The Penguin is big, bold, intimate and exciting (SPOILER-free series review)

As a longtime admirer of the gritty drama genre and an ardent fan of both The Sopranos and Batman, I must say that The Penguin has managed to captivate me with its unique blend of gangster realism and superhero flair.

On the morrow, HBO releases the premiere of “The Penguin,” a fresh miniseries featuring one of Batman’s top three or four nemeses. The character, Oswald Cobblepot, also known as The Penguin, is portrayed by Colin Farrell again, returning to his role from 2022’s “The Batman.” With copious amounts of prosthetics and makeup, Farrell’s identity is concealed so thoroughly that it may not be recognized until the credits roll or his strikingly dissimilar visage appears in the trailer.

Farrell’s exceptional metamorphosis is nearly eclipsing the main event, but “The Penguin” manages to keep pace admirably. This is an engrossing, swiftly moving crime drama with top-notch acting that seamlessly fits within the broader “Batman” storyline without being bogged down by it. There’s much to appreciate and little to criticize…but I’m certain I can find a few points of contention.

The Penguin spoiler-free review

The success of The Penguin starts and ends with Colin Farrell’s incredible performance. Yes, the layers of makeup are impressive, but I think he would be nearly as powerful if he stepped out of the fatsuit.

As I delve deeper into this gripping game world, I find myself becoming The Penguin – a complex character who’s as slick-talking as a street kid one moment and a tender-hearted momma’s boy the next. He wears his heart on his sleeve, yet he can betray anyone in a heartbeat if it suits him. This enigmatic figure is both hilarious and heartbreaking, dangerous and sympathetic, brutal and vulnerable.

I’ll put it this way: Oz’s intense Newark accent seems over-the-top at times. To be honest, during the series, I seldom thought about Farrell; instead, I only saw Oz. Similarly, Batman didn’t cross my mind much either. When you hear that HBO is producing a show centered around the Penguin, one potential concern might be: why? Why devote an entire TV miniseries to a supporting villain from a film just two years old? However, if they can create a series as impressive as this one, it’s more appropriate to question why not?

In this retelling, “The Penguin” guides Oswald from a minor criminal enforcer to an unanticipated crime lord, all without the intervention of Batman. The narrative is filled with numerous twists and turns, which might be overly abundant at times. The series debut excels in swiftly introducing primary characters and launching them on their unique paths; however, the subsequent episodes may not measure up, as the plot rushes through one twist after another without allowing room for pause or contemplation. Despite being thrilling and fitting for a character like Oz who’s adaptable, I believe an additional episode or two could have added depth to certain aspects of the storyline.

However, I often find an issue with many contemporary TV shows today. The ones considered prestigious are generally given eight episodes per season, leaving productions like “The Penguin” to choose between streamlining the storyline or overloading it. They opted for the latter, and while it’s not ideal, it’s understandable given the constraints.

The Penguin is big, bold, intimate and exciting (SPOILER-free series review)

The Penguin players

As a gamer, I must admit that Farrell’s Penguin truly shines, but it’s Deirdre O’Connell who steals the show as Oswald’s mom, Francis. She delivers an outstanding performance as a resilient working-class mother struggling with worsening dementia. Throughout the series, the writers skillfully unveil more layers of her character, making her a pivotal figure that drives the narrative in the latter half. Indeed, much of the focus and momentum that makes The Penguin so compelling can be attributed to her powerful portrayal.

Rhenzy Feliz turns in a likable performance as Victor Aguilar, a down-on-his-luck kid who joins Oz’s crew early on; he’s our outsider’s perspective on this larger-than-life figure, a useful mirror and sounding board for the Penguin. Even the minor roles are cast with excellent actors: the always-reliable Clancy Brown is crime kingpin Sal Maroni and The Expanse’s Shohreh Aghdashloo plays his wife Nadia. Honestly, they don’t do much with Aghdashloo beyond having her growl out some threats in her famously distinctive voice, but that’s almost enough.

Additionally, we have Cristin Milioti portraying Sofia Falcone, the daughter of the city’s most powerful crime boss and a woman teetering on the edge of insanity, driven by vengeance. Sofia takes a secondary role in the story, though she doesn’t fail to captivate, presenting an exceptional performance that rivals the spectacle of the Penguin himself.

The Sopranos meets superheroes

That brings up a point I’d like to discuss: so The Penguin is a Batman spinoff show, but it’s also trying to be grounded in reality to the point where we forget it has anything to do with Batman. The Penguin has drawn comparisons to The Sopranos, a slice-of-life drama that just happens to be about a gangster. And that element is there, but sooner or later, The Penguin has to get back to the business of being a superhero spinoff; there are some explosive twists that feel more like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster than out of The Sopranos, Breaking Bad or Mad Men. The innovation of The Penguin is to combine the DNA of those antihero prestige shows with the last decade-and-a-half of superhero cinema. The results are very entertaining, if less thoughtful and substantive.

Sofia Falcone exudes an over-the-top charisma on the show, reminiscent of a larger-than-life character. In contrast to The Penguin, who is a villain in Batman’s world, Sofia Falcone can be seen as his counterpart or even his own villain. While The Penguin’s past is marked by quiet tragedy, hers is filled with more theatrical drama. Instead of dressing like a modern-day criminal, she adorns herself in attire reminiscent of a Mafia figure from a graphic novel, sporting lavish furs and form-fitting gowns; this show, along with “Joker: Folie à Deux,” offers DC fans an abundance of intriguing costume choices for Halloween.

There’s a slight disagreement between these two surveys: one portrays gritty gangster life on one side and lavish villain extravagance on the other, but it’s not significant. Cristin Milioti delivers an engaging, multidimensional performance that prevents Sofia from veering off course. Although I found Oz more intriguing as a main character, her larger-than-life persona is enjoyable, particularly in later scenes. However, she represents the fact that The Penguin struggles to fully achieve its aim of realism. Ultimately, it belongs to a superhero series, so it must establish the next film and provide excitement.

Primarily, The Penguin serves as a double treat – it’s both a thrilling spectacle akin to superheroes and an introspective drama focusing on troubled individuals seeking to mend their broken hearts. I anticipate it will achieve great success.

Series Grade: A-

2024-09-18 15:41