I’ve been over most superhero stuff for more than a decade now, so I’ve automatically tuned out any developments or new releases. But some pretty glowing words came from a very trusted source about HBO’s The Penguin, so I gave it a look. Holy monkey, dear reader…you need to check this show out.
If, like me, you’ve grown tired of the formulaic predictability of superhero shows, good news here: this isn’t some sugar-coated sideshow where villains mug for the camera and fall into vats of toxic chemicals as part of their villain origin arcs. The Gotham here is perfectly realistic and this story is much more mafia crime drama than it is comic book camp. The visual style is pure sickness. Industrial decay meets neon sleaze. Everything in this show feels like it has been marinading in crime, desperation, and a vat of stale whiskey for the last decade.
The beauty here is that this show smartly plucks the Penguin from the sidelines and unapologetically puts him center stage. It’s not a Batman story with a bit of Penguin on the side – this is Penguin’s turf. It’s his Gotham. Sure, there are a few nods to the larger Bat-verse, but only just enough to make the fanboys nod approvingly. But if you’re afraid you’re going to be buried under Easter eggs or “wink-wink” moments, don’t be. The focus is Cobblepot’s climb up the slimy Gotham ladder, rung by slippery rung.
The acting across the board is brilliant. I will admit when I saw Colin Farrell had been cast as the Penguin, I rolled my eyes. Dude’s an okay actor, but he’s such a pretty boy…it was a surprising choice, I thought…certainly not who I’d think of for this role. Thank God it wasn’t up to me, because Colin Farrell is amazing. He is totally unrecognizable, both physically and emotionally, as he becomes Oswald Cobblepot. Every scene he’s in is a masterclass on how to lose your mind while gaining power. His Penguin is part gangster, part Shakespearean tragedy, and 100% chaos agent. He conveys so much with a guttural grunt or a sidelong glare…it’s truly frightening. And that voice? It’s like gravel fighting its way uphill. And when it laughs, you know someone’s about to get real unlucky. Nobody else could have pulled off this role so successfully.
Standing O for Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone. She walks the line between sexy and batshit crazy about as well as it can be walked. Her character isn’t just window dressing either – she’s a perfect storm of ambition, calculated moves, and unexpected vulnerability that keeps you guessing at all times.
What truly sets the show apart from other comic book tripe is the storytelling. It’s not just a crime series; it’s a well-paced, dark, and surprisingly human tale about ambition and the cost of it. The writing lets us understand, hate, and often sympathize with Oz as he tears his way up Gotham’s crime chain. The character development is relentless. Every deal he makes, every betrayal he commits is layered and compelling. There are twists, of course. Some will make you gasp, and others will leave you cussing at your TV. But you probably won’t be able to look away. The show tackles its themes of power, betrayal, and survival without a single contrived lecture to weigh it down.
Whether you’re a Batman obsessive or couldn’t care less about which billionaire is patrolling rooftops, The Penguin has something for you. It makes you root for a psychopath. It makes you grimace and laugh in the same breath. And it will leave you hungry for season 2.
N.P.: “Caca de Kick” – Fukushima Twins
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