TV Review: 'The Penguin'

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin’. Photo: Michael Pole/HBO.

Launching with its first episode on HBO and Max on September 19, ‘The Penguin’ marks the first (and so far only) series to continue the story of Matt Reeves’ 2022 superhero movie ‘The Batman’.

Switching the focus from the appropriate vigilante played by Robert Pattinson (who the producers take long to point out if you’re waiting for the hero to flap and deliver some “kapo” punches to our wannabe kingpin), the story here doesn’t appear to be at street level. As said, underworld conspiracies are at the fore.

Is ‘The Penguin’ successful in his plans?

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

With executive producer and showrunner Lauren LeFranc citing ‘The Sopranos’ as a big inspiration for the new show, it’s not hard to see where ‘The Penguin’ takes its constant double-cross and criminal political tactics.

Trouble is, much of what happens here – minus the ‘Batman’-flavored trappings, including Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti’s characters, doesn’t exactly feel fresh. We’ve seen gangsters big and small in movies and TV over the years, and you’ve really got to offer something more special than giving Pharrell a chance to lecture about the gangsters from whom he takes his inspiration or wax. Nostalgic about how his neighborhood and Gotham in general were better back in the day.

Fortunately, the distraction of genuinely solid performances helps raise the interest level higher than it might otherwise be, and the show tends to maintain the style of Reeves’ films.

Scripts and instructions

(L to R) Colin Farrell and Christine Miliotti in Max’s ‘The Penguin’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

As we mentioned above, if you’ve ever seen a movie or show set in the gangster world, a lot about the show feels pretty familiar. Jockeying for power, criminal schemes involving drugs and a burst of action or two, such as an impressive set piece in episode two where Oz is chased by Sophia Falcone’s forces.

Little of it is truly revolutionary at all, and you’ll see many plot twists coming. And there are some remarkable coincidences that help our main character along the way.

Lead director Craig Zobel, who helmed the first three episodes, takes a good stab at convincing us that it’s set in the same Gotham as ‘The Batman’. The only downside is that scenes set in the suburbs or in the sprawling Falcon compound beyond look downright realistic compared to the visual effects-heavy discomfort of the main city scenes.

performance

The show’s saving grace is mostly in its performances, with Farrell and Miliotti in particular standing apart –– not terribly because they’re the twin focuses of the narrative.

Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Reprising his role from the movie, Farrell once again dons prosthetics and a fat suit to become almost unrecognizable as the scheming wannabe kingpin. Here in series form, given the scope and breadth to really explore the character, he goes to town, chewing through the script and bringing it to vibrant, moving life.

He’s helped along by some insightful –– if predictable –– backstory elements, including dead family members and a doting mother (Toni Winner played by Deirdre O’Connell) developing dementia.

Christine Milioti as Sofia Falcone

Christine Miliotti in Max’s ‘The Penguin’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Milioti is given a truly different role here, and he embraces it to the fullest –– all wide-eyed psychopathy and chilling ability to order the death of his enemies. It helps that he also has a troubled backstory and, in the first few episodes, is dealing with not only the death of his father but another personal tragedy.

He makes a fantastic foil for Pharrell and the two share excellent chemistry, weaving around each other as they jostle for power.

Renzi Feliz as Victor Aguilar

Renzi Feliz in Max’s ‘The Penguin’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

Known for thwarting street kids trying to steal the rims from Oz’s car, Feliz Victor is the third pillar of the lead role. He quickly becomes a driver and potential guardian for Oz, who recognizes the same dirty ambitions in the young man.

And in his interplay with Pharrell, Feliz manages to interject some of the show’s rare flashes of humor.

Clancy Brown as Salvatore Maroni

Clancy Brown in Max’s ‘The Penguin’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

The main rival of the Falcone family, Maroney is currently in prison for his crimes after being set up.

Brown is generally good in the role, bringing a quiet menace mixed with charisma, though the role is naturally smaller and more limited (for now) due to his position.

She’s supported by Shohreh Aghdashloo as wife Nadia, even if fans of ‘The Expanse’ may bemoan the fact that she’s (still) allowed to talk dirty given the less restrictive environment of an HBO show.

Other notable characters

Although he wasn’t introduced until the end of episode 2, Theo Rossi’s Dr. Julian Rush shows promise as a fun character to watch. Michael Jagen, meanwhile, has a small but important role as Alberto Falcone, the drug-addicted – and drug-pushing – son of the crime boss.

final thought

Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb in Max’s ‘The Penguin’. Photo: Courtesy of Max.

‘The Penguin’ won’t win many awards for originality in its crime story, but it’s at least watchable and certainly not a waste of its original cast. It doesn’t always live up to the movies.

Eagle-eyed fans of the ‘Batman’ franchise as a whole, meanwhile, will notice subtle nods to actors who have played the Penguin on TV and in film –– note two specific Gotham storefronts.

‘The Penguin’ received 6.5 out of 10 stars.

“The city shall be his.”

TV-MA1 seasonSeptember 19, 2024

Witness the Penguin’s rise to power in Gotham’s criminal underworld after the Riddler murders. Read the plot

What is the story of ‘The Penguin’?

The new series is set a week after the events of ‘The Batman’, with the death of crime boss Carmine Falcone and his empire thrown into disarray.

In the movie, Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell), also known as The Penguin, who was formerly Falcone’s lieutenant, tries to fill the power vacuum created by his death. He faces off against rival factions as he asserts his authority.

But he faces a major challenge from those Falcone has left in charge of his operation, and in particular Sofia Falcone (Christine Miliati), recently released from Arkham Asylum.