Critic’s Score: 5 / 5.0
5
Belief a mom to get her child’s head on straight — and that’s precisely what units all the things in movement on The Penguin Season 1, Episode 1.
With a little bit maternal nudge, Oswald “Oz” Cobb embarks on his tangled journey to assert Gotham’s underworld as his personal.
What a wild, twisty journey! I’m all in regards to the villains, and if the remainder of the collection retains this up, Ozmight simply be my new favourite!
The opening episode of HBO’s The Penguin, set proper after the occasions of the 2022 movie The Batman, pulls us again into Gotham’s darkish, brooding world, however this time it’s all about Oz.
Whereas it bridges the hole between The Batman and its upcoming sequel, The Penguin retains that gritty vibe however provides its personal aptitude.
However let’s be actual — The Batman was darkish and downright miserable. The Penguin? Nonetheless darkish, however with far more spice.
Gritty With An Edge
The present dives deep into Ozs character, giving us a extra private look than we’ve ever had earlier than.
Certain, the pacing would possibly really feel gradual initially, however belief me, it’s all constructing to one thing enormous. When Ozfinally goes all-in, the payoff is completely value it — and that is just the start!
Ozdoesn’t begin out with desires of ruling Gotham’s underworld.
At first, he’s extra shaken by the chaos and destruction, worrying about the way it’s going to have an effect on his piece of the felony pie.
The concept he may truly turn out to be Gotham’s kingpin? That’s a gradual burn.
This episode nails the steadiness between The Batman movie and the brand new collection, mixing them seamlessly whereas letting The Penguin carve out its personal id.
Take, for instance, how Batman and Penguin are first launched of their respective productions:
Batman gazes over Gotham, Ave Maria — a tune of hope — enjoying within the background as he gears as much as save the town.
Ozstands in his nightclub, surveying the wreckage left behind by the Riddler, with information stories amplifying the town’s chaos.
Batman is aware of his mission; Oz, however, remains to be determining his subsequent transfer, giving us a way more layered have a look at his opportunistic and calculating aspect.
A Good (Soiled) Soldier
Earlier than Ozcould even take into consideration climbing the ranks, he landed himself in sizzling water by killing Alberto Falcone.
Alberto didn’t precisely earn his place as boss — he inherited it after his dad’s homicide in The Batman. It was handed to him, no questions requested, as a result of, effectively, that’s simply how issues go generally, even when the individual isn’t actually reduce out for the job.
The second Ozpulled the set off, he knew he was in a world of hassle. You don’t take out the boss with out permission and count on to stroll away with out some critical penalties!
However Ozdidn’t plan on taking Alberto out; it simply form of occurred for one easy cause: the child laughed at him. Greater than as soon as. And if there’s one factor Ozdoesn’t tolerate, it’s being laughed at.
Ozshared a narrative about an old-school gangster named Rex Calabrese. He wasn’t a prime canine, however he was a man everybody revered. He appeared out for his neighborhood, at all times there when individuals wanted him essentially the most.
Flashy? In no way. However when he died, all the neighborhood confirmed as much as pay their respects. That’s how a lot they cherished their native hero — gangster or not!
Ozgrew up in that very same neighborhood and admired Rex similar to everybody else. That’s the form of man Ozwished to be, nevertheless it didn’t fairly pan out that method.
Alberto, being younger and cocky, laughed on the story, calling Rex a no one and a idiot.
And when Alberto had the nerve to snigger at Ozagain later? Nicely, that was the final straw for him. Finish of story, finish of Alberto.
However right here’s the actual deal — crime households don’t simply run on the flashy, headline-grabbing guys like John Gotti or Al Capone.
The actual energy? That’s with the fellows you’ve most likely by no means heard of, like Buster Aloi, Frank Gagliardi, Salvatore Peritore, and Carlo Mastrototaro.
These guys weren’t well-known, however they have been the spine of their respective mob households, holding all the things operating easily behind the scenes.
And there have been tons of extra similar to them, quietly holding the wheels of the felony machine well-oiled.
Ozgets this (even in his fictional world). He’s a road man who brings in tons of money for the Falcone Household, however he’s not getting the respect he thinks he’s earned.
And let’s be trustworthy — with out him or guys like him, the Falcone Household wouldn’t exist.
Deep down, Ozdesires to be his personal model of Rex Calabrese — the hero of his personal story. However that dream hasn’t fairly come collectively… at the very least not but.
Which is precisely why I believe he let Vic into his world.
I Wanna Watch the Sundown
Ozcould’ve simply killed the child, however right here’s the factor — he doesn’t have any associates.
His solely actual connection, the one individual he can actually rely on, is his mom. She could also be a bit odd, certain, and we don’t know a lot about her but, however one factor’s clear: she’ll by no means let him down.
So, when Ozwanted to eliminate Falcone’s physique, Vic was within the flawed place on the flawed time, doing the flawed factor.
Vic didn’t have a lot of a alternative — arguing with a giant, burly, scary man like Ozafter getting caught stealing hubcaps from his automobile? Yeah, not good.
As they drove round in search of a spot to dump the physique, Ozchanneled his inside Rex Calabrese, making an attempt to bond with Vic despite the fact that he knew he’d most likely must kill him later — can’t depart witnesses, in any case.
In that second, Oztried to melt his picture a bit, chatting in regards to the outdated neighborhood and the way he used to like blended slushies as a child.
Vic, scared out of his thoughts, most likely by no means even had a blended slushy, however he was nodding alongside simply to maintain Ozhappy.
When the time got here for Ozto kill him, I believe he’d already determined to not, even earlier than Vic began pleading for his life. Ozis perhaps all about enterprise, however Rex Calabrese is at all times behind his thoughts, influencing him.
So, he gave the child a break, let him reside, and in doing so, opened up new potentialities. Ozknew killing Falcone was a catastrophe ready to occur — he’s a loyal soldier (skimming apart) and felt dangerous for dragging Vic into his mess.
Watching the sundown turned his method of reflecting on what is perhaps his final day alive, however with Vic round, new concepts began churning in his thoughts.
The child was like a glimmer of hope — somebody who would possibly truly assist Ozwriggle out of this mess.
That’s, till Sofia Falcone confirmed up and issues took a nosedive for OzCobb.
Femme Fatale
Whereas Ozwas at his drug den, he acquired a name from his superiors. His first thought was that they came upon about Alberto and this was the tip of the highway for him.
However to his shock, it wasn’t in regards to the homicide in any respect. As a substitute, they wished him to close down his drug operation.
Dropping cash and management? Undoubtedly not a part of his plan.
Nonetheless, Ozkept his cool and stayed respectful, despite the fact that the thought of shutting down left him simmering. He wasn’t about to problem his bosses, however he certain wasn’t able to let his enterprise go beneath both.
That’s when Ozremembered Alberto’s little secret — he had been engaged on a brand new drug that was going to revolutionize Gotham’s drug commerce.
Alberto had instructed Ozthat no one else knew about it, and with Alberto out of the image, Ozthought he may take the thought and save his enterprise. The bosses have been truly intrigued… till Sofia walked in.
Seems, Alberto ignored one essential element — he’d additionally instructed his sister, Sofia, in regards to the new drug whereas she was nonetheless at Arkham.
So think about Ozs shock when Sofia strolled into the assembly, recent out of Arkham, supposedly “rehabilitated.” Yeah, proper.
Sofia isn’t simply good — she’s lethal. So, what does Ozdo? He runs straight to his mother’s home, satisfied that fleeing is his solely probability at survival.
However Mama Cobb wasn’t having any of it. She didn’t coddle him — she knocked “the pussy” proper out of him.
She instructed Ozhe didn’t kill Alberto in a match of impulsive rage; he did it as a result of, deep down, he at all times wished to be Gotham’s felony king.
So if it weren’t for Ozs mom getting her child’s head on straight, Ozwould have disappeared like a ghost. Now, he actually felt alive.
However the actual lightbulb second didn’t hit till later.
Put the Blame on Mame
Vic had been watching the 1946 film Gilda, and as Ozsat down and watched Rita Hayworth slink throughout the display singing Put the Blame on Mame, all the things clicked.
That’s when Ozrealized he may use Sofia — his personal femme fatale — to not solely get himself out of the Falcone drawback but additionally to climb to the highest of Gotham’s underworld.
Identical to McGraw within the tune, who’s blamed for beginning a hearth after falling beneath Mame’s spell, Ozsaw how he may manipulate Sofia to his benefit.
For a little bit context, Put the Blame on Mame humorously pins numerous disasters, just like the Nice Chicago Hearth, on the irresistible Mame. Her attract brought about males to lose management, leaving chaos in her wake.
Oz, nevertheless, isn’t eager about destroying Gotham any greater than it already is — he’s not the Riddler. He desires to rule the felony underground.
And despite the fact that Sofia finally caught up with him, Ozs scheme to pin Alberto’s homicide on Salvatore Maroni was nothing in need of genius. Didn’t see that one coming. However Ozand Vic’s celebratory blended slushies is perhaps a bit untimely.
There’s nonetheless the difficulty of Ozs jailhouse go to with Maroni. And the ring Ozleft.
As soon as Maroni will get wind of what occurred, think about how simple it will likely be for Sofia to determine that Ozis behind all of it.
And when that occurs? Holy hell, it’s going to get good.
Over to you? What did you consider the season premiere of The Penguin? Was all of it you anticipated? Share your ideas within the feedback under!
