The Penguin

I was a bit lukewarm on Batman 2022 (it was dark, stylish and well-acted but I also remember it being just oppressively long sitting there watching it in the theater) but so far I like this better. No real attempt at sympathetic characters, it’s pretty much just all a nest of violent minded backstabbing villains, but that’s fun sometimes. Farrell and Cristin Miloti are both excellent, some good sudden moments of murder & ownage. Scenes with dementia mom slow things down tho.

Really compelling. Farrell and Miloti give outstanding performances, and the storytelling is just generally very strong. It's about as down-to-earth as you could make a comic book story. Some exceptionally dark plot points, and they never hold back.

First Half 10/10, Second Half 6.5/10

I fell for the positive comments :/ Barely made it to episode 4 but got too tired of crime bosses personally engaging in all sorts of goon stuff with no bodyguards. Could have been good if it wasn't so rushed. Anything that's needed to move the plot forward quickly, right?

Impressive acting and tight writing all the way through. A rare thing these days.

Good so far, partially through the only season out. Farrell mostly carries over his performance from The Batman. However, with much more focus and screen time, there are are definite moments where his accent drops out here. They have established a very cohesive tone, character, and environment with everything feeling in it's place. Even wackier characters and settings (Milioti/Arkham/bank vault bedroom) all exist harmoniously with clear reasons for being, and identities which suit their purpose.

Exceptional! Better Call Saul of the Comic book spin-off series!

HBO brings DC into the realm of prestige crime drama and it works. DC and Max or HBO whatever may not put out as many shows as Marvel and Disney Plus, but when they do, so far, they put out stuff that makes most of the Marvel stuff to shame. And this is just another case of that. The best superhero -or superhero-adjacent - show of the year, despite having no superheroes.

I can't believe a Penguin TV series,spun off from a full Batman movie, can be this well written and acted.

(2 episodes)