Matt Reeves’s 2022 film The Batman ended with a bang, as the streets of Gotham were hit by a devastating flood. The new Max series "The Penguin" picks up right where the former left off, diving deeper into Gotham City’s criminal underworld. The series centers around Oz Cobb played by Colin Farrell, as he seeks to consolidate power in the wake of crime boss Carmine Falcone's death. After 3 episodes, the series has expanded the dark, gritty atmosphere of The Batman, giving viewers an even more intimate look at Gotham’s corrupt ecosystem.

One of the major strengths of The Batman was its immersive set design and atmosphere, portraying Gotham as a decaying, noir-inspired city. "The Penguin" continues this aesthetic, maintaining the film's muted tones and shadowy architecture.

What's fascinating, though, is that most of the scenes in the 3 episodes take place during the day, while most of The Batman took place at night. Though this is ironic considering traditional associations of daytime with good and nighttime with evil, story-wise it makes a lot of sense. The Batman was all about Bruce Wayne discovering his purpose as a beacon of hope rather than of hate, and though Gotham faces devastation, its leaders are determined to move forward and rebuild the city.

In the first episodes, viewers are treated to Colin Farrell’s transformative performance, which continues to be a highlight, earning praise for its complexity and intensity. With a TV budget, Farrell's makeup is now even more impressive, as the actor has completely disappeared into the role and is all but unrecognizable.

The introduction of Sofia Falcone (played by Cristin Milioti) adds an element of family rivalries and past grievances to further complicate the power dynamics in Gotham. Other characters, such as Oz's mother and new sidekick, give us a glimpse of a more tragic side of his character, but whether this will lead to any sort of redemption is currently unclear.

With its gripping narrative and atmospheric world-building, "The Penguin" successfully expands on the foundation laid by The Batman. The series releases episodes every Sunday night, and with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 94%, so far it has proven to be a thrilling and darkly captivating series.