Gotham is underwater and with the death of crime syndicate boss, Carmine Falcone, a race to gain control of the power vacuum in Gotham begins. We find Oz Cobb looking to make a name for himself but with the condition of the city, and the various people now hot on his tail, we will see if Penguin can keep his head above water.
Getting the most minuscule negative out of the way, there are a few times the show feels incredibly reminiscent to Soprano’s with some of the things that Oz values, and with some of the run ins with local mob members. Like I said this is such a little thing, but it is under the surface for sure.
I want to give endless amounts of praise to the cast of this show. Colin Farrel is outstanding as the Penguin. So many times, throughout the show, he is a slimy and horrible human being. However, there are moments that make you feel that maybe he isn’t as bad as he seems. Between this and his treatment of those around him, he is a villain you love to hate.
Another cast member who deserves recognition is Rhenzy Feliz as the Penguin’s right-hand man, Victor. This kid is absolutely the heart of this show. While Penguin is off doing the most horrible things, Victor allows the audience to see these situations through more innocent eyes.
A final cast member who deserves recognition is Cristin Milioti as, Sofia “the hang man” Falcone. Unlike the Penguin, when we so Sofia doing downright awful things, you can’t help but route for her. Both in a “come on, you’re better than that”, and in a “damn girl, go off queen” kind of way. Milioti captures heart, betrayal, and ferocity throughout, and as the episodes went on, she became my favorite in the show.
Another really great aspect of this show is the setting in which it takes place. Gotham has been portrayed dozens of times, and honestly it always feels a little too real world for me. It ends up feeling like New York City, or Chicago. This feels like GOTHAM. The Batman did a really awesome job of crafting this setting that feels one of a kind, and throughout Penguin it’s brought even further to life.
All in all, aside from The Boys, this may be the best adaptation pulled from the page put to the television screen so far. This show blows everything that Marvel has put on the television screen out of the water. The character of the Penguin, and everything the show builds is menacing, and intriguing and has me beyond ready for The Batman Part 2. I’m giving The Penguin, a legendary, 10/10. I can’t wait to see where this series goes.
*SPOILER THOUGHT*: I really admire the showrunners choice not to have Batman appear throughout this show. One of my biggest issues with Marvel TV is that it feels like you watch the shows to see who appears at the end. This show told a poignant story, and didn’t need any extras to feel complete. The inclusion of the Bat signal felt the appropriate way to tell the audience that The Batman is aware of the situations unfolding and will be in pursuit.