After watching the entire enthralling freshman season of Max’s The Penguin, I have concluded that this may be the best comic book television series adaptation ever made. This is likely due to my preference for hard-boiled, mafioso shows, and The Penguin checks all the boxes of that genre, evoking a masterful way of subverting expectations.
Akin to how Christopher Nolan transcended the comic book experience with The Dark Knight, showrunner Lauren LeFranc takes Matt Reeves’s vision of The Batman (2022) and makes The Penguin one of the best crime series in recent memory. It is darker, more grounded, and less poetic, presenting a brutal and gritty tale of power and obsession.
The Penguin’s writing is sharp and layered. The themes are eye-openingly complex. The character depth is rich and fully realized. And yes, we have yet to mention the jaw-dropping performance by Colin Farrell, which will go down as iconic in most comic book circles – it should garner Emmy-worthy consideration if there is any justice in this world. If you watch the show, you know that concept is in short supply and high demand.
The story follows Farrell’s Oswald “Oz” Cobb, known as “The Penguin,” as he navigates the crime world in Gotham, characterized by the way the underworld figure “waddles” through the city. Taking place a week after the Great Sea Wall was destroyed by a bomb, which ravaged only the poorest communities, Oz is a Chief Lieutenant in the Falcone Crime family, previously reporting directly to Carmine Falcone.
When we meet Oz, he surveys the city’s ruins and appears to be breaking into Carmine’s lawyer’s safe. There, he finds incriminating evidence against the underboss of the Falcone family, Johnny Vitti (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan’s Michael Kelly). Oz also discovers a jewelry roll with some expensive accessories when Carmine’s heir, Alberto (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Michael Zegen), his only son, walks in and catches Oz in the act.
Oz, whose weathered, rumpled, and rather ominous appearance doesn’t scream charm, has a knack for talking his way out of almost anything. He does this smoothly here, getting Alberto to trust him. Carmine’s eldest daughter, Sofia (a chilling Cristin Milioti), has just been released from Gotham’s Arkham Asylum. Known as a notorious serial killer, she has finally been located by the authorities after a decade. Consequently, her release has stirred significant attention and concern.
Based on one of DC Comics’ most famous villains, The Penguin is a streaming series spin-off of the aforementioned Robert Pattinson film above. The show is an enthralling, visceral, and all-encompassing crime saga that resonates with comic book and great television fans alike. The series excels in tone, pace, and visual aesthetic, pulling viewers in with shocking violence, surprising twists, and perfectly timed comic relief.
Series director Craig Zobel (Mare of Easttown, The Leftovers) and writer Lauren LeFranc work in tandem to craft a series like a kingpin’s gambit. This is a chess match between a half dozen shadowy underworld figures vying for control. You have the underused Scott Cohen as Luca Falcone, The Shawshank Redemption’s Clancy Brown playing Salvatore Maroni, and Milioti’s Sofia, all maneuvered by clever and witty tricks from Colin Farrell’s Oz.
It’s almost comical, as LeFranc has Oz sticking to his human nature. There isn’t anyone he won’t sell out to save himself, constantly double- and triple-crossing, people-pleasing sociopath for his slice of the American dream. There is a wonderful nuance to Oz and Sofia’s relationship that elevates the series into something more than typical comic book fare.
That is why The Penguin is worth watching, essentially. There is that poignant chemistry of a connection of sadness between them. You usually have the conflictual bond and nemesis dynamic, but Farrell and Milioti’s performances go beyond that. The rest of the cast is exceptional, including an award-worthy turn by Outer Range’s Deirdre O’Connell, who is brilliant as Oz’s mother struggling with dementia. Also, Rhenzy Feliz, who plays Victor, brings the type of heart and empathy the show desperately needs in spots.
My one quibble is that people might see The Penguin as being influenced by The Sopranos. Farrell manages to evoke a less slick antagonistic version of James Gandolfini’s classic character, with an equally quick trigger temper that can turn on the release of a switchblade. Yet, it’s a fascinating joy to watch Farrell’s character deceive his opponents who underestimate him. Farrell plays Cobb with an inarticulateness that’s fascinating to watch. The choice also underscores the emotional complexity and flaws of a well-rounded character.
Max’s The Penguin is an enthralling, brutal, visceral crime saga and the best comic book television series adaptation of this century. Colin Farrell gives an iconic performance as the titular character, and Cristin Milioti is simply scintillating. This is a criminally cunning and entertaining series. The series even provides audiences with hope that DC Comics and Warner Brothers Discovery will not mishandle the franchise.
The Penguin will be available to stream exclusively on Max on September 19, 2024.
The Penguin is an enthralling, brutal, visceral crime saga and the best comic book television series adaptation of this century. Colin Farrell gives an iconic performance as the titular character, and Cristin Milioti is simply scintillating. This DC Comics adaptation is a criminally cunning must watch!
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I am a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. However, I still put on my pants one leg at a time, and that’s when I often stumble over. When I’m not writing about movies, I patiently wait for the next Pearl Jam album and pass the time by scratching my wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. I was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs, but I chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. You can also find my work on InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Hidden Remote, Music City Drive-In, Nerd Alert, and Film Focus Online.
Just curious – if this is “the best comic book television series adaptation of this century,” what’s the best comic book television series adaptation from the previous century (that made it necessary for you to say “of this century” instead of “ever?”
That’s a valid question. For one, these series hit their peak after the turn of the century. Frankly, I believe we have been in the golden age of comic book superhero fare since Spider-Man 2 and Batman Begins. Another reason is that I’m not as familiar with earlier comic series from before 2000, like Wonder Woman, The Hulk, the ’90s animated versions, or even the Adam West Batman. However, those versions deserve respect, and it’s worth mentioning that modern productions are light-years beyond those shows. Finally, and this is important, it just sounds cooler.
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