Now that the first episode of HBO’s The Penguin series is finally out, we’ve gotten a taste of what’s to come from this spin-off show primed to become a juggernaut on television if it plays its cards right. In this recap and review, we’ll go over what transpired in the pilot episode ‘After Hours’ and break down some of the important things you’ve might missed that sets this particular spin-off apart from the rest.
Be warned, there will be major spoilers ahead for the first episode of The Penguin so if you haven’t seen it yet, come back later.
The Penguin Episode 1 Recap
The first episode of The Penguin picks up right where 2022’s The Batman left off. Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot (aka The Penguin) is less of a looming threat in the criminal underworld of Gotham now following the Riddler’s shake-up in the city. Sections of Gotham are still flooded and criminals are watching their backs over Gotham’s caped crusader prowling the night. After the death of Carmine Falcone, his son Alberto continues the family’s seedy criminal activities with Oz under his command. Well, not for long anyway because Alberto is killed by Oz within the first ten minutes.
Immediately, this sets up quite a predicament for Oz. Nobody gets to walk away freely after murdering such a high-profile figure in Gotham’s criminal underworld. Now somewhat on the run, Penguin employees (by force) the help of a petty criminal kid named Victor, his personal driver and someone he begins to confide in throughout the episode as more than just another thief who just tried to steal the tyres off his car. He has Victor help him get rid of Alberto’s body before being thrown headfirst into a spider’s web of crime.
Meanwhile, the Falcone headquarters gets another shake-up when underboss Johnny Vitti calls Oz to the family mansion to discuss his next steps. Vitti threatens to shut down Oz’s plant and move all operations to Robbinville, but Oz suggests that he has a bigger part to play in operations by handling a shipment that will apparently revolutionise the drug business forever – something that Vitti shoots down.
Oz is brought face-to-face with Sofia Falcone, Alberto’s sister/serial killer called the Hangman who was recently released from Arkham Asylum. Sofia presses Oz about the whereabouts of her brother but he plays coy, though he knows he can’t hide the truth for long, recognising Sofia to be quite cunning and intelligent on her own. Oz and Victor later pay a visit to his old neighbourhood where Oz’s mom tells him that instead of running, now’s the time to take control of the city.
Oz visits Blackgate Penitentiary to chat to the incarcerated Salvatore Maroni then heads back to his pad, only to find Sofia and some Falcone henchmen waiting for him. Sofia knocks Oz out and takes him to the Falcone greenhouse, only for a car holding Alberto’s body to come crashing through moments later – saving Oz’s life from Sofia… for now, at least.
Review
Right off the bat, the tone of The Penguin is quite similar to The Batman and the showrunners do an excellent job at recreating that movie’s unique, grim aesthetic of Gotham. The daylight scenes are the first where we get to see the city in a different light, which is quite symbolic in more ways than one and relates not only to Oz’s ability to freely walk in the light without the Batman on his trail but also operate his criminal motivations outside of prying eyes (ironically enough).
For the most part, the show is drenched in the dark, brooding night – once again, the showrunners are working overtime trying to recreate Matt Reeves’ vision of Gotham, which takes on its own character in the show.
The Penguin isn’t holding back any punches when it comes to its language and violence either. In the first few minutes, we get hit with that R rating pretty hard, reveling in Oz’s colourful vocabulary and shocking bursts of violence. It immediately sets itself apart from The Batman remarkably well while still staying faithful to Reeves’ tone and style, reminding viewers that these universes aren’t separated but perfectly connected, even if the dark knight is never seen.
Oz’s growing friendship with Victor layers the complexity of his character, going beyond just another rogue in the Batman’s gallery. Oz is a person, one who quite clearly makes mistakes out of impulse or a genuine desire to not be looked down upon as he has all his life. Victor is still new to the criminal underworld, giving the audience a perfect lens to view this world through. Better yet, Victor peels back the layers of Oz’s troubled mind and inflated ego and I can’t wait to see where it goes next. There’s plenty of room for strong character growth here.
Colin Farrell is phenomenal as Oz. While he felt a little more confined in his role in The Batman, in the show he is able to really flex his acting muscles and show us sides to his character that are delivered with a devoted, almost scary performance. Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone chews up the scenery as a witty crime boss whose explosive murderous tendencies bubble just beneath her cold surface, making her the perfect counter to Oz – both clearly have massive egos and seeing them clash is incredibly riveting.
The Penguin starts off on a very strong foot. It does a great job of detaching itself from The Batman and carving its own path and style without drifting too far off from that established, gritty setting. This is, first and foremost, a dark, often cynical crime drama and not a superhero (or villain/anti-hero) spin-off that makes a much stronger argument for itself than I initially suspected. While it might not be to everyone’s taste, I can see it growing to become a hard-hitting TV series to the point where, like Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, you even forget that this is a shared universe.
The Penguin is now streaming on Showmax.
