‘The Penguin’ offers a refreshing take on the iconic character

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Matt Reeves redefined audiences’ expectations for the masked crusader in 2022 with his gritty portrayal of Gotham City’s dark criminal underworld in “The Batman.” Though the film followed Robert Pattinson as the Dark Knight, there was one character in the film that fans seemed to love almost as much: The Penguin.

After the movie, fans wanted more of Oswald “Oz” Cobb, or the Penguin, and waited with bated breath for a series dedicated to him. As of Thursday, the wait is over, and it was more than worth it. “The Penguin” is now streaming on Max, with new episodes every week until November 10th.

“The Penguin” takes place after the events of “The Batman.” In episode one, Gotham is rebuilding after the devastation wrought by the Riddler. However, the city isn’t the only one that has suffered at the hands of the poetic psychopath. The crime scene, specifically the Gotham mafia, is also trying to adjust to a new hierarchy that has emerged after the death of previous acting boss Carmine Falcone.

Falcone is succeeded by his son Alberto, who is young and hungry, but also troubled. Succeeding someone as beloved and respected as Falcone is difficult, but doing so while scarred by a history of addiction and reckless behavior makes it nearly impossible. Cobb recognizes this and seizes the opportunity presented to him to pursue his goal of becoming the sole king of Gotham’s crime scene.

The show is led by a career-defining performance from Colin Farrell as the titular crime tycoon. He is almost unrecognizable as the character, dropping his Irish accent and typically handsome demeanor to play a physically scarred and overweight Italian mafioso.

“The Penguin” is not portrayed in the typical comic book adaptation style. The tone of the show is more in line with shows like “The Sopranos,” as Farrell transforms magnificently into Oz Cobb, much like James Gandolfini transformed into Tony.

The first episode sets an extremely high standard for what is to come. The dialogue is exceptional, the cinematography is gorgeous, and the occasional dose of humor is refreshing, considering how grim “The Batman” was. Farrell does an excellent job of delivering this little bit of humor, delicately walking the line between psychopathy and lightheartedness.

The portrayal of the iconic DC Comics villain is also magnificent, as previous portrayals have made the antagonist seem like a joke. While Danny Devito was great as the Penguin in Tim Burton’s “Batman Returns,” and Robin Lord Taylor did a decent job in the Fox show “Gotham,” the character was consistently disrespected by others. Farrell puts an end to that, as he immediately shows that his Penguin is not someone to be messed with.

While he may be a cunning individual who will do anything to reach the top, the Penguin is still respected and appreciated at the crime scene in Gotham. This is a refreshing take on a character so deeply rooted in the history of Batman’s character.

Farrell is sensational in the role, but he may be outdone by his co-star Cristin Milioti, who plays Sofia Falcone. Sofia, the daughter of Carmine and sister of Alberto, has just returned from her stint in Arkham for her reign as “The Hangman Killer.” From the moment she appears on screen, you can tell that Milioti is fully channeling this character. You can tell by the look in her eyes that she could snap at any moment.

As the episode progresses, her madness becomes more apparent, and it’s a sight to behold as Milioti shifts between calm and madness.

The best thing about Milioti is her natural chemistry with Farrell. The two have a natural rapport and their dialogue and interactions seem effortless. You get the sense that they are really just two old friends with a very decorated past, who now become enemies in the new landscape of Gotham’s crime scene.

If this episode is any indication of the direction of the show, I have extremely high expectations for the rest of the series. Also, with the recent news that Reeves has finished writing the script for “The Batman 2,” it seems like this series will be key to the storyline of the movie.

DC seems to be in a very good position going into 2024 and beyond. After a dismal decade of film and television iterations of its stories, it seems like DC has finally found its feet on the big screen in the modern era.

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