The DC Studios logo is set in a raining Gotham alley
Synopsis
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.. Except for the bat signal in the final shot of the season finale, we never got our Robert Pattinson cameo in "The Penguin." In this short video, IMDb tries to answer: Where the heck was Batman?. Colin Farrell fought hard to have his version of The Penguin smoke tobacco in The Batman (2022) but was unsuccessful. For his own series however, the character is depicted as an occasional tobacco user, with a preference for cigars..
An umbrella drops and the logo changes to the Warner Bros logo
Featured in Graham Norton likes: Lady Gaga/Demi Moore/Colin Farrell/Richard Ayoade/Jack Savoretti (2024). The new HBO show The Penguin, a spin-off of Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022), is an exciting dive into the criminal underworld of Gotham City. Helmed by Colin Farrell as the titular character Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, this series expands on the gritty, noirish tone set by the film and offers fans a fresh yet familiar experience in the Batman universe. Unlike most superhero-related content, The Penguin focuses on the darker, more human elements of Gotham’s criminals, moving away from the caped crusader to spotlight the rise of one of Batman’s most notorious foes. Storyline Set immediately after the events of The Batman, the series explores Penguin’s journey to fill the power vacuum left in Gotham’s criminal empire.
Colin Farrell’s Performance Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Penguin is nothing short of remarkable
With Carmine Falcone dead and Gotham’s infrastructure in chaos, Penguin seizes the opportunity to climb the ranks, determined to assert control over the city’s crime syndicates. His transformation from an underboss to a major crime lord is the primary focus, which gives The Penguin a mafia-drama vibe more akin to The Sopranos than a traditional superhero show. The show smartly avoids relying too heavily on Batman’s shadow, allowing Penguin to truly shine as a lead. Without the overbearing presence of Gotham’s protector, it creates a new and interesting dynamic, where Oswald is free to operate in a morally ambiguous space. This narrative shift feels fresh for the genre and adds depth to the Gotham crime world without focusing too much on superhero spectacle.
Farrell brings layers to the character, moving beyond the stereotypical villain portrayal
Physically unrecognizable in his prosthetic makeup, Farrell fully inhabits the character with a nuanced performance that balances the brutality of a mob boss with the insecurities and ambition that drive him. The Penguin is no longer just a caricature of a deformed, umbrella-wielding villain; instead, he’s depicted as a ruthless, calculated player in Gotham’s criminal hierarchy, making him both terrifying and strangely sympathetic. His Oswald Cobblepot is shrewd, manipulative, and ready to break bones, yet he’s also a man driven by a deep-rooted inferiority complex and desire for respect. Watching him navigate the treacherous waters of Gotham’s crime world is compelling and provides a grounded approach to the character, making The Penguin a fascinating character study.Gritty Atmosphere and Tone In terms of atmosphere, The Penguin maintains the same gritty and rainy aesthetic that fans loved in The Batman. The dark, crime-ridden streets of Gotham are beautifully shot, with an emphasis on realism over comic book extravagance.
The show’s tone is grim, violent, and loaded with tension, reminiscent of neo-noir crime thrillers
Every scene is soaked in the corruption and decay of Gotham, and it feels as if danger lurks in every shadow. The production design is top-notch, with set pieces that feel like a natural extension of Reeves' Gotham City.
