Colin Farrell needs to clear space on the shelf for an Emmy. His second turn as Oswald Cobb in HBO’s upcoming The Penguin limited series is nothing short of extraordinary. Farrell, completely unrecognizable under a mountain of prosthetics and makeup, leads a phenomenal ensemble cast in a gritty, violent, and psychologically disturbing gangster epic. There’s no Caped Crusader or costumed vigilantes here. The Penguin continues The Batman’s storyline but is more akin to Scarface and King of New York, where deeply wounded characters battle for criminal supremacy in a Gotham City wracked by devastation and economic inequality.
Catch Up with Carmine and All the Crime
Oz (Farrell) walks into the shuttered Iceberg Lounge a short time after Riddler’s minions destroyed Gotham’s sea wall and flooded the impoverished, low-lying boroughs. He carries a sledgehammer for an important purpose. The death of Carmine Falcone has left an underworld vacuum. Rival gangs sense a golden opportunity with Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown) in Blackgate Penitentiary. But the Falcone family still runs the Drops drug trade and owns an army of crooked cops, politicians, and judges. They’re sure to reorganize once the dust settles.
Carmine’s brother, Luca (Scott Cohen), now sits at the head of the table with the underboss, Johnny Viti (Michael Kelly), at his side. But Carmine’s children are also players in the family game. His drug using son, Alberto (Michael Zegen), wants to make his presence felt. He’s largely discounted as a fool, but has an ally in Sofia (Cristin Milioti), his older sister and a feared psychopath who’s recently been released from Arkham Asylum. She’s the proverbial black sheep, an embarrassment to Luca, and an unknown commodity. How will she react to her father’s loss?
Oz ambles through the club towards his goal with fierce determination. He’s tired of being a Falcone lapdog, eating their scraps, and demeaning insults. His mother taught him to take what he deserved. It’s now his chance to prove her faith in him. But Oz isn’t the only person aware of Carmine’s hidden secrets. Another opportunist has the same idea and plans for greatness.
Oz Senses an Opportunity
The Penguin gets down to its cutthroat business early in a banner premiere. Key characters and the overall series arc get introduced fairly quickly. Oz wants the whole pie and is willing to play dirty to get it. But duplicity on this mammoth scale isn’t a one-man job. Oz needs allies and finds an unlikely sidekick in Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz), a shy young man with a stuttering problem reeling in the aftermath of Riddler’s attack.
The relationship between Oz and Vic is central to the narrative and evolves considerably from their first encounter. Vic isn’t a hardened criminal, but a desperate youth trying to survive in a savaged Gotham City. Oz sees the same scorn he suffered as a poor kid with a clubbed foot and limited options. He idolized the tough and ruthless who took whatever they wanted from uncaring elites. Vic gets brutal lessons from a fierce mentor.
Harsh Lessons
The Penguin’s blockbuster production values are integral to its harsh realism (and production designer Kalina Ivanov, in particular, does a great job). We see destroyed neighborhoods overrun by forlorn denizens, whose desperation is fertile ground for drug dealers selling a narcotic escape. Oz, and others of his ilk, battle to capitalize on suffering. This is an acknowledged dark theme that illustrates how the worst case scenario can be extremely lucrative for predators.
Farrell’s incredibly physical performance cannot be understated. The superb makeup, fat suit, and wardrobe design only achieve the look of his character. Oz waddles around, wincing in pain as his foot brace is evident in almost every scene. Farrell convincingly portrays a man living with a significant disability, but he’s also strong and utterly merciless when needed. Oz will put a bullet in your head to forward his agenda. He’s villainous to the core and crushes enemies with impunity.
Sofia’s journey can’t be discussed in detail without spoilers, but Milioti’s absolutely amazing and will also be in awards contention. The Falcone legacy and Sofia’s place in it is a major subplot. It’s ugly and terrifying at times, with an entire episode devoted to her twisted backstory. Your opinion of Sofia will change as her dark secrets are revealed. Milioti, who has been one of the most underrated actors of recent years (something sure to change after this), almost steals the show from Farrell. She’s a badass in her own right and truly formidable.
Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone
The Penguin does run long over its eight-episode arc. Showrunner and writer Lauren LeFranc (Chuck, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) gives every character time to shine. This largely works in the riveting first five episodes, but loses steam once the endgame is in sight. Most episodes are over or near an hour, so there’s a lot going on. The series could have been leaner with six episodes and less focus on some of the smaller speaking parts.
The Penguin earns its TV-MA rating and isn’t remotely for children. The body count stacks up quickly with drug use, foul language, and graphic imagery rampant throughout. There are also Easter eggs aplenty for keen-eyed viewers. The soundtrack also rocks with ’80s classics and a smattering of Dolly Parton. Who could have guessed the Penguin was such a big fan?
The Penguin is a production of 6th & Idaho, DC Studios, Dylan Clark Productions, and Warner Bros. Television. It premieres September 19th on HBO and Max. You can watch through the link below.
Watch The Penguin
