After a barely recognizable Colin Farrell made his debut as Oswald Cobb in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, the infamous villain is set to go solo on the 2024 TV schedule when The Penguin premieres on HBO on September 19. The spinoff won’t feature the Dark Knight himself, but the critics seem to be saying “no Batman, no problem” as the DC crime series is drawing plenty of praise. Having seen the eight-episode series myself, I agree with the consensus that showrunner Lauren LeFranc has developed a Gotham full of rich characters and a shockingly well-rounded exploration of the titular villain.
Initial reactions, in fact, have HBO’s The Penguin scoring higher on Rotten Tomatoes than the 2022 film, with the limited series drawing a Certified Fresh 93% from critics. The Batman, meanwhile, stands at a respectable 85%. Those numbers are certainly in line with our own Nick Venable’s thinking, who called Colin Farrell’s Penguin “DC's most well-rounded live-action villain to date,” going so far as to say he may just like Oz more than Robert Pattinson’s version of Batman. Jordan Bassett of NME would tend to agree, calling the actor “astonishing.” Bassett rates the show 4 out of 5 stars and says:
What carries The Penguin is the richness of its characters and the complexity of its storytelling. Cobb could be a mere archetype – a mafia man who loves his mum – but the roots of his ambition and seething resentment at the world are gradually teased out, forging a compulsive narrative. And it transpires that there’s more to his ailing mother (Deirdre O’Connell) than we might first imagine.
Fay Watson of GamesRadar calls the series a fresh take on the titular villain, though it’s the supporting members of The Penguin’s cast that really shine for this critic. Rhenzy Feliz is wonderful as Oz’s driver and protégé Victor Aguilar, Watson says, but it’s Cristin Milioti’s brutal performance as Sofia Falcone that makes her the best of the bunch. The critic rates the series 3.5 stars out of 5 and writes:
It’s through Sofia’s story that this show really shines. By centering a female crime boss, showrunner Lauren LeFranc shakes off easy mimicry to genre classics like Scarface and The Godfather and instead brings a fresh, fascinating twist. Milioti impresses in both flashbacks and present day storylines as her character’s history deepens, delivering one of the best performances in Batman’s on-screen history.
Aramide Tinubu of Variety points out that people like Oz and Sofia aren’t just born; they are created. The Penguin is a mesmerizing crime drama that shows exactly the kind of environment that made the villain and the crime boss into who they are. Tinubu continues:
Chronically underestimated because of his appearance, lack of social standing and the disability that causes him to limp, Farrell portrays a man whose mind spins at a dizzying pace. Determined to seize the reins of the city at any cost, Oz manipulates everyone around him, including Vic, whose desire for family solidifies his loyalty to his boss. More than an exploration of Oz’s mindset, which includes his obsession with status, plum-colored vehicles and Eve (Carmen Ejogo), a sex worker and his companion, the series reveals what arises when society’s ills go unchecked.
Rachel Leishman of the Mary Sue ranks The Penguin “5 out of 5 crime families,” saying that Colin Farrell’s Penguin fulfills all of her Sopranos-related hopes. The heart of the upcoming Batman series lies in the relationship between Oz and Victor, she says, with the former becoming a father figure of sorts to the orphaned teen. Between Oz’s clubbed foot and Vic’s stutter, they can relate to each other, and I agree with Leishman that the series is all the better for it. She writes:
Seeing a softer side to Oz really helps to make The Penguin feel like a more human story than other Gotham tales in the past. He’s not a goofy guy in a top hat with an umbrella who really loves his monocle. But he still has the desire to rule and destroy Gotham in the way that that version of Oswald had. To see him open up to Vic and protect him, help this kid grow in Gotham, was surprising and made the show so much stronger.
Amon Warmann of Empire gives it 4 out of 5 stars, writing that this return to Gotham feels both necessary and earned, paying off one of The Batman’s most intriguing performances. Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti show exactly why this story warranted a full series, and showrunner Lauren LeFranc is successful in showcasing all sides of the classic villain. In Warmann’s words:
Throughout, LeFranc pulls off the tricky balance of making the titular character feel sympathetic and even likeable, while never forgetting to remind us of his ruthlessness. From episode to episode, you can’t help but admire Oz’s cunning and chutzpah — he talks himself out of several situations by thinking quickly on his feet — as well as recoil at the vileness of his darkest acts. His constant scheming propels a well-paced and pleasingly unpredictable story that doesn’t wait too long to pull the trigger on big moments. Farrell is on superb form here, adding several subtle, vulnerable notes to the bigger and broader ones we’ve come to expect.
I also found myself conflicted while watching The Penguin over how much I liked these characters in spite of their terrible deeds and unforgivable betrayals. So count me in with those who see this as a welcome offering to help hold us over until Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II hits theaters in 2026. With such a long wait, it’s good to know there are plenty of other upcoming DC series for us to partake in.
The Penguin’s eight-episode limited series premieres at 9 p.m. ET Thursday, September 19, on HBO and can be streamed with a Max subscription. If you want to rewatch The Batman to help you get hyped for Colin Farrell’s spinoff series, you can also do that on Max, which is one of the best streaming services to subscribe to.
