The Penguin is one of Batman’s most underrated villains, and it’s honestly a shame that he doesn’t get more recognition. While villains like Joker and Bane grab all the attention, Oswald Cobblepot brings a unique blend of intellect, sophistication and ruthlessness that makes him a formidable foe.
He’s not just another psychotic criminal; he’s a mob boss with class, using his connections and vast resources to control Gotham’s underworld from behind the scenes. Unlike other villains who rely on brute force or insanity, the Penguin’s power comes from his cunning and strategic mind. Plus, his comic backstory is tragic in its own right — ostracized for his appearance, he turned his pain into power. Whether in the comics or movies, he’s more than just a guy with a monocle and umbrella.
He’s a criminal mastermind who gives Batman a run for his money in a way few others can.
In The Batman (2022), Colin Farrell’s portrayal offers a grittier, more street-level version of Oswald. He’s less of a polished mob boss and more of a rough, opportunistic gangster, not yet the fully established criminal mastermind seen in the comics. While both versions are cunning and ruthless, the film’s Penguin feels rawer, still clawing his way to power in Gotham’s crime hierarchy, whereas the comic book Penguin is already a well-established figure.
Max has recently launched a gripping new crime drama centered around the character. Aptly titled The Penguin, the series picks up directly after the events of The Batman, with Colin Farrell reprising his role as the ruthless and cunning Oswald Cobb. Gotham’s criminal underworld is in chaos following Carmine Falcone’s death, and Oz seizes the moment to claw his way to the top.
After murdering Falcone’s heir, Alberto (Michael Zegen), Oswald is faced with the challenge of covering his tracks while manipulating Alberto’s dangerously unhinged sister, Sofia (Cristin Milioti). He convinces her that they were allies, working on a secret plan to revolutionize Gotham’s drug trade. But the intrigue deepens as Oz takes his deception a step further — convincing Falcone’s long-time rival, Salvatore Maroni (Clancy Brown), that he’s actually working as a double agent against the Falcone family for personal gain.
As he maneuvers between these dangerous power players, Oz is aided by Vic (Rhenzy Feliz), a young man displaced by the Riddler’s destructive flood. Vic becomes a pawn in Oswald’s ambitious and treacherous rise to power, as the Penguin seeks to establish his empire in Gotham’s broken criminal landscape.
It’s almost unbelievable that Colin Farrell is beneath all that incredible makeup. His transformation into Oswald Cobb is nothing short of astounding, and his performance is just as impressive. Farrell brings a layered complexity to the role, making viewers simultaneously despise Oz for his ruthless actions, yet empathize with his motivations. What makes his portrayal even more compelling is the emotional depth he adds through Oz’s relationship with his ailing mother, Francis (Deirdre O’Connell), who suffers from dementia. This fragile bond humanizes Oz in a way that transcends the typical crime boss archetype.
While his methods are brutal and often unforgivable, his desire to protect his mother as he ascends the ranks of Gotham’s criminal underworld gives his character a sense of tragic vulnerability. It’s a reminder that behind the villainous facade is a man shaped by love and loss, struggling with the weight of his ambitions and the fear of losing the only family he has left.
Farrell’s portrayal captures this duality, making The Penguin one of the most captivating and multidimensional villains in recent memory.
Compared to previous live-action series set in Gotham City, The Penguin takes a much grittier approach, which gives the show a raw, authentic feel. This grounded tone makes it accessible not only to Batman fans, but also to viewers who might not have any interest in the comic book world. Gotham City, in this series, could easily be any major metropolis, with its seedy underbelly, crime-ridden streets and power struggles between rival gangs. The story feels more relatable and tangible because the conflicts are not driven by fantastical elements or superhuman villains, but by real-world greed, violence, and ambition.
In contrast, shows like Gotham on Fox leaned more into the comic book mythos, with larger-than-life characters and borderline supernatural abilities, which, while entertaining, created a more exaggerated and less grounded feel. In The Penguin, the gritty realism makes the power struggles, betrayals and violence feel darker and more dangerous. The characters’ ambitions, especially Oz’s rise through the criminal ranks, feel like they could unfold in any major city plagued by corruption and organized crime, which makes the stakes feel all the more intense and immediate.
The absence of superpowers or fantastical elements gives the show a visceral edge, drawing viewers into a world where danger lurks in every shadow.
Without a doubt, The Penguin is a five-out-of-five-star show, especially for fans of crime dramas. It delivers intense storytelling with a grounded, gritty realism that hooks you from the start. While comic book fans will enjoy subtle nods to the Batman universe, these moments feel more like clever Easter eggs than the focus of the story — small, almost inside jokes that only they will truly appreciate.
But it’s Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Oswald Cobb that elevates the show to another level. Farrell has done the impossible: he’s taken a character that once felt like a gimmicky villain — known for his absurd, umbrella-based weapons — and transformed him into a deeply complex and fascinating anti-hero.
Oz is ruthless, even despicable at times, but he’s also relatable in his yearning for power, using it to fill the voids left by his personal failures and insecurities. His methods are morally bankrupt, but his desire to overcome his limitations is something universal — something we can all understand, even if we can’t condone it. Farrell’s Penguin is a man clawing his way out of the gutter, driven by a hunger for respect and control, and that struggle makes him one of the most compelling characters on television right now.
If you love crime dramas with rich character development, The Penguin is an absolute must-watch.