The Penguin Episode 1 - Colin Farrell's Gotham Takeover

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Calarogus Shark Media. Welcome back to TV in the Basement,
where we dive deep into the hottest shows on television.
I'm your host, Journey Joe Mitchell, and today we're waddling
into the gritty streets of Gotham with HBO's new series,

(00:24):
The Penguin. Folks. Buckle up because we're in for one
hell of a ride. Now, before we dive in, let's
set the stage. The Penguin picks up right where Matt
Reeves the Batman left off. Gotham City is underwater, literally
and figuratively, in the aftermath of the Riddler's devastating attack.
But while Batman is busy playing lifeguard, our boy Oz

(00:45):
Cobblepot sees an opportunity to climb the criminal ladder, and
let me tell you, he's not about to let it
slip through his flippers. But here's the thing that sets
The Penguin apart. It's not just another superhero spinoff. Oh no,
this is a full blown mob drama that just happens
to be set in the world's most crime ridden city.
It's like the Sopranos took a wrong turn and ended

(01:08):
up in Gotham. And I am here for it. Now,
let's talk about the man of the hour, Colin Ferrell
as Oswald Cobblepot aka the Penguin Folks. I've seen some
transformative performances in my day, but Farrell in this show,
it's like he's been possessed by the spirit of every
mob boss whoever lived. And get this, he's doing it
all under pounds of prosthetics that make him look like

(01:30):
he's been through a ringer and lost a fight with
a makeup kit. But here's the kicker. Farrell doesn't just
disappear into the role physically. He brings a depth to
Oz that'll have you feeling sympathetic one minute and terrified
the next. It's a tightrope walk of a performance, and
Farrell is doing it in a pair of flippers. The
episode kicks off with Oz breaking into the Iceberg Lounge,

(01:50):
his old stomping ground. He's looking for leverage, something to
give him an edge in the power vacuum left by
Carmine Falcone's death. But faster than you can say fish
out of water, he's caught by Alberto, the new head
of the crime family. Now this is where Farrell's performance
really shines. Watching Oz talk his way out of trouble
is like watching a master class in acting. He's all

(02:11):
smiles and congrats on the surface, but you can see
the wheels turning behind those prosthetic heavy eyes. And when
Alberto starts spilling details about a new drug operation, the
look on Oz's face is priceless. It's like watching a
penguin discover and all you can eat fish buffet. But
our penguin isn't satisfied with just swimming along. In a
moment that had me clutching my popcorn, Oz puts a

(02:33):
bullet in Alberto faster than you can say wah wah wah.
It's a shocking moment, folks, and Farrell plays it perfectly.
You can see the calculation, the desperation, and yeah, a
little bit of satisfaction, all warring on Oz's face. What
follows is a master class in criminal improvisation. He ropes
in a young kid named Victor to help him cover
up the murder, and let me tell you, this odd

(02:55):
couple dynamic is pure gold. Farrell plays Oz as a reluctant,
alternating between threats and almost fatherly advice. It's like watching
a master criminal trying to train a very reluctant apprentice,
and it's as hilarious as it is tense. But the
show doesn't stop there. We're introduced to Sophia Falcone, played
by the incredible Kristin Miliote, fresh out of Arkham Asylum.

(03:19):
Sofia is like a ticking time bomb wrapped in designer clothes.
The lunch scene between her and Oz is electric. It's
like watching two sharks circle each other, each waiting for
the other to show a moment of weakness. And Farrell
he's matching Miliatti beat for beat, quip for quip. It's
the kind of scene that'll have you rewinding just to
catch all the subtle expressions and unspoken threats. Now, I

(03:41):
know some of you out there might be feeling a
bit of superhero fatigue. You're probably thinking, Joe, do we
really need another dark and gritty take on a Batman villain?
And to that, I say, when it's this good, absolutely,
This isn't just another cash grab riding on the cape
tails of the bat. The penguin is carving out its
own identity faster than Oz can carve up his enemies.

(04:02):
But it's not all smooth sailing in Gotham Harbor. Some
critics are grumbling that the show is too bleak, that
it sucked all the fun out of the Batman universe.
To them, I say, have you seen Gotham lately? This
city makes the DMV look like Disneyland. The grit and
grime are part of the package. Folks. It's like complaining
that your sushi is too fishy. That being said, I

(04:23):
can see where they're coming from. This isn't a show
for the faint of heart. It's violent, it's morally ambiguous,
and it's about as warm and fuzzy as a penguin's
backside in the Arctic. But that's what makes it so compelling.
This isn't a black and white world of heroes and villains.
It's a world of shades of gray where everyone's just
trying to survive and maybe grab a little power along

(04:44):
the way. And at the center of it all is
Colin Ferrell's Oz. Folks. I can't stress enough how good
Farrell is in this role. He's taking a character that
could have easily been a caricature and turning him into
a fully realized, three dimensional person. And see the wheels
turning behind Oz's eyes in every scene weighing his options,
calculating his next move. It's a performance that's equal parts

(05:08):
menacing and vulnerable, and it's absolutely riveting. One of the
things I love about Farrell's portrayal is how he shows
Oz's desperation for respect. This isn't just a power grab
for him. It's a quest for validation. You can see
it in the way he bristles at every slight, the
way he puffs up when he thinks he's got the
upper hand. It's like watching a penguin trying to convince

(05:30):
the world it's an eagle, And somehow Farrell makes you
root for him even as you're horrified by his actions.
The episode ends with a bang, or should I say
a crash. Oz manages to frame the Maroni's for Alberto's murder.
It's a clever move that sets up what promises to
be a season full of twists, turns, and probably a
few more bodies in Gotham Harbor. And the look on

(05:52):
Farrell's face in that final scene it's a perfect mix
of triumph, relief, and just a hint of what have
I gotten myself self into. It's the kind of nuanced
performance that deserves all the Awards, folks. Now, let's talk
about how the Penguin fits into the larger Batman universe.
While the Caped Crusader himself is mia probably still fishing

(06:14):
people out of flooded buildings, his presence is felt throughout
the show. The chaos left in the wake of the
Riddler's attack from the Batman is the perfect backdrop for
Oz's rise to power. It's like watching the aftermath of
a natural disaster, if that natural disaster wore green spandex
and left riddles everywhere. But here's the thing. The Penguin

(06:35):
doesn't rely on its Batman connection to work. Sure, it's
set in Gotham, and yeah, there are references to the
wider DC universe, but at its core, this is a
character study of a man clawing his way to the
top of the criminal underworld. It just happens to be
set in a world where guys dress up as bats
to fight crime. So what's the verdict. Well, if you're

(06:55):
looking for a light hearted romp through Gotham, you might
want to swim in a different direction. But if you're
in the mood for a gritty, complex mob drama with
a side of supervillain origin story, the penguin might just
be your catch of the day, and if nothing else,
it's worth watching for Colin Ferrell's performance alone. Trust me, folks,
this is the kind of role that careers are defined by.

(07:17):
Until next time, keep your umbrellas handy and your fish
on ice. This is journey. Joe Mitchell signing off.