THE PENGUIN - EPISODE ONE REVIEW & BREAKDOWN

Warning: This review will contain heavy spoilers!

Batman fans, rejoice! After two years of waiting, the long-anticipated spin-off to Matt Reeves' critically acclaimed "The Batman" (2022) has finally released its first episode, bringing us in the Penguin's shoes as he begins his rise to power in Gotham's underworld. Many fans have praised Colin Farrell's performance as the deformed, hobbling gangster in Reeves' film, but does the first episode of his series manage to live up to the high expectations set since the first film's release?

THE STORY

"The Penguin" (2024) kicks off right after The Batman's conclusion, where half of Gotham has been submerged in a devastating flood set off by the Riddler (Paul Dano). After the death of Gotham's reigning kingpin, Carmine Falcone (John Turtorro), Oswald Cobb. finds himself back at the bottom of the barrel without a boss to reward him for his services. Even his attempt to gain the favor of Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen), Carmine's son and new crime lord of Gotham, ends up in a bloody murder by the time the conversation is over.

As he attempts to dispose of the body, Oswald catches a group of thieves trying to steal his car, and ends up holding one of them at gunpoint. This is our introduction to Victor (Rhenzy Feliz), a down-on-his-luck street kid that ends up in debt to Oswald as a result of his crime. While Oswald contemplates killing him at first, he decides to take the young boy under his wing, seemingly out of pity. Once indoctrinating Victor. Oswald pays a visit to his mother, who encourages him to finally make a name for himself now that there's a power vacuum in the city.

Taking her words to heart, Oswald and Victor pay a visit to the Falcone estate, introducing us to the show's main antagonist, Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti). Sofia is Carmine Falcone's daughter, and a recently reformed patient of Arkham Asylum. She's quick to catch onto Oswald's slimy, lying nature, and pieces together that he may be responsible for her brother's sudden disappearance.

Now on the Falcone radar, Oswald briefly meets with Carmine Falcone's once-biggest rival, Sal Maroni (Clancy Brown) in Blackgate prison. He attempts to join Maroni's ranks and inform him of a possibility to dethrone the Falcones, but Maroni refuses. Oswald is then promptly kidnapped by Sofia and tortured in an attempt to get him to admit to Alberto's murder, but due to an orchestrated plan by Oswald and Victor, they manage to successfully frame the Maroni family for Alberto's mother, temporarily moving Oswald out of Sofia's warpath.

The episode ends with Oswald and Victor sharing slushies after their victory, seemingly sparking a new mentor/mentee relationship between the two that's sure to develop further as the series continues.

THE CHARACTERS/PERFORMANCES

The Penguin's charm is found in its characters, providing numerous "gangster-flick" stereotypes that are cleverly subverted in order to fit the world created by Matt Reeves. If you enjoyed Farrell's depiction of Oswald in The Batman, you'll surely love his role in the show, as we explore a side of the character never seen until now. Farrell brilliantly captures Oswald's inner turmoil, balancing between an utter desperation to climb the ranks of Gotham's underworld and the charismatic facade he pulls around Victor, Sofia and even his mother. A show is only as good as its leading role, and Farrell instantly proves that Oswald is a compelling enough character to warrant multiple one-hour episodes about his story.

Aside from The Penguin's star character, Rhenzy Feliz effectively plays the role of a good-natured kid that involuntarily gets himself mixed in the criminal underworld. Oswald may take up the spotlight for a lot of their shared scenes, but Victor serves the key role of being a vessel for the audience, as they too are new eyes peering into the unknown underbelly of the city. He's clearly a character meant for us to root for, and one that will no doubt develop for better or worse under Oswald's guiding leadership. While not much is known about him yet, many fans have already started to speculate on his true identity, some theorizing that this may even be Matt Reeves' version of the psychopathic serial killer Victor Zsasz, one of Batman's most deranged rogues.

However, the standout of the episode is definitely Cristin Milioti and her electrifying performance as Sofia Falcone. From her very first scene, the audience is instantly aware that she's someone that even Oswald fears, as her unpredictable nature effectively counteracts his efficaciousness in lying and deceit. There isn't a second in the episode where Sofia doesn't feel like an ominous threat to both Oswald and Victor, which effectively sets up her role as the show's overarching antagonist going forward.

THE CINEMATOGRAPHY

Even with the absence of The Batman's cinematographer, Greig Fraser, The Penguin manages to capture the film's visual palette and grimy aesthetic almost perfectly. Gotham continues to feel lived-in and decrepit at every turn, even more so now that we're exploring the city's true depths. The Penguin's unique take on The Batman's cinematography makes it feel as if "The Sopranos" (1999) was shot directly in Gotham city, adding to the overall story of crime and corruption that the show follows.

However, while the scenes at night consistently look stunning in every approach, the cinematography feels a bit less interesting during the day, especially when Gotham isn't cloaked in dark shadows. It isn't a major critique by any means, but it's in these scenes that Fraser's absence is most noted, as even The Batman's daytime scenes were gorgeous in their own regard.

VERDICT/WHAT'S NEXT?

The Penguin kicks off its series with a bang, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next episode's release on November 29th. One can only wonder what direction the show will take, whether Oswald will achieve his dream and take over Gotham, or if he'll end up worse than when he started. Personally, I only hope to see more of Sal Maroni in the next episode, as his limited appearance in episode one was still incredibly captivating.

9.5/10