Its been a minute since I have watch a TV Series that made me want to write about it, either they were not good enough or they were bash by other people because its not inline with their thoughts ruining for everyone, its just entertainment. I just watch the first episode of “The Penguin” a few nights ago, it is one crazy show that will wanting more but not in a desperate way, the pace is excellent, its very cinematic, does gives you that Gotham Batman vibes. This new HBO series is a spinoff of Matt Reeves "The Batman" and I am have been very excited ever since I saw the trailer.
Let me get this straight, this show is an offspring of Scarface, The Sopranos and The Batman. It’s got that raw, mafia don feel combined with the ominous undertones that are characteristic of the show, Gotham. The series begins only a week or two after the events of ‘The Batman,’ leaving Gotham still recovering from the Riddler’s attack. We are plunged directly into the midst of things, with newscasts summarizing the carnage and tension and establishing the conflict between the ruling body and the rebels that is about to start.
Platform: MAX
The episode S01E01 is called “After Hours” and develops around the life of one of the many Gotham bad guys, Oz Cobb, better known as the Penguin. Now that Carmine Falcone is gone, there’s a huge power void and everyone is desperate fighting for the position. Oz, being the clever penguin that he is, does not see this as a chance to climb the ladder but grab it, but things are not going to be so easy as he is very impulsive, same reason why everything falls on his hands once he kill Falcone son Alberto after he was called names while they were having a drink. Now everyone is trying to find out where is Alberto and Oz will have to work with Falcone’s daughter, Sofia Falcone who is not so much mentally balanced.
This episode is a thrilling ride as we watch Oz struggle to gain power in the Falcone family and also bury the fact that he had just killed Alberto, Sofia’s brother. It is like watching a battle between two masters of chess where the only difference is that they carry guns and don’t meassure their words as a single wrong move gets you killed. We watch Oz negotiating, bribing the council members and even visit Blackgate Prison to speak with the Sal Maroni who is Falcone's old enemy. It’s a story of power play and survival and it really felt so good to watch everything evolve.
Now that we have touch on the plot and what happen during the episode lets talk a bit about the cast because its fire. Colin Farrell is brilliant in his portrayal of Oz Cobb, he possesses this disposition of a villain and a hero at the same time, which is hard to explain I would say more of a villain because Penguin might help or work with the Police or anyone else as long as its on his best interest and that is not so much heoric, but you find yourself supporting him despite his misdeeds, he is not yet the big guy. How he walks like a penguin in that purple coat and threats to kill people, one of Farrell's best performance. I still could hardly recognize Colin Farrell under the makeup, I could barely take off my eyes from his scar face and golden teeth when ever he was on screen.
Cristin Milioti who plays the role of Sofia Falcone is one strong and wild woman, she also seem to have very cold blood when it comes to family business and has that look in her eyes that you never know when she is going to blow up, got a temper. The chemistry between her and Farrell is very smooth and I am eager to see how their characters will further develop within the series. The rest of the supporting cast is also good, especially Rhenzy Feliz who portrays Victor, Oz’s new apprentice, they have a great chemistry going on there, but I have to say that it felt a bit weak how their relationship started, very vague and cant think of other way it could happen.
As per my observations on social media and as per my friends circle people are just loving this show, fans are enjoying the no holds barred approach to describing and developing Gotham’s criminal environment and how it fits into the Batman franchise without the Dark Knight himself as the protagonist. I thought it would compare to “Gotham” and stating that is much more straightforward and has a more mature theme, but it would take time for this series to get to that level too, with Gotham the bar is high so probably its a matter of time.
But what got me most, is how they develop Oz, he is such a complicated character and the show try to humanize him and make him seem like he has flaws without making him seem like he is helpless or a full blown villain, like a regular guy trying to get a promotion at work. Specially the scene where he visits his mother, we see his other face but she is like the one playing the puppet, incentivizing him to take power from others in any way possible he can, its like she still teaching him how to survive.
The climax of the episode was the best part, when we witness Oz putting the blame on the Maronis for Alberto’s murder, distracting Sofia for the time being and what will become the foundation of his place in the family? or will he replace the family?. It is an excellent strategic move although a bit improvise, Sofia is not an idiot and there is no way that she would allow this to continue being like this and slowly but surely will get to the truth when Penguin makes mistakes here and there, it creates a nice setup for a future episode.
As you can tell I personally had a great time watching this episode, it is so tense to the point you don't know when someone is going to die or get discovered, and the focus is just incredible. All the scenes from the dirty streets of Gotham city to the luxurious house of Falcone look quite realistic but still having that Gotham vibe. The start with a The Batman similar theme really made it shine and the ending of the episode was really smooth, almost like a its all for today folks, doesn't feel force or leaves you hanging, its like baby steps, we had to take some risks but we improvise and adapt, everything work out.
I think it is fair to say that “The Penguin” is going to be one hell of a ride, a series that has a bit of everything. It has drama, action and an element of the bizarre, and all the plot twists you could take out of the good old Gotham. I have notice people complaining that from all the villains it had to be The Penguin but the truth is why not? yes he is not a leader but that is what makes it interesting, just as how the Penguin on Gotham started as an umbrella guy, opening doors and serving others until he start climbing the lather, taking power form others with his own hands, this time around he starts on a higher position that gives him access to be violent from the start. If you are a lover of crime drama or Batman series, then definitely it is for you, I would like to give it 8.5/10 to the first episode.
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