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There are countless ways to begin this review, yet no cliche opener could truly capture what follows. “The Penguin” continues where 2022’s “The Batman” left off; Gotham is in ruins and mob leader Carmine Falcone is gone, leaving a power vacuum in Gotham’s criminal underworld.
Enter Oswald “Oz” Cobb (Colin Farrell), Carmine’s sleazy henchman who sees an opportunity to make a name for himself. He recruits Victor ‘Vic’ Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz) as his Robin in the war for boss of the underworld. However, he faces competition in the form of Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown) — who is currently imprisoned but no less lethal — and the remaining Falcone family members. Lurking in the background is Sofia Falcone (Cristina Milioti), also known as “The Hangman” for reportedly strangling several women before spending years in Arkham Asylum. Spanning eight glorious episodes, Oz backstabs his way to the top, failing upwards much to the dismay of everyone else.
Given that the show is set in Gotham City, one might expect at least a brief cameo from Robert Pattinson’s brooding Batman — but that’s not the case. While this may disappoint some, the decision to exclude Batman was a brilliant one. Rather than feeling like a Batman-centric crime story, the show transforms into a gritty gangster crime drama with subtle nods to “The Batman.”
“The Penguin” slots itself perfectly into the same tone as “The Sopranos,” following a morally wretched man as he tries to fight his way to the top of the crime family. Farrell (wow, someone needs to give that makeup team a raise) does a phenomenal job of humanizing Oz to the audience. The Penguin is and always will be a villain, but the first four episodes reveal a more compassionate side of him that almost convinces the viewer he might mean what he says. Of course, he doesn’t, he never does, but there are fleeting moments where a small doubt lingers, making us question if he might actually keep his word. His concern for his mother early on makes him a sympathetic character, which makes the twist later in the season that much better. “The Penguin” gives us a redemption arc in reverse, as Oz’s seemingly caring nature slowly fades away the closer he gets to controlling organized crime in Gotham.
The real star of the show (if you disagree, go watch “Cent’anni” again) is Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone. “The Hangman” is feared upon her release at the beginning of the season, and with good reason. Sofia is reportedly unhinged and the stint in Arkham definitely couldn’t have helped. The first three episodes maintain this impression of her as a dangerous and crazed woman who Oz should be careful doing business with, but the fourth episode “Cent’anni,” changes not only her character but the entire tone of the show. Sofia Falcone transforms into Sofia Gigante, and with this name change comes a truly remarkable performance from Milioti. Her portrayal of Sofia departs from the familiar narrative found in countless Batman comics, and this shift proves to be a game-changer. You find yourself rooting for her at every turn, even as Oz stumbles his way toward the top.
Any review of this show would be remiss not to mention Francis Cobb (Deirdre O’Connell), Vic and Oz’s ailing mother, especially as she and Vic both fall victim to Oz’s relentless obsession with being taken seriously. Vic gets taken in by Oz after attempting to steal his hubcaps, talking his way out of an unceremonious death at Oz’s hands. As the show progresses, Vic — whose entire family and sense of community was destroyed when the Riddler flooded Gotham — devotes himself to Oz. Instead of being Robin to Oz’s Batman, he unfortunately resembles Christoper Moltisanti’s twisted relationship with Tony Soprano. He believes in Oz and the sweet lies he is being fed, making his turn towards crime heartbreaking to watch as his faith in Oz never wanes.
Francis Cobb also plays a huge role in Oz’s life, as every move he makes is done to gain her approval and validation. His whole motivation to take control of Gotham’s crime scene is so he can take care of her and give her the riches she never got. While the final episode doesn’t give her the ending she deserves, Francis still has a significant impact on the story.
As Oz spends eight episodes proving, you should never underestimate “The Penguin.” There may be no Batman or Commissioner Gordon to save the day, but this show proves that neither is needed to tell a riveting story. The plot grabs you by your Bat-Ears from the start and refuses to let go the entire season. Farrell is able to break through the mountain of makeup covering him to show a truly evil Oz, but nothing can compare to Milioti’s gut-wrenching Sofia Falcone. While Gotham still needs Batman, audiences need more of “The Penguin.”