The Penguin

The Penguin is an eight-episode HBO crime drama created by Lauren LeFranc and set in Gotham City after The Batman. It continues Colin Farrell's performance as Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot, a gangster pursuing power after Gotham's catastrophic Riddler-caused flooding and upheaval. The premiere begins shortly after Carmine Falcone's death, leaving his criminal organization vulnerable and the city politically unstable and physically damaged. Oz sees opportunity in the vacuum, but he must confront the Falcone family, rival gangs, police pressure, and his own ambitions. Cristin Milioti plays Sofia Falcone, Carmine's daughter, who returns from Arkham State Hospital and contests Oz's claim to the family empire. The series makes Sofia's history central to its conflict, particularly her disputed reputation and traumatic relationship with Gotham's powerful Falcone household. Oz recruits Victor Aguilar, played by Rhenzy Feliz, a young survivor whose family was lost during the flooding and destruction. Their relationship gradually becomes important because Victor supplies local knowledge, while Oz offers protection, manipulation, and a path into organized crime. Michael Zegen portrays Alberto Falcone, Sofia's brother, whose reckless behavior and inheritance position intensify the family's internal instability before violence escalates. Oz also faces Salvatore Maroni, played by Clancy Brown, whose criminal network challenges the Falcone operation and Oz's Gotham plans directly. Deirdre O'Connell plays Francis Cobb, Oz's mother, whose declining health and demanding presence reveal intimate dimensions behind his criminal persona. The mother-son bond is not merely sentimental; it motivates Oz's fear of failure and complicates his increasingly brutal decisions throughout. Gotham's flooded districts provide a distinctive setting, with displaced residents, blackouts, shortages, and damaged infrastructure shaping the criminal economy directly. The show portrays political and economic instability through gangs competing for drugs, territory, transport routes, and access to recovering neighborhoods. It also expands the world introduced by The Batman without replacing its noir atmosphere, grounding superhero mythology in organized crime. Farrell performs beneath extensive prosthetic makeup designed by Mike Marino, transforming his face and physical presence while preserving recognizable mannerisms. The cast includes James Madio as Milos Grappa, a Falcone lieutenant, and Scott Cohen as Luca Falcone, Sofia's uncle too. The narrative repeatedly contrasts Oz's theatrical confidence with his insecurity, showing how lies, loyalty tests, and violence construct his identity. Its finale closes the season with Oz achieving a higher position in Gotham while leaving significant rivalries and consequences unresolved. The series premiered on HBO and Max on September 19, 2024, concluding with its final episode November 10 that year.