The Penguin is the spiritual Sopranos sequel we didn’t know we needed
As a fan who grew up with Batman comics and movies, I must say that Colin Farrell’s portrayal of The Penguin in this new HBO series has been nothing short of a revelation. It’s like watching Tony Soprano dive into the sewers of Gotham City!
When Colin Farrell initially donned the silicone blubber suit for The Penguin in the 2022 Batman film, we wouldn’t have foreseen the clandestine Sopranos follow-up that was soon to unfold.
In my perspective, the character Oswald Cobblepot underwent a remarkable transformation from Danny DeVito’s small, cawing, and greasy gothic antagonist in Batman Returns, into a scarred, limping fellow with a thick New York accent. What truly piqued my interest was the emergence of a strong Tony Soprano-esque persona within this revamped character.
He flips effortlessly from convivial conversations about slushies, family, and fine wine to pushing people into graves, double-crossing and shooting point blank. Farrell’s Penguin even has a difficult relationship with his mother, who wants him to step up to take over Gotham and brutally withdraws her affection when his attempts don’t quite work out.
Opting for a narrative style similar to “The Sopranos” proves sensible in terms of both theme and viewership data: consistently ranking as HBO’s most-viewed series, it continues to dominate the charts seventeen years following its final episode.
The portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot’s character as slick, cunning, yet somewhat endearing, creates an ambiguous emotional response towards him. This ambiguity is particularly noticeable in his dynamic with Victor (played by Rhenzy Feliz), a delicate teenager who becomes both a chauffeur and a secretary in his gang.
In addition, Victor struggles with a stutter, lending authenticity and depth to his character. It’s uncommon for dramatic productions to feature characters with speech impairments, making this portrayal both intriguing and forward-thinking within the show.
Through their shared understanding born from similar struggles, such as a clubfoot, the penguins form a bond, as explained by showrunner Lauren LeFranc; this connection is silent yet profound, reflecting their mutual empathy derived from their past encounters.
The series doesn’t delve into the same depths of morally ambiguous actions as “Breaking Bad,” yet it effectively portrays the main antagonist as a struggling, intriguing figure who often evokes sympathy. You find yourself cheering him on as he strives for power and manages to escape dangerous predicaments by the skin of his teeth.
The story in “The Penguin” unfolds a week after the incidents depicted in “The Batman”, and remnants of those events are palpable throughout, with Gotham news outlets reporting on the floods instigated by The Riddler, and his supporters persistently propagating his ideology on public transport.
The film’s major occurrences are seamlessly integrated with the daily lives of ordinary characters, creating a connection between them and Oswald’s environment.
I’m thrilled to say that the central performances are all captivating, particularly Cristin Milioti from “How I Met Your Mother” as Sofia Falcon, Rhenzy Feliz from “Marvel Runaways” as Victor Aguilar, and none other than Colin Farrell. Plus, Clancy Brown is intriguingly cast as Salvatore Maroni, who will forever hold a special place in our minds as Mr. Krabs from “SpongeBob.
Essentially, The Penguin’s series often comes close to greatness, boasting captivating performances and solid storytelling. However, it occasionally falters into less engaging gangster politics, and the Arkham sequences seem more akin to comic book fantasy than the gritty realism the show aims for elsewhere.
Despite its strong appeal for binge-watching, “The Penguin” maintains an engaging quality, but may not sustain the same level of intense weekly tension as “The Sopranos.” While it may not reach the same creative peaks as “The Sopranos,” it offers additional layers of depth for fans of “The Batman” movies, and hints at potential developments for “The Batman: Part 2.
However, much like the progression of Oswald Cobblepot’s character, The Penguin, this series manages to thrive without Batman, a fortunate aspect that many Gotham City-based shows have lacked in their past productions.
The Penguin will debut on Max in the US on September 19, and NOW and Sky Atlantic in the UK on September 20.
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2024-09-12 19:19