The Penguin
2024
Original language: English
- drama
- crime
The story
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."
What it’s like
Gritty, rain-soaked Gotham rendered in murky night exteriors, sickly sodium-yellow streetlight, and the cold blue wash of hospital and nightclub interiors, with handheld camera that stays close to faces and lets long, unbroken takes drift through crowded, sweating rooms. The grade is desaturated and textured, the sound a low city hum of sirens, thunder and restless bass, with the occasional hushed piano cue. The vibe is bleak, grimy and tense, a crime-drama about desperation and status that suits a late-night binge when you want the weight of a dark, claustrophobic world. The pacing is deliberate and sprawling across its episodes, building slowly toward violent blowups, while the emotional register stays sour and suspicious; its central figure is a damaged, ambitious man whose relationships with his mother and rivals keep sliding toward ruin. Violence is frequent and often sudden, with shootings, beatings and stabbings shown in close, uncomfortable detail, plus strong profanity, drug use and some sexual content; it is not gentle. It is for viewers who like character-driven crime, morally compromised antiheroes and a grounded, unglamorous take on the Batman mythos.
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