It’s hard to deny that DC Studios and its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is in its flop era. The last two years have been a steady stream of box office disappointments from a dying cinematic universe, a Video Game failure in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and most recently the critical and box office disaster Joker: Folie a Deux. in the midst of DC’s darkest hour, however, on the eve of the studio’s much needed reboot and rebranding, DC Studios has found a much needed streaming hit to restore some faith in the studio in The Penguin.
A spinoff of Matt Reeves grounded and gritty The Batman, The Penguin follows the rise of Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb in the power vacuum created by the death of the city’s top mafioso, Carmine Falcone. While Gotham City recovers from Riddler’s devastating terrorist attacks, the Penguin graduates from a loudmouthed hobbling henchman to a cold blooded crime lord, making devious enemies in the ruthless Maroni family, and “The Hangman” herself, Sofia Falcone. Across 8 pulse pounding episodes, bodies drop, alliances are forged and broken, and a winding road of twists and turns flip the story and its characters on their head on a regular basis, all culminating in a shocking finale that sets the stage for The Batman’s upcoming sequel, set for release in 2026.
Like The Batman, the Gotham that The Penguin inhabits is grim and gritty, approaching the universe with a level of realism rarely seen in a comic book adaptation. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc stays true to this vision, and the epic crime saga she weaves outdoes its host film. With expertly crafted dialogue, powerhouse performances, and strong cinematography and effects, The Penguin could easily have been “The Sopranos in Gotham,” but instead elevates itself to become DC’s strongest live action showing in years.
Colin Farrell, hot off his Oscar nominated hit The Banshees of Insiherin, anchors the miniseries with an intense and unpredictable performance as the gangster, Oz Cobb. This performance immediately surprises, adding layers of weight and gravitas to a character that until now has been presented in the Matt Reeves universe as an over the top comic relief character. The Penguin we come to know in this miniseries is cold blooded and cunning, a schemer willing to cut anyone or anything loose for a chance to get ahead in the game. When he catches wind of a promising new party drug, his psychopathic plotting goes into overdrive. All the while, Farrell’s layered performance is delivered through a thick layer of incredible prosthetics that make him look completely unrecognizable in the role.
Farrell’s performance finds an equally strong counterweight in Cristin Milotti’s Sofia Falcone, the daughter of the deceased don who finds herself on a warpath of vengeance against Cobb as she seizes control of her chaotic, backstabbing crime family. A character as sympathetic as she is devious, Falcone, later Gigante, is a mobster with as many layers as a delicious lasagna, and Milotti’s portrayal is as magnetic as it is disturbing. Episode 4, “Centanni,” particularly stands out, flipping everything the audience knows about her character on its head, leaving the viewer unsure as to who to root for in the power struggle for Gotham’s criminal underworld.
This epic power struggle is viewed partially through the lens of Victor Aguilar, a teen left homeless and orphaned by Riddler’s attack who is taken under the Penguin’s wing, becoming sucked into Cobb’s twisted, bloodthirsty world. Up and comer Rhenzy Feliz delivers a subtle, layered performance as Farrell’s conflicted sidekick, quickly and easily becoming the heart of a show full of cold, ruthless psychopaths that audiences will quickly take to.
The cast is rounded out with a variety of strong performances from its ensemble. Veteran character actor Clancy Brown, perhaps most famous for his 25 year tenure as Spongebob Squarepants’ skinflint boss, Mr. Krabs, delivers a menacing performance that takes full advantage of his powerful voice and imposing 6’3” figure as the fugitive crime lord, Salvatore Maroni. Meanwhile, Dierdre O’Connell gives one of the show’s most gut wrenching performances as Oz’s manipulative mother, Francis, whose struggle with Parkinsons and dementia is depicted with brutal realism. As her mind and body spiral out of her control, her complex relationship with her son undergoes a series of shocking twists and turns as dark, long kept secrets are brought to light through Sofia Falcone’s revenge driven machinations.
A much needed hit after a long string of duds and misfires, The Penguin is a breath of fresh air (as fresh as air in Gotham can be anyway) for longtime fans of the DC Universe. Dripping with atmosphere and packed full of masterfully written dialogue, with more than enough brutality and spectacle to keep things interesting, The Penguin delivers audiences what HBO has always done best: a gritty and thrilling crime drama with a strong cast of memorable characters. With all eight episodes streaming on Max, This miniseries is a must watch for fans looking for just the right fix to tide them over while they wait for The Batman 2, or just for something to restore some faith in DC Studios as they prepare their next slate of releases.
