Introduction:
The Penguin, streaming on Max, and JioCinema in India, dives straight into Gotham’s dark and dangerous criminal underworld, following the events of The Batman (2022). This miniseries, created by Lauren LeFranc, spotlights Oswald “Oz” Cobb (brilliantly portrayed by Colin Farrell), the disfigured mobster once loyal to Carmine Falcone. Now, Oz sets his sights on becoming the kingpin of Gotham City.
Packed with gritty, violent moments and intriguing character arcs, the series showcases Penguin’s ruthless rise to power, with Cristin Milioti as the menacing Sofia Falcone, his fiercest rival. With only eight episodes, the show promises an intense, power-hungry journey filled with deception, ambition, and dark secrets.
Keep an eye out for episode-by-episode recaps and reviews! This one’s shaping up to be an unforgettable ride.
The first episode of The Penguin throws us right back into Gotham’s dark, gritty underbelly, still reeling from the Riddler’s attack. With the power vacuum left by Carmine Falcone’s death, his son Alberto has taken over the criminal empire. But it’s clear from the start that the Penguin has his aspirations. Oswald Cobblepot, now determined to claim his Gotham, storms into the Iceberg Lounge, raiding hidden stashes of incriminating documents and valuable jewelry. He offers these as a peace offering to Alberto, but there’s no real alliance brewing here.
Their conversation quickly turns hostile. Alberto taunts Penguin about his ambitions, praising his late father’s control while making it clear he never trusted Penguin. The tension escalates, and in a moment of uncalculated rage, Penguin shoots Alberto, killing him on the spot. Realizing the gravity of what he’s done, Penguin scrambles to clean up the mess, enlisting a young car thief, Victor Aguilar, to help dispose of the body. During this time, Penguin finds a note in Alberto’s phone about a major drug shipment, a clue he plans to exploit to consolidate power.
Meanwhile, Sofia Falcone, fresh out of Arkham, returns to Gotham, immediately suspicious of her brother’s sudden disappearance. As the day goes on, Penguin juggles covering his tracks, handling the fallout of his actions, and plotting his next move. The episode closes with Penguin eyeing control of Gotham’s drug trade and contemplating his next steps in his ruthless quest for dominance.
Episode 1 is a brutal, thrilling introduction to what promises to be a cutthroat battle for control in Gotham. Colin Farrell’s Penguin is front and center, and he perfectly captures the character’s blend of cold-blooded ambition and deep-rooted insecurities. The way Penguin unravels during his confrontation with Alberto showcases his fragility, while his calculated moves in the aftermath remind us just how dangerous he truly is.
The episode’s pacing is excellent, taking its time to establish the power struggle brewing in the shadows of Gotham. The return of Sofia Falcone adds a sharp tension, as her unpredictable nature is likely to cause more chaos in future episodes. The dynamic between Penguin and Victor Aguilar offers a refreshing angle, showing us that despite Penguin’s viciousness, he’s not entirely without a moral compass, albeit a twisted one.
Visually, the episode nails Gotham’s grim, oppressive atmosphere. The city feels alive with danger lurking around every corner, adding to the overall mood of paranoia and unpredictability. The creators have successfully captured the essence of Gotham, a city where morality is blurred and survival is everything.
With this first episode, The Penguin promises a deep dive into a violent, power-hungry Gotham, with plenty of twists on the horizon. The show could become one of the most compelling DC spinoffs if it maintains this level of intensity and character depth.
