The Penguin gets impressive Rotten Tomatoes score in first reviews
The Penguin has landed an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score ahead of its release.
A spin-off of The Batman, The Penguin takes place after the events of the 2022 movie, and sees the return of Colin Farrell as villain Oswald Cobb. The show follows Oswald (known as the Penguin), as he rises up through Gotham City's criminal underworld.
The Max miniseries is set to arrive on the streaming service next week but has already received stellar scores from critics, with a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Digital Spy's review of The Penguin likened the show's style to The Sopranos. It noted how the events of The Batman, which took place one week prior to The Penguin, were integrated into Oswald's everyday life, helping to transition viewers into the new series.
Farrell's portrayal of the Penguin was described as "slippery, conniving and almost likeable", leaving viewers unsure of how to feel about the villain. The review added: "You can't help but root for him as he grasps for power and narrowly avoids deadly situations.
"Overall, much like Oswald himself, The Penguin edges and scrapes near greatness during its run, with compelling performances and strong storytelling, but sadly a few episodes veer into slightly dull mob politics, and the scenes within Arkham are more comic book-y, rather than matching the gritty reality they reach for the in rest of the show."
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Here's what other critics have been saying:
"The ensuing journey from the gutter makes this show more compelling than it perhaps should be, and a heavily made-up Farrell is as astonishing as ever in the role. With a sequel to The Batman confirmed, though, Gotham is getting mighty crowded."
"Throughout, LeFranc pulls off the tricky balance of making the titular character feel sympathetic and even likeable, while never forgetting to remind us of his ruthlessness."
"Much like how The Sopranos was about scrapping to get by until you could be the one holding power over others, The Penguin hones in on why we desire power and what we will do when we wield it."
The Penguin will debut on Max in the US on September 19, and NOW and Sky Atlantic in the UK on September 20.
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