'The Penguin' Season 1 Episode 1 Spoiler-Free Review

Sep 24

DC’s newest series has hit HBO Max, and it is the best series they have released in decades. I am a huge fan of Batman, and Matt Reeves’ The Batman is not only my favorite Batman film, but it is also one of my favorite films of all time. The Penguin is a masterclass of acting, costuming, writing, and directing. So far, we only have the pilot episode, and I can already tell that this is going to be one of the most successful series in the last few years. Warning: Contains spoilers for The Batman!!

The Penguin takes place immediately following the events of The Batman, so if you haven’t seen that film, I recommend you watch it before you start the miniseries. The show follows Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, as he tries to figure out where he belongs within the crumbling organized crime syndicate of Gotham. Oz has a bag of tricks that have always worked for him, but when the people he typically serves are gone and their replacements are aware of his tricks, he is forced to make a choice. Does he continue to serve, or does he take over the city and rule it himself?

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The pilot episode is structured with such precision that it left no question when the credits began to roll. The episode starts with Oz looking out at Gotham as a news program plays in the background. The program recaps the devastating events of The Batman and discusses what Carmine Falcone’s death will mean for the crime families of Gotham. I really appreciated having a quick recap at the beginning of the episode since it has been a year since I watched the film. We then follow Oz as he gathers evidence hidden at Falcone’s club and is then forced to take out someone who will turn his life upside down. The pilot does a great job of introducing us to all of the major players and what role they play, and it shows us just how brilliant and cunning Oz is.

There is so much greatness in this first episode! The costuming department deserves a raise for how they crafted Colin Farrell’s Penguin suit. He is completely unrecognizable in the role, but there is also a moment where we get to see why he walks the way he does, and the effects are flawless. The acting in this show is better than any acting I have seen on the big or small screen in a very long time. Farrell delivers one of the best performances of his career in this role, and I cannot wait to see him sweep the award circuit! Cristin Milioti plays Sofia Falcone, who is a brand-new character to most Batman fans. She is terrifying and sexy but also the most intimidating female character we have seen in DC. I cannot wait to learn more about her character. While the acting and costuming are what stood out the most, the directing and writing of this episode made it feel like a movie rather than a show.

All-new episodes of The Penguin are out every Sunday at 9 pm Eastern on Max.

Rating: 10/10

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