DC is having a quieter year than usual, somewhat to separate the old DCEU franchise from the new DCU under James Gunn and Peter Safran, which is set to launch with Creature Commandos this December and will then be followed by Superman in July 2025. One universe within the DC umbrella that is still slowly growing, though, is that of Matt Reeves’ The Batman. HBO’s The Penguin is the first expansion in this franchise, now being marketed as “The Batman Epic Crime Saga,” focusing on a story that doesn’t at all feature Robert Pattinson’s caped crusader. With production temporarily halted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year, The Penguin suffered delays just like The Batman did in its production during the pandemic. Nonetheless, Colin Farrell’s return as the fan-favorite titular villain is here, but is this HBO original series worth the long wait that fans have endured?
The Penguin picks up mere days after the events of The Batman. The streets are in chaos in the aftermath of Gotham City being flooded by The Riddler (Paul Dano). Additionally, Gotham’s criminal underworld is in a very unique place following the death of Carmine Falcone (John Turturro). The city’s vulnerable state breeds opportunity for someone like Oz Cobb. However, as he prepares to make his way up the criminal ladder, Oz faces an unexpected obstacle in the form of Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti). And so begins a gripping crime thriller series full of betrayal, heartbreak, and monstrous evil.
Showrunner Lauren LeFranc (Impulse, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) makes it clear from the beginning that no matter who you’re rooting for to come out on top in The Penguin, evil will be triumphant. Moreover, Batman will not be able to stop it. LeFranc puts on a perfect display of character writing throughout the entire HBO series, where you’ll grow attached to someone like Oz and be made to sympathize with him. But as you start to really root for him, Oz will do something so sinister that you will feel betrayed for wanting him to win this criminal war. The Penguin series is punishing in the best way possible, as the audience is forced to go through an arduous emotional journey where their own morals are tested.
No show would work without masterclass performances. Across the board, The Penguin brings some of the most incredible television acting of 2024. Colin Farrell delivers an immersive, career-best performance as the titular Batman foe. What we saw of him in The Batman barely scratches the surface of his character and what makes him tick. From emotional scenes shared with Oz’s mother to showcasing manipulative methods to outdo his enemies, Farrell further fleshes out a one-of-a-kind interpretation that stands as one of the greatest villains ever seen in a comic book movie or TV series. He takes the already stellar writing of Lauren LeFranc and her writer’s room and makes it even stronger. It truly feels like Farrell puts his heart and soul into making the audience sympathize and care about Oz right before ripping that straight back by performing a slew of unspeakable acts.
Cristin Milioti (How I Met Your Mother, Made for Love) takes on the role of Sofia Falcone, one of the surviving members of the Falcone crime family who is now released early from prison. Having served over 10 years in Arkham Asylum, Sofia is feared by some, like a force of nature, while others view her as an odd lunatic who should be pushed aside to let the men run Falcone family matters. Like Colin Farrell, Milioti turns in a new career-highlighting performance as Sofia Falcone. It’s tragic to see how Milioti portrays a woman who has high hopes to ensure the legacy of her family but, deep down, is severely broken by her past 10 years spent in Arkham.
The dynamic between Sofia and Oz is electric, and their journey as competitors is one of the most memorable aspects of The Penguin. Above all else, the duo keeps you emotionally invested every step of the way. In fact, Milioti’s Sofia Falcone often steals the whole show, and it will be no surprise to see her become an instant fan favorite. Regarding fan favorites, Vic Aguilar is an original character created for The Penguin, played by Rhenzy Feliz, who starred in Marvel’s Runaways on Hulu. Vic Aguilar is an audience surrogate, entering Gotham’s criminal underbelly with Oz as his mentor. Rhenzy Feliz is instantly likable as Vic. He presents himself unlike anyone else in The Penguin, as someone with a kind-hearted soul who was unfortunately pushed into a life of crime and despair. Viewers will undoubtedly root for Vic the most, no matter how many bad decisions he makes.
We’re introduced to Salvatore Maroni for the first time in The Batman universe as well, played by none other than Clancy Brown. It’s unsurprising to say that Brown is a scene-stealer in The Penguin. His intense rivalry with Oz heats up as the HBO show progresses and it’s addicting to watch, thanks to the power of Clancy’s fierce performance. Rounding out the main supporting cast is Deidre O’Connell as Oz’s mother, Francis Cobb, who suffers from dementia. O’Connell brings nuance to a tear-jerking tale of a mother who finally wants to be seen by the world in her last leg of life rather than be stuck at the bottom of Gotham’s lower class. Francis serves not only as a driving force for Oz that will make audiences fall into the trap of rooting for him but also as a reminder of the individuals whom Gotham has failed.
The continued world-building of Gotham City in this universe remains fascinating. The Penguin explores how the events of The Batman have caused more class division than ever before, making this more than just a simple spin-off show. This is not to mention some of the powerful conversations and monologues that shine throughout this series, with credit to the brilliant cast for bringing the writing to life. Fans will be especially pleased by The Penguin as it’s one of the rare modern streaming shows that actually use all hour-long episodes. Plus, none of the 8 episodes for this single season is a slog to get through. If anything, the only complaint to be had is that by the end of the series, you will wish there was more to watch in this universe immediately.
A common issue with any spin-off series can be establishing visual consistency within the franchise. Matt Reeves and the directing team behind The Penguin — which includes Craig Zobel (Mare of Easttown), Jennifer Getzinger (Mad Men), and Helen Shaver (Station Eleven) — depict Gotham City similarly to The Batman but also allow the series to carve out its own visual identity. The biggest surprise is seeing The Penguin looking just like The Batman, stylistically, in the beginning. However, as we slowly fall deeper and deeper into Oz’s criminal empire, a new visual language is born. We now enter parts of Gotham that even Batman may not have visited yet. The Penguin builds upon what people loved about The Batman visually and then, when the time is right, carves its own path.
Put simply, The Penguin is unbeatable when compared to other comic book adaptations on television. While Matt Reeves rightfully deserves credit for producing another home run for DC, Lauren LeFranc and her writer’s room are the true heroes of this story. They combined elements of the comic book genre with those of crime thrillers to make what is easily one of the most outstanding TV series of 2024. Colin Farrell easily places his interpretation of the Penguin into the conversation of the best live-action comic book villains of all time, delivering a layered performance that makes the audience sympathize with him almost every episode before punching you in the heart with a monstrous evil act. The Penguin can be so cruel, brutal, and unforgiving, but that’s why it works terrifically.
The Penguin premieres on September 19 on HBO and Max!
Created by Lauren LeFranc.
Based on characters by Bill Finger & Bob Kane.
Showrunner: Lauren LeFranc.
Executive Producers: Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, Colin Farrell, Lauren LeFranc, Daniel Pipski, Adam Kassan, Craig Zobel, & Bill Carraro.
Main Cast: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, James Madio, Scott Cohen, Michael Zegen, Theo Rossi, Carmen Ejogo, François Chau, David H. Holmes, Craig Walker, Jared Abrahamson, & Mark Strong.
Production Companies: 6th & Idaho, DC Studios, Dylan Clark Productions, & Warner Bros. Television.
Episode Count: 8 (Season One).