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Writer's pictureAntal Bokor

The Penguin Episode 1 Review




Batman always had the coolest villains. I think that’s been one of the reasons the World’s Greatest Detective has stayed in popular culture for so long. The villains are so cool, in fact, they’re starting to branch out into their own films and tv shows. 


The Post-DCEU might be a little confusing but all you need to know going into The Penguin is that its a spin-off of Matt Reeves’ The Batman starring Robert Pattison, all gravelly and grimacing under the cowl. The Penguin takes place a week after the events of that film, meaning large parts of Gotham are still recovering from The Riddler destroying Gotham’s sea wall, flooding much of the poor parts of the city.


In The Penguin Colin Farrell dons loads of prosthetics to transform into Oswald “Oz” Cobb, up and coming mob boss with a foot deformity and a tendency towards violence. The Penguin takes place after the events of The Batman: Carmine Falcone is dead, leaving Alberto Falcone in charge of the Falcone crime family. Ever aspirational, Oz Cobb sets in motion events that may see The Penguin realize his true ambitions and become a feared mob boss.




Colin Farrell is fantastic as the Penguin who is still trying to find his way in crime-filled Gotham. The first episode doesn’t exactly make the viewer sympathetic to Cobb’s plight, but it definitely lets the audience in on what type of man Oz Cobb is, and what motivates him, as well as opening up hints at his earlier life. It turns out Oz Cobb is a bit of a dirt bag with a predilection towards violent resolutions, which is hardly a revelation.


I found myself wondering why this show existed at all. Sure, it helps flesh out the universe of The Batman, but it’s just a gangster show dressed up as a comics show. There’s nothing in the first episode that makes it feel necessary, or even makes it stand out amongst other mob-centric media. There isn’t even a mention of Batman as Penguin sets in motion plans to take down two of Gotham’s biggest crime families. 


It feels like The Penguin is a show that is heralding a new TV era. One where IPs are milked for stories within stories rather than fresh ideas given the chance to shine. It’s not like The Penguin is bad tv, but the first episode left me wondering what the point of all of it is. 





Maybe the point will be made clear as the season goes on. I’m definitely going to be looking forward to seeing Colin Farrell's rise to kingpin status. The first episode of The Penguin is a solid start to the series. Colin Farrell delivers a fantastic performance as the titular character, and the show does a good job of fleshing out the world of The Batman. However, I can’t shake the feeling that this is all a bit unnecessary. Hopefully, future episodes will provide more answers and make the show feel essential.


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