The Penguin - This One Flies High!

The Penguin

Crime / Drama
8 episodes ~ 50 mins

JioCinema

I was late to the party, but sacrificing even the few hours of sleep I could have managed on an 8-hour flight was totally worth it. This origin story of one of Batman's key antagonists - The Penguin will set the bar for a TV series in the same the way  Joker did for cinema - period. 

Oswald Cobblepot or Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) is the right hand of recently deceased mob boss Carmine Falcone (Mark Strong). Falcone and Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown) are families at loggerheads, vying for control of Gotham's drug trade. Maroni is behind bars thanks to a drug bust orchestrated by Falcone. 

With Falcone's death and Maroni in prison, Oz Cobb seizes the opportunity to take what he wants. In one striking scene with his protege Victor , he declares "The world wasn't built for guys like us. That's why we gotta take whatever we decide is ours. 'Cause no-one's gonna give it to us, I mean, not without a fight.""  - one cannot help but root for the bad guy!

In the absence of Carmine, Oz has to contend with Carmine's son Luca.  But the bigger challenge comes from Luca's sister Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milloti). Sofia has returned after spending 10 years in  Arkham Asylum. She is determined to wrest control of the family business, now headed by  Carmine's brother Luca Falcone. Oz, who was once  Sofia's driver, naturally joins forces with her to bring down the Maronis.

Oz's only perceptible weakness are his devotion towards his ailing mother Francis Cobb (Deirdre O' Connell) and his kinship with Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz). As we delve into  the Oz's backstory,  we witness how  Francis toughed it out to raise Oz and his two brothers, shaping Oz's life and identity from a very early age.

Colin Farrell delivers a  "just give me all the awards" performance. A handsome Irishman dials down his vanity, fully committing to the part - signing up to look absolutely hideous. With  the walk, the gait, the mannerisms and the Bronx accent, Farrell completely transforms into the Penguin. It’s easy to suspend disbelief and imagine the character stepping right out of the comic books and onto the screen. Farrell is utterly arresting. This performance might finally give him the overdue recognition he deserves.

Cristin Milotti gets equal screen time and demonstrates exceptional vulnerability as the younger Sofia, initially living a righteous life of privilege before a betrayal changes her entire being.  This transforms her into a lifeless, nerveless, revenge thirsty antagonist. In some sequences, her bug eyes and stony facade  convey everything her silence doesn't! It is truly a breakout performance for her. 

The set design, costumes, makeup, visual effects, cinematography and background score are all gold-standard. Warner Bros. spares no expense, treating this production with the grandeur of a blockbuster movie. The series hurtles forward at breakneck speed, slackening only briefly in the middle (perhaps to let us catch our breath) before exploding into a gripping, explosive climax. Easily one of 2024's best!