Introduction
When the news broke that Colin Farrell would once again step into the shoes of Oswald Cobblepot in the 2022 edition of The Batman, it was met with trepidation. We’ve all seen the pitfalls of continuing a beloved superhero movie franchise on the small screen. Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD is a prime example of a series that failed to live up to its cinematic counterpart. And let’s not even delve into the debacle that was Inhumans. However, HBO’s The Penguin stands in stark contrast to these examples, boasting a top-notch cast and a plotline that feels as if it was plucked straight from the universe of The Batman, rather than clumsily attached afterwards.
The Penguin: A Genuine Extension of The Batman
Under the guidance of showrunner Lauren LeFranc and executive producer Matt Reeves, The Penguin serves as a true extension of the world established in The Batman. The series breathes life into Gotham City in a way that the film simply couldn’t. Throughout the course of the eight-episode limited run, viewers not only delve deeper into the character of Cobblepot–now going by the more simplistic moniker of Oswald “Oz” Cobb–but also gain insight into the city of Gotham, particularly in the wake of The Riddler’s devastating seawall bombing at the film’s climax.
Gotham’s Struggles
Gotham is a city on the brink, with the bulk of its citizens reeling from the destructive aftermath of Paul Dano’s Riddler’s attacks. The only ones seemingly untouched by the chaos are the city’s wealthy elite. In the midst of this turmoil, the characters we meet, including the familiar face of Oz, begin to thrive.
The Setup
The premise of The Penguin is straightforward. Following the destruction of Gotham by The Riddler and the demise of Carmine Falcone in The Batman, both life and crime in the city are in a state of chaos. Oz, donning Farrell’s prosthetic fat suit and adopting a tough-guy mob boss accent, sees this as his chance to rise to the top of Gotham’s criminal underworld.
Introducing Sofia Falcone
Enter Sofia Falcone, portrayed by Cristin Milioti. As Carmine’s daughter, she’s a serial killer recently released from Arkham, where she earned the nickname Hangman for her preferred method of executing her victims. Her goal is to salvage what remains of the Falcone family and, in doing so
Credit: www.gamespot.com
