The Penguin | The Sopranos in Gotham

After The Batmanhere is The PenguinLed by a phenomenal performance from Colin Farrell, the Crave series explores the dark corners of Gotham following the events of Matt Reeves’ 2022 film.

Gotham in chaos

At the end of The Batmanthe intervention of the Dark Knight and Catwoman saved lives, but Riddler’s plan still worked. Gotham was flooded, Carmine Falcone, a powerful criminal boss, was assassinated, as were three other influential and corrupt men. The Penguin begins with excerpts from news reports summarizing the events of the last week. The death of Godfather Falcone has sparked a war between the various rival clans, the drug market is out of control and the looters are having a field day. Rhenzy Feliz (Enchantment, Runaways), who plays young Victor Aguilar, says in a phone interview that “the city is in shambles and there’s a sense of despair,” especially in the Crown Point neighborhood where his character grew up. In all the chaos, Ozwald Cobb, known to everyone as Oz—rarely Penguin—sees an opportunity. Colin Farrell is transformed again for the eight-episode series, which explores the origins of the disfigured, club-footed gangster.

The True Face of Ozwald Cobb

The Penguin seen in The Batman and now in the series that bears his name is a far cry from the top-hatted, cigarette-holder-smoking “gentleman of crime” played by Burgess Meredith in the 1960s series. Colin Farrell’s approach is also very different from Danny DeVito’s grotesque but exquisite one in Batman Returns. Ozwald Cobb has more in common with Tony Soprano than with any other representation of comics from DC. The Irish actor offers a version anchored in a reality not so far from ours. “Some days, I wondered if it was really him or if he had hired someone else. But, between takes, he sometimes resumed his Irish accent and I remembered that it was indeed Colin Farrell under the makeup,” mentions Rhenzy Feliz. Since the death of Carmine Falcone, Oz’s role within the crime family is no longer so clear. He takes advantage of this vagueness to try to improve his lot. However, he no longer really knows who his allies are. He forcibly recruits Victor after he tries to steal the rims of his purple Maserati.

Under the Penguin’s Wing

“Victor initially only thinks about survival. He’s walking on eggshells because he’s extremely scared and unaware of Oz’s intentions,” explains Rhenzy Feliz. “But from the first episode, we feel like they could form a certain bond. Victor sometimes finds him funny, while Oz seems to enjoy his company.” The Dominican-born New Yorker describes Victor Aguilar as a young man who is “observant, loyal, good-natured, and finds himself caught up in an exciting and dangerous world.” Like his character, Rhenzy Feliz grew up in a disadvantaged neighborhood. “Coming from a financially unstable background, I understand the lure of money and power. I can imagine how a boy from a good family can be seduced by this world, especially when a man as charismatic as he is enigmatic takes him under his wing.”

Sofia and the other Falcone

Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs, The Wolf of Wall Street) plays Sofia Falcone, daughter of Carmine Falcone (played by Mark Strong in the flashbacks) and sister of Alberto (Michel Zegen), the expected successor to the head of the family. Nicknamed The Hangman, she has just spent 10 years in Arkham Asylum after being found guilty of the murder of several women. In addition to the conflict between the Falcones and various families, including the Maronis, her return sows confusion within her own family, which is largely opposed to her participation in the operations. Resourceful, she does everything in her power to take the place promised by her father before she was interned.

Our opinion

Apart from a few references to the events of The Batman, The Penguin borrow more from The Sopranos, The Godfather And GoodFellas than the superhero universe. Despite the slow pace, especially in the first three episodes, alliances and betrayals provide plenty of twists and turns. The action is sparse, but spectacular, thanks to impeccable cinematography and striking sets (Kalina Ivano) — “They turned different areas of New York into Gotham in decay,” says Rhenzy Feliz. The plot is based on a cast of colorful, unpredictable and almost entirely moral characters. The relationship between Oz and his mother (Deirdre O’Connell, heartbreaking) helps humanize the man we struggle to believe is sincere, but not to the point of becoming attached to him. The same goes for Sofia Falcone, whose mystery gradually unravels. Every time we are given a reason to side with the characters, they turn against us through their actions. Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti are remarkable and embody the desolation of Gotham imagined by Matt Reeves and continued here by Lauren LeFranc, director of the series.

The first episode of The Penguin is already on Crave. The second will air on Sunday, September 29, at 9 p.m., and the others will follow every Sunday. They are available in the original version and in French.