In March of 2022, Matt Reeves reimagined the iconic Batman character from the DC Universe and portrayed a unique take of his life. Now, about two and a half years later, we once again return to the dark streets of Gotham City, but this time we dive deeper into a more sinister character. 

Colin Farrell has absolutely transformed in the starring role; it not only shows a new side of acting in the Irish actors’ skill set, but also emphasizes the drastic change of his appearance in the show. Farrell went on “LIVE with Kelly and Mark” in September and told the co-hosts what the process of becoming his character looks like. Three total hours of work, prosthetics for his whole face including the nose and cheeks, a bald cap and medical tape for his hair are needed in the creation of Oswald Cobb, the Penguin.

However, all this time spent preparing has been proven to be worth it, as Farrell’s portrayal of Cobb is truly frightening in a way that can only be understood by watching the show. Cobb is shown throughout DC films and comics as having a short temper; Farrell embodies this   intimidating monster by transforming his role into more than just a man in a prosthetic mask. 

In one such transformation, Farrell adjusted how he walks on camera — manifesting as a sort of ‘waddle.’ This is another quality which makes Farrell’s playing of the Penguin so unique, as no other portrayals of the character have incorporated this aspect in their performance to this extent. Esquire wrote an article in late September detailing more about this, with one showrunner saying that Cobb likely had “a congenital foot deformity since birth.” The article later added that this disease can easily be treated with  surgery, but likely because of Cobb’s poor upbringing, he never was able to get the surgery. Max even went as far as to give us a grotesque image of his foot in the first episode which showed viewers the silent struggle Cobb experiences every day. For that reason, this change in the demeanor truly makes Farrell encapsulate the Penguin better than others have in the past. 

However, Farrell isn’t the only actor who deserves flowers for his performance. Both Cristin Milioti, who plays Sofia Falcone, and Rhenzy Feliz, who plays Victor Aguilar, both had amazing performances in this show. Milioti’s cold and distant portrayal allowed the audience to be chilled to the bone through her haunted past in Arkham. Additionally, Feliz allowed the audience to sympathize with someone who had lost so much and still continued to fight everyday. 

In a city already plagued with evil, Milioti’s character has just been released from Arkham Asylum, and now must return home to see what has changed within the Falcone Crime Family. 

For Aguilar, his home is not in chaos, but rather underwater. Aguilar is a kind and caring character who is finally experiencing life from a new perspective as the Penguin’s right hand man. This role by Feliz is not only refreshing but also truly beautiful to watch unfold throughout the eight-episode series. 

Along with amazing acting performances, “The Penguin” consists of amazing cinematography with shots in every scene that show the immense amount of time spent in every detail; and that consistency of high quality shots doesn’t ever diminish as the series goes along. Additionally, the costume design for each character, whether it’s Farrell’s transformation to Cobb or through the other characters’ specific outfits, the costumes are perfectly tailored into each scene and character, every moment in this show seems extremely intentional and thorough. 

While it is definitely dark as it revolves around themes of evil and human nature, “The Penguin” is a show that appeals to everyone. “The Penguin” isn’t as much of a superhero-villain show as it is a story of a gangster. I would recommend this show to anyone, with its fantastic actors, beautiful cinematography, costume design and attention to detail. “The Penguin” also teases the future of the saga, propelling its entire story back into the focus of “The Batman Part II,” which is projected to hit theaters in 2026. 

With award season approaching, I think “The Penguin” is on the hunt to win a few Emmys this season and in my opinion, possibly make a run as one of the best TV shows of 2024. 

Edited by Ava McCluer | amccluer@themaneater.com 

Copyedited by Ava Mohror and Emma Short | eshort@themaneater.com

Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com