Following the events of The Batman (2022), Oz Cobb, a.k.a. the Penguin, makes a play to seize the reins of the crime world in Gotham.
Let’s talk about “The Penguin.” No, not the tuxedo-wearing bird that waddles around on ice but Oz Cobb—Gotham’s waddling menace with a penchant for crime, cigars, and unchecked ambition. This isn’t your granddad’s Batman villain. You won’t find any cheesy, campy quips here. This is a darker, grittier Gotham, where the only thing sharper than the Penguin’s beak is his knife—and maybe Colin Farrell’s razor-sharp performance.
We’re picking up right where The Batman (2022) movie left off. Oz, aka the Penguin, is making his move to the top of Gotham’s food chain, and it’s not because he’s got the best fish in town. He’s got his sights on taking over, and he’s bringing all the mobster vibes we’ve been missing since Scorsese got into podcasting. You think Oz is just gonna sit in his iceberg lounge and feed fish to the goons? Think again. This is Scarface meets Gotham, but with less pastel and more rain.
The Cast: It’s Not Just Colin Farrell (But, Let’s Be Honest, It Kind of Is)**
First, let’s give a slow clap for Colin Farrell, who’s buried under enough prosthetics to make him look like he’s auditioning for “Undercover Boss: Gotham Edition.” Yet, through all that latex, Farrell gives us a Penguin that’s more compelling than any villain DC has offered since Ledger’s Joker. And trust me, we’ve seen a lot of villains come and go in Gotham, some scarier than others (looking at you, Jared Leto).
Joining Colin is Cristin Milioti—aka the Mother from How I Met Your Mother, only this time she’s not here to bring us feels. She’s here to bring us pain, intrigue, and probably a body count. Then there’s Rhenzy Feliz, who plays some grifter kid with the kind of naiveté that only exists in Hollywood. No crime ties, no real street cred, just a kid who wants to play with the big boys. Hey, it’s Gotham, not summer camp.
And did I mention Clancy Brown? This guy is like the bacon of actors. He makes everything better. Put him in anything, and suddenly, it's more intense, more interesting, and slightly more murderous. Brown plays Salvatore Maroni, a mob boss who makes every room he's in feel like a deleted scene from Goodfellas. He's got this quiet menace about him, like he might kill you or maybe just stare at you until you wish you were dead. Either way, it’s riveting.
What I Liked: It’s Not a Bat-Signal; It’s a Mobster Beacon
One of the great things about “The Penguin” is that it’s not trying to be a superhero show. It’s for grown-ups, you know, those of us who don’t wear capes and have jobs that don’t involve swinging from buildings. This is a true mobster story, soaked in cigarette smoke and urban decay. Gotham’s as grimy as ever, and it’s beautiful. It’s like the city itself is one of those old diners—greasy, run-down, and a little bit dangerous, but you keep coming back because there’s nowhere else quite like it.
The scenes are intense. The kind of intensity you won’t find in any of those 60’s Batman reruns where Adam West looks like he’s more concerned about his tights than crime. This is Gotham turned up to 11. In one particularly brutal moment, Oz sneers at the handicapped seats on a train—a subtle, blink-and-you-miss-it moment that shows his disdain for weakness. It’s these little storytelling gems that make the show stand out. Nothing’s spoon-fed here; you’re expected to keep up, and that’s refreshing.
And speaking of things I didn’t expect—remember Farrell’s fight to have the Penguin smoke in The Batman? Yeah, they said no. But in his own series? Oh, baby, he’s puffing away like he’s in a Bogart film. Sometimes it’s the small victories that count, and nothing says “I’m a mob boss” quite like chomping on a cigar in the middle of a gunfight.
What I Didn’t Like: The Pace, the Writing, and a Wannabe Thief
If there’s one thing that could use a bit of a bump, it’s the pace. It’s like the writers took a page out of the Penguin’s playbook—slow, methodical, but sometimes a bit too much of the “slow.” Look, I love a slow burn, but at times this thing feels like it’s been left on low simmer since 2022. It’s early days, though, so I’m holding out hope that the show finds its rhythm soon.
The writing is… let’s call it a work in progress. Some of it sings, like those moments where Oz just radiates menace, but then there are the parts that feel like they were written by the intern who just watched The Sopranos for the first time. Also, it’s clear that not everyone is on Colin’s level yet. This cast is talented, no doubt, but when you’re sharing the screen with Farrell, it’s like watching a high school band open for Led Zeppelin.
And let’s talk about this kid, Rhenzy Feliz’s character. So we’ve got a seasoned gangster in Oz, and what does he do? He starts mentoring this semi-wannabe thief with no crime family connections. It’s like Oz is trying to turn the JV squad into the starting lineup. Would a real gangster take this kid under his wing? Doubtful. But hey, it’s Gotham; stranger things have happened—like a guy in a batsuit punching clowns for a living.
Easter Eggs Galore: Because What’s Gotham Without a Little Fan Service?
Matt Reeves, the man who gave us emo Batman, also decided to sprinkle in some of his scrapped Gotham P.D. ideas into this series. A nice touch, but it does make you wonder what else is hiding in those Batman vaults. There’s also the cheeky nods to past Penguin actors with “Burgess Jewelry” and “Danny’s Roofing Company” popping up around town. If you know, you know. If you don’t, Google it and then pat yourself on the back for doing the homework.
The showrunner, Lauren LeFranc, said in an interview that this show is like De Palma’s Scarface but set in Gotham. Let me tell you, when she says that, she’s not lying. Oz isn’t dealing drugs out of Miami; he’s dealing power out of Gotham, but the vibe is there. We’re watching a rise to power that’s dirty, bloody, and anything but honorable. It’s not just a crime show; it’s a psychological character study of a man who’s more than just a villain—he’s Gotham’s most dangerous bird, and no, we’re not talking about the city’s pigeons.
Ranking: 8.5/10
It’s got loads of potential, it’s got Farrell, and it’s got enough mobster vibes to make you feel like you need a shower afterward. But it’s not quite perfect yet. Still, it’s early, and this bird’s just learning to fly.
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