HBO Max presents subscribers with The Penguin, a TV-MA-rated spinoff television series of The Batman. After the events of The Batman movie directed by Matt Reeves, director Craig Zobel creates a gritty almost noir-styled version of Gotham City never seen until now. While past iterations have depicted Gotham as corrupt, The Penguin delves deeper into the city’s pervasive corruption. In this instance, after a power gap caused by the events in The Penguin, Oz Cobblepot, also known as The Penguin, has the opportunity to rise through the mob hierarchy and seize control of the city. The story tracks Oz’s rise from an unrespected mobster to one of Gotham’s most powerful figures.
At the same time, Sofia Falcone, daughter of Carmine Falcone- a notorious mob boss, played by Cristin Milloti reappears after finishing her sentence in Arkham for her role as the hangman to reclaim her title as heir of her father’s criminal legacy and takes vengeance for her brother’s disappearance. Throughout the episodes, her enigmatic past unfolds, and her complex relationship with Oz comes to light through memory flashbacks, delivering suspenseful plot twists that keep viewers on edge. Milloti’s nuanced vulnerable performance reflects her complex past with her emotional struggle not to become a monster yet a thirst for vengeance.
Alongside Oz, his young protegee Victor, played by Rhenzy Feliz, causes the audience to root for the underdog. Oz acts as a father figure to Victor, guiding him to survive as a criminal in an underground market. Through Rhenzy Feliz’s stunning performance, he becomes a character who looks up to Oz yet questions the morality of his actions, leading to a complex relationship between Oz and Victor.
With the show’s dark setting at night and characters questioning their morals, The Penguin conveys how power brings out the inner darkness in all humans.