The Penguin

2024 - 9 - 20

Why 'The Penguin' is the Crime Series You Didn't Know You Needed!

Colin Farrell - Gotham City - HBO Max - Kalina Ivanov - Penguin Pesto - Riddler - Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium - The Penguin HBO

Discover how Colin Farrell dives deep into Gotham's criminal underbelly in HBO's 'The Penguin'—where mob drama meets dark twists!

In a world where superheroes reign supreme, HBO's 'The Penguin' takes a deliciously dark turn, stepping away from caped crusaders and plunging headfirst into the mob-infested waters of Gotham City. Set against the backdrop of chaos left by the Riddler's disastrous flooding of the city, we follow the enigmatic Oswald Cobb, aka The Penguin, played with a deliciously devilish charm by Colin Farrell. This new series isn't just a spin-off from 'The Batman'; it's a duller, grittier exploration into the violent power struggles of organized crime within the city—a tale of mob drama that will leave you craving more depth and darkness.

Colin Farrell's performance as Oswald Cobb is garnering rave reviews, proving that he is the powerhouse the series needed. Critics have marveled at how he captures the intricate and often sordid life of becoming a mob boss amidst Gotham's disarray. However, while the acting shines, reviews also mention that narrative pacing can be a bit sluggish, with moments that will have you wondering if you’ve accidentally tuned into a slow-paced documentary about cheese factories instead of a mob thriller!

Design plays a massive role in establishing the tone of 'The Penguin', thanks to the brilliant work of Kalina Ivanov, known for her previous work on 'Silence of the Lambs'. To bring Gotham to life, she drew inspiration from her own experiences in the 1970s, infusing the show with a nostalgic yet sinister aesthetic. This makes each episode not just a feast for the eyes but also a thought-provoking commentary on the effects of crime on the urban landscape. It’s like telling a relatable story while simultaneously gorging on your favourite pizza, instead of just a side of that crusty dough!

As the first episode takes us deeper into the intrigue and scheming of Gotham's criminal underbelly, the public reaction on social media has been a mixed bag—some love how gritty and real it feels, while others wonder if they’ve somehow entered a maze of confusion! But that’s just the magic of ‘The Penguin’—it breeds a conversation. And with more storylines to explore and multiple twists on the horizon, there’s no denying this series has got us hooked, just like a well-placed fish on a hook in the Gotham waters.

Interesting fact: Colin Farrell reportedly went through extensive transformation for his role, wearing heavy makeup and prosthetics to become The Penguin!

On another note, HBO recently bolstered its lineup with the involvement of several Scottish VFX specialists, ensuring that the visual effects used in 'The Penguin' are nothing short of spectacular. This investment is only expected to enhance the visual allure of Gotham and its dark alleys in upcoming episodes!

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Forbes"

Yes, HBO's 'The Penguin' Is As Good As Reviews Say (Forbes)

The Penguin is far removed from anything resembling actual superheroism, a pure mob drama that deals with the aftermath of the events of Riddler flooding ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Slate Magazine"

HBO's Batman Spinoff Isn't Fooling Anyone (Slate Magazine)

The Riddler bombed the city, flooding its streets and turning its poorer districts into a disaster zone. City resources are stretched thin. And mob boss Carmine ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Curbed"

The Designer of HBO's The Penguin on designing Gotham (Curbed)

Kalina Ivanov storyboarded Silence of the Lambs and designed the world of Lovecraft Country. For HBO's The Penguin, she drew on her own life in 1970s New ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Irish Times"

The Penguin review: Colin Farrell's powerhouse performance is the ... (The Irish Times)

Television review: As a showcase for Colin Farrell, the series has its charms but The Penguin is hugely uneven and often extremely slow as a moribund script ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "IGN Africa"

The Penguin Episode 1 Review – "After Hours" (IGN Africa)

News broadcasts talk of a power vacuum in Gotham's organized crime scene, opening up a narrow window of opportunity that Oswald Cobb (Colin Farrell) will have ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "PINKVILLA"

The Penguin Episode 1 Twitter Review: Hit Or Miss? Here's What ... (PINKVILLA)

The Penguin Episode 1 has surely dragged a lot of attention towards it. How did the netizens welcome the new bad of Gotham, let's see through the tweets.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Heaven of Horror"

The Penguin – Review | HBO Crime Series from DC Studios | Max ... (Heaven of Horror)

THE PENGUIN on Max is a new HBO Crime Series from DC Studios. Continuing where THE BATMAN movie ended. Our series review >

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Hollywood Reporter"

'The Penguin' Director Craig Zobel Wrote a Fan Letter to Matt ... (Hollywood Reporter)

The Penguin director Craig Zobel breaks down his journey on the show, which may (or may not) have begun when he wrote a fan email to Matt Reeves.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Kotaku Australia"

The First Episode Of The Penguin Is Colin Farrell At His Best (Kotaku Australia)

The Penguin picks up right after the events of The Batman: Carmine Falcone is dead, the Riddler has flooded Gotham City, and crime is exponentially up in the ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Hindu"

'The Penguin' series premiere review: Grab on to Colin Farrell's coat ... (The Hindu)

Colin Farrell shines as Oswald Cobb in The Penguin, a gripping spin-off exploring the villain's complex motivations and ambitions.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Prolific North"

Scottish VFX specialist secures HBO Max's The Penguin - Prolific ... (Prolific North)

A new Screen Scotland initiative to promote Scottish post production and VFX studios has delivered its first major project.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Screen Scotland"

New Post-Production/Visual Effects support further strengthens ... (Screen Scotland)

A new Screen Scotland fund to help Scottish companies to attract film and tv post-production and VFX projects to Scotland has secured blockbuster projects, ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Forbes"

When Do New Episodes Of 'The Penguin' Come Out? See The ... (Forbes)

Colin Farrell returns as The Penguin in HBO's new limited series. Wondering when new episodes will drop? Here's why the "The Penguin" release schedule is a ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "WOKV"

Huge Australian king penguin chick Pesto grows into social media star (WOKV)

A huge king penguin chick named Pesto, who weighs as much as both his parents combined, has become a social media celebrity and a star attraction at an ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Curbed"

The Designer of HBO's The Penguin On Designing Gotham (Curbed)

Kalina Ivanov storyboarded 'Silence of the Lambs' and designed the world of Lovecraft Country. For HBO's The Penguin, she drew on her own life in 1970s New ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "KUAR"

A massive baby penguin named Pesto is inhaling fish and winning ... (KUAR)

Pesto, who weighs 46 pounds at just nine months old, has been on display at an Australian aquarium since April. As he grew, so did his social media fanbase ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Messenger Newspapers"

Huge penguin chick at Australian aquarium becomes social media ... (Messenger Newspapers)

Weighing 22kg at nine months old, Pesto is the heaviest penguin chick the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium has ever had, education supervisor Jacinta Early said. By ...

'The Penguin' is a darkly engrossing entry into the Batman cannon (NPR)

With no costumes, no superpowers and no Batman, HBO's The Penguin is less like a comic book series than a crime drama — closer to The Sopranos than to the ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Radio Times"

The Penguin release schedule: When is episode 2 out in the UK? (Radio Times)

When will fans get to return to Gotham, in the second episode of The Penguin? Here's the full UK release schedule for the series on Sky Atlantic.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

'The Penguin' Review: The Dark Blight (The New York Times)

The HBO series starring an unrecognizable Colin Farrell is further proof that there is no fun in the Batman universe.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "NPR"

A massive baby penguin named Pesto is inhaling fish and winning ... (NPR)

Pesto, who weighs 46 pounds at just nine months old, has been on display at an Australian aquarium since April. As he grew, so did his social media fanbase ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Delaware First Media"

A massive baby penguin named Pesto is inhaling fish and winning ... (Delaware First Media)

Pesto, who weighs 46 pounds at just nine months old, has been on display at an Australian aquarium since April. As he grew, so did his social media fanbase ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

The Penguin review – Colin Farrell deserves all the awards for this ... (The Guardian)

It's slick, fast – and doesn't feature the caped crusader once. The Irish actor is a revelation in a series that's so twisty it leaves you breathless.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "KNAU Arizona Public Radio"

'The Penguin' is a darkly engrossing entry into the Batman cannon (KNAU Arizona Public Radio)

DAVE DAVIES, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. In 2022, writer-director Matt Reeves presented "The Batman," the latest movie incarnation of the popular DC Comics ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "TIME"

Move Over Moo Deng, Viral Penguin Pesto Is Making Waves (TIME)

Beloved baby hippo Moo Deng may have won the hearts of the public, but a young penguin in Australia is stirring a cuteness competition.

'The Penguin' is a darkly engrossing entry into the Batman cannon (KUAR)

With no costumes, no superpowers and no Batman, HBO's The Penguin is less like a comic book series than a crime drama — closer to The Sopranos than to the ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "KUAR"

A massive baby penguin named Pesto is inhaling fish and winning ... (KUAR)

Pesto, who weighs 46 pounds at just nine months old, has been on display at an Australian aquarium since April. As he grew, so did his social media fanbase ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Forbes"

'The Penguin' Review: Gotham Gangster Goodness With A ... (Forbes)

The first episode of The Penguin really sets the tone: This isn't really a Batman show, it's a Gotham gangster series. This is The Sopranos with DC ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Today.com"

What the QR Code In the 1st Episode of 'The Penguin' Leads To (Today.com)

'The Penguin' premiere features a blink-and-you-miss-it shot of a QR code that actually scanned, leading viewers to a "Batman" Easter egg.

Explore the last week