The Penguin review: Dark, gripping, and bloody brilliant

Audiences don't have to wait until 2026 for another slice of the world of Matt Reeves created in The Batman. The Penguin offers you just that; serving as the bridge between the 2022 movie and its upcoming sequel. But it also carves out its own path as one of this year's most must-see TV shows.

You probably aren't surprised to hear that. The HBO spinoff series has been presented as a high-quality installment of Reeves' franchise since it was commissioned and the show itself wears that style well, making itself at home in the pre-established universe while also setting itself apart from its predecessor.

It's less Batman and more Sopranos, but it's equally as gripping. For we had the chance to watch The Penguin and we were very, very impressed.

Colin Farrell shines as The Penguin makes a name for himself

The Penguin wastes very little time establishing its place in the franchise. It takes place just a week after The Riddler's rampage left Gotham City under water, destroying neighborhoods and killing countless people. We're reminded that The Batman helped with the clean-up as the city's perspective of its vigilante may be changing; but this show is all about Oswald Cobb's perspective as he sees an opportunity to make a name for himself.

The city's criminal underworld had been decimated by The Riddler. Carmine Falcone was dead and his operations hampered by the attack. The city needs a new king, or at least that's what Oz thinks as he attempts to take what he thinks should be his. But that will be easier said than done, as the Falcone dynasty seek to take over their father's empire, paving the way for Sofia Falcone, played exquisitely by Cristin Milioti.

If you have seen the trailers, you'll probably be expecting a mafia drama; that's exactly what you're going to get. The Penguin is all about Oz's attempts to prove himself as Gotham City's new criminal kingpin, working his way up from the bottom - where he had been for far too long in his eyes - in a bid to prove himself to those around him. He doesn't know who he can trust, and he knows that he probably shouldn't be trusted either, and it all makes for an incredibly compelling storyline.

The character dynamics are so complex; you can feel the heaviness of what's unsaid in a lot of the conversations, and that automatically increases the stakes. It's all very captivating, thanks in no small part to the quality of the performers and the writers. There is one relationship in particular that is so oddly endearing that I genuinely didn't expect to develop the way that it did, and it's one of the show's greatest strengths.

We have to talk about Colin Farrell. The quality of performance that he delivers as Oz is award-worthy. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see him earn himself an Emmy nomination for his work here. He was good in a limited capacity in The Batman but it was clear that there was so much untapped potential there; here, it's unleashed and it's nothing short of captivating. Farrell is brilliant, shifting from goofy and approachable to chilling and deadly in an instant. And in doing so, he delivers one of the finest performances you'll see on television this year.

He's matched by Milioti in every scene they share, as she commands the screen with such a presence that you can feel the reputation that Sofia Falcone has earned every time she walks into a room. She's captivating, and it doesn't matter who she's on-screen with as your attention is always firmly on her.

Rhenzy Feliz delivers an earnest performance as Victor, Oz's driver and friend, and he brings such an energy to the show, often lightening its mood and showing us a different side to Farrell's Penguin. It's a necessary change for the show's dynamics, particularly early on, and Feliz orchestrates that brilliantly.

The Penguin himself admits that he is an acquired taste, and that much is true about the show too. This isn't a superhero movie or a detective story, so it might not appeal to as wide an audience as Reeves' own The Batman did, but it is one of the best crime dramas of the 21st century, separating itself from its source material to stand on its own two feet. It's dark, violent, unsettling, and full of deceit, with scenes guaranteed to make you move further and further towards the edge of your seat.

A welcome addition to an already-brilliant shared universe, The Penguin is exactly what it needed to be (and so much more). And just like Oz has longed for his whole life, you'll definitely come away from it and remember the name Penguin for a long time to come.