. The producers of The Penguin have identified it as a standalone show that bridges a gap between The Batman (2022) and its sequel, where Farrell will return. This leaves The Penguin a shorter amount of time to accomplish a lot of beats that made the classic mob shows work. Because of this, The Penguin tackles a lot in this first episode, leaving little to subtext and implicitly. While this first episode works very well, it will not be until the end of the series that audiences truly see how well the show accomplishes its vast story in just a short season.