A grim, character-first crime saga that turns a Batman villain into a ruthless, wounded antihero. It’s less superhero show than prestige mob drama, with strong performances, a mean streak, and a steady escalation of betrayal and ambition.
The Penguin
Where to watch: Buy
TV Show · Drama · Crime
Thu
Created by: Lauren LeFranc
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Overview
With the city in peril following the seawall's collapse, Oswald "Oz" Cobb seeks to fill the power vacuum left by the death of Carmine Falcone and finally give his mother Francis the life he's always promised. But first, Oz must confront his enemies and his own demoralizing reputation as "the Penguin."
Created by
Lauren LeFranc
Cast
Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O'Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Theo Rossi
Curator Review
Verdict
A grim, character-first crime saga that turns a Batman villain into a ruthless, wounded antihero. It’s less superhero show than prestige mob drama, with strong performances, a mean streak, and a steady escalation of betrayal and ambition.
Best for
Viewers who like dark HBO crime dramas
Fans of antihero power plays and mob succession stories
People who enjoy comic-book adaptations that play like prestige TV
Anyone who wants a compact, one-season binge with strong atmosphere
Skip if
You want a lighter, more playful Batman-adjacent series
You dislike bleak violence, moral rot, and manipulative characters
You prefer fast-moving plots over slow-burn scheming
You want a show that stays close to superhero action rather than criminal drama
Overview
The Penguin works best when it fully commits to being a gangster story first and a comic-book spinoff second. Colin Farrell gives Oz Cobb a thick layer of charm, menace, and self-delusion, and the series builds a convincing underworld around him as Gotham reels from catastrophe. The result is moody, nasty, and often compelling in the way the best HBO crime shows are.
Worth noting
The show’s biggest strength is its sense of pressure: every alliance feels temporary, every favor has a hidden cost, and Oz’s hunger for status is matched by his emotional neediness. Cristin Milioti is a standout presence, and the supporting cast helps the series feel like a true power-vacuum drama rather than a one-note villain origin story.
Bottom line
It is also a very specific mood piece. The pacing is deliberate, the violence is harsh, and the emotional register stays cold even when the story gets operatic. If you want a tightly focused, one-season descent into corruption with strong production design and a memorable lead performance, it’s an easy recommendation.
A lavish, ruthless rise-to-power crime saga with political maneuvering, gangland violence, and a lead character balancing public image with private brutality.