"Batman Villain Takes Center Stage"
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What You Need To Know:
THE PENGUIN is incredibly well-made, featuring incredible performances from Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti. The series has beautiful cinematography, emphasizing the gritty, noir feel of the series and a storyline that will compel viewers. Batman and the noir crime genre fans will enjoy the first episode. The series contains objectionable content, specifically extreme violence and strong foul language. It features a slightly Paganistic worldview, as all the characters only act in their own interests and won’t hesitate to hurt and kill others if it serves their agenda. MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for all viewers.
Content:
More Detail:
THE PENGUIN is a series streaming on HBO that’s a continuation of the universe introduced in 2022’s THE BATMAN. The series focuses on Oz “The Penguin” Cobb, who works for the Falcone crime family but aspires to become a leader in Gotham’s criminal community.
The first episode of THE PENGUIN follows Oz as he navigates Gotham in the aftermath of The Riddler’s terrorist attack on the city, as seen in THE BATMAN, and the murder of crime boss Carmine Falcone. Falcone’s death means his son Alberto is poised to take over.
Oz and Alberto inadvertently meet at the now-ruined Iceberg Lounge to drink together and discuss Alberto’s plans for the Falcone’s drug business and his concerns about taking over as leader. He shares his big plans for a new drug that could change the company and will arrive in Gotham in a few days. Alberto makes fun of Oz after he realizes he has dreams of being a crime boss, and, in a fit of rage, Oz shoots and kills him.
While removing the body from the club, Oz catches teenagers attempting to steal his car’s rims. He apprehends one named Victor, and forces him to help dispose of Alberto’s body. He plans to kill the teen after they hide the body but spares him after Victor promises to work for him.
The two head into the Falcone’s drug operation and are told that the Falcone family wants to see Oz at their estate. Once there, the family instructs him to shut the drug operation down. Sophia Falcone appears and asks Oz if he’s seen her brother, Alberto. He lies, and the two go out to eat, where Sophia alludes to her recent release from Arkham Asylum after killing someone. While she says she believes Oz doesn’t know where Alberto is, Oz knows she’s suspicious. He and Victor go to his mother’s house, where Oz tries to get her to leave town with him. She refuses and encourages him to fight for control of Gotham’s criminal underworld.
Later, Oz visits Salvatore Maroni, another Gotham mafioso, in prison and offers the drug operation to Maroni and his family. Maroni refuses. Oz gives him a ring he stole from Alberto, who received it from his father, who had stolen it from Maroni when he took over Gotham.
As he drives through Gotham, Oz realizes someone is following him and tries to get away, but members of the Falcone operation capture him. Sophia tortures him in hopes he’ll tell her where Alberto is. Still, she is interrupted when a car crashes into the Falcone mansion. There’s no driver, but Sophia discovers Alberto’s body in the trunk, with his ring finger cut off and “PAYBACK” scratched into the car.
Oz is released, as the Falcones now believe the Maroni family killed Alberto — a theory strengthened by the fact that Salvatore is wearing the ring taken from Alberto — and he and Victor celebrate their victory as if they’d planned the entire thing. Oz shares his plans to take over the mysterious drug operation Alberto planned to establish.
THE PENGUIN is incredibly well-made. It features incredible performances from the actors Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti. The series has beautiful cinematography, emphasizing the gritty, noir feel of the series and a storyline that will compel viewers. Some humorous moments even pay tribute to the series’ comic book roots. Batman and the noir crime genre fans will enjoy the first episode of THE PENGUIN.
Overall, THE PENGUIN has a negative Paganistic worldview. The first episode contains extreme violence and strong foul language. The characters are all involved in organized crime and have no sense of morals; all actions taken are based on what they want, whether money, power, or respect. MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution to all viewers.