The Penguin
Exactly what you want out of superhero spinoff show but it’s most definitely not without its flaws.
To start I find the beginning two episodes of this show very confusing. Episode one seems to show you exactly what you’re getting, it’s also just a great dive into the Penguin as a character and not as a comedic relief like he was in The Batman.
However, episode two kind of takes a different approach to the direction this show is gonna go and I find it to be one of the lower episodes of the season. However, quickly after the first two episodes the show hits its stride for a good minute.
The Arkham Asylum episode in particular is truly spectacular and really reminds you that this Batman saga is made by people who understand this world and characters.
These stretch of episodes really had me thinking this was a damn near perfect show but I do think the show kind of stumbles to the finish line.
The last two episodes feel so all over the places and almost overly convoluted. For how slow the show is willing to go at some points I do find it really weird how fast they rushed through the climax of almost every plot point in the story. I mean it is go-go-go in the final one and half episodes and it kind of cheapens the hard work they set up.
It doesn’t entirely fail however because the last 15 minutes of the show, they regather their composure and really hit it out of the park.
That one moment, is truly gut wrenching and it’s filmed in such an uncomfortable way and reminds you that this is NOT a character to celebrate. Then of course you have the ending shot of the show which is just…chefs kiss.
Also I feel like it’s a good time to mention that the performances are all top notch. Cristin Milioti is a force to be reckoned with and while she is pure evil in this show I do find she brings a very human side to her performance that at some points has you feeling bad for her.
On top of this, it should go without saying that Colin Farrell is once again amazing as Oswald Cobb. It’s one of those performances where you forget there’s even an actor in there. He is so unrecognizable and doesn’t miss a single beat from where he left off in The Batman.
Lastly, I want to point out the soundtrack which was actually composed by Mick Giacchino the son of Michael Giacchino who composed the score for The Batman. I love that the soundtrack plays slightly altered motifs of characters from The Batman it just kind of reminds you of the world this is taking place in as well as the correlation this characters may have with others.
Overall, I couldn’t really ask for much more here. The Batman is my favorite Batman movie ever made and one of my favorite superhero movies ever made.
So this was always a big worry for me but if anything this show enhances the world they’ve already built and has me wanting more.
I seriously cannot wait for The Batman: Part II