The Penguin 2024 - Colin Ferrell in a fat suit.

[Jar-Jar Fanboy]

I doubt they will do that twist. In The Batman, Carmine Falcon told Catwoman he strangled her mother and even tried to to do the same to her.

Could be that Carmine did a few strangles, Berto did a few, and they both let Sofia take the fall, but I forgot he did Catwoman's mom, too. I hope they do more than "drunk party boy" with Alberto, but I guess he's dead, so who gives a shit? Unless they make Berto into Solomon Grundy, but I doubt it

 

[The Nothingness]

I sat on the latest episode for a couple of days after seeing it. If the show's creator wants the audience to sympathize with Sophia, having her massacre most of her extended family may not be the best course of action even if she spared her younger cousin of said massacre.

 

[Get the rope Macaulay!]

Just thought about something this weekend. The Penguin is the same bullshit bait and switch we've seen with every other IP this last decade or so, the show's called "the Penguin" its nominally about the penguin but then its really about some woman who's got a better story and is a better villian than the penguin. just like indiana jones or obi wan or boba fett, or halo

The only reason this works so well is A. there's source material even if its absurdly loose and B. people didn't really like the Penguin enough to give a fuck if his show is taken over.

 

[Cnut]

Ignoring last week's flashbacks, today's episode rapidly swung the series into bullshit territory full of plot holes. This is a shitty followup to the Batman. Was Carmine Falcone's grip so tenuous that it all went to hell so fast without him? Don't drops still make money? Falcone family had like zero development except "patriarchy bad." Of all the people to let live it was Sofia's primary antagonist Johnny Viti... is it just because he got a discount at the Rent-A-Thug agency? She needed unmarked bills supposedly? But did she let him live just to publicly ice him as a show of force? Then let the thugs indiscriminately grab all the cash and now they're part of the Gigante clan? Doctor Julian Horndog shows up on the doorstep to make a heel turn. That creep needs to fuck off. Of course he'll play some pivotal role in the conclusion.

Where did all the damn water go? Shouldn't it take literally years to fix the seawalls and pump all the water out? Not to mention potential mold problems in abandoned apartments. Why does Penguin's mom even need to go into hiding? He told Sofia she was dead. How are there underground trolley tunnels in a city that's barely sea level and why aren't they flooded?

Moronis seem like (heh) morons. When did they steal the mushrooms? Would penguin tip them off about those? He wanted to sell to the triad dude right? Why didn't Moroni mom smell the gasoline on her kid before fwoosh, crispy family? That whole part was so rushed and dumb. Then somehow Sal got "the keys" by overpowering his assassin, then made it out of the penitentiary to some safe house that Sofia found in less than five minutes? Sofia thugs iced Moroni thugs, audible gunshots from guys protecting their boss who just escaped prison.. but he just sits and keeps eating dinner... (The whole depiction of prison and Arkham is really dumb and makes every employee look inept and lazy but more just like lazy writing. For example why would he have pills in his cell and not get dosage issued by prison doctor? How does he get to have special crime meetings with his accomplices in the meeting room? One single line about Sal paying off guards for special privileges would have done it.)

These are but a few questions and concerns I had about this show I had been looking forward to every Sunday for the last month. The coming month, not so much. Oh well should have known better.

 

[God of Nothing]

I sat on the latest episode for a couple of days after seeing it. If the show's creator wants the audience to sympathize with Sophia, having her massacre most of her extended family may not be the best course of action even if she spared her younger cousin of said massacre.

she's cute and crazy
bitch needs to be put in her place or die

Just thought about something this weekend. The Penguin is the same bullshit bait and switch we've seen with every other IP this last decade or so, the show's called "the Penguin" its nominally about the penguin but then its really about some woman who's got a better story and is a better villian than the penguin. just like indiana jones or obi wan or boba fett, or halo

The only reason this works so well is A. there's source material even if its absurdly loose and B. people didn't really like the Penguin enough to give a fuck if his show is taken over.

It does feel like it's getting there with an entire episode devoted to her.
need to watch the newest one and hope to fuck it isn't what i think it's going to be

 

[IDanceonTrannyGraves]

Why does Penguin's mom even need to go into hiding? He told Sofia she was dead.

I noticed that Sofia gave him a funny look when he said that, as if she didn't believe him. I think he figures better safe than sorry.

 

[Iron Jaguar]

He's also unflappable

> Penguin
> Unflappable

Teehee

 

[One Winged Pear Farmer]

I sat on the latest episode for a couple of days after seeing it. If the show's creator wants the audience to sympathize with Sophia, having her massacre most of her extended family may not be the best course of action even if she spared her younger cousin of said massacre.

Idk, I think the vast majority of people wouldn’t have an issue with her murdering literal mobsters

 

[Cat Hyde Boots]

The 5th episode has a noticeable drop in quality. Its mostly the writing. The episode gets what it needs to do done but in the worst way possible.

I think its because the two writers this episode are a woman with 2 previous writing credits and a DEI African man. The writer for the next episode seems much more accomplished.

 

[draggs]

Needless backstory episode was bad writing, but it couldn't be anything else because the problem is they have 8 episodes and looks like they could only fill up 7 episodes worth of plot. If that plot is well-written enough that's okay, one bad basically filler episode is whatever, but bad decisions being made once makes me worry more have been made and they'll show up in the rest of the season. And since this cluster of bad decisions has been set up as so important to the main antagonist's character, it will influence what comes next, it has to

Spoiler

And not everything in Gotham City has to happen because betrayal and corruption and power plays. Couldn't Sofia have just been a true and honest psycho who did fucked up shit? If every single important thing to happen to every single damn character, now or in the past, is because plots within plots within plots, I mean come on it's just more Game of Thrones bs then

 

[Mike Matei's Penis]

One episode was enough for me.

 

[Mark Goldbridge]

First few are okay but I find it so stupid how every male character has such obvious and dumb flaws like publically revealing their location, leaving a high value prisoner unguarded and speaking loudly about it or cheating on their bosses wife out in the open. There aren't really any "strong men" in the story which feels unrealistic to me because it's like "Well how the fuck did any of these people gain power in a crime ridden place like Gotham filled with super villains?"

At first they made parts of it interesting and realistic but have The Penguin making bad decisions and people don't want to kill him but are happy to kill others for a lot less.

That being said I have no interest in this retarded mobster story, just like I had no interest in the gay detective parts of The Batman. Trying so hard to be Seven with this Sofia story but it doesn't feel that compelling to me. Although she's got a great ass so there's that.

I don't give a shit about the black kid story of the past few episodes and his stammer is jarring and cringe, any real gangster would call him a retard but they act like it doesn't exist.

All in all it's a 6/10 but we've been so buckbroken by shitty WEF goyslop shows for the past 5 years that in comparison this will no doubt do well.

 

[Mark Goldbridge]

Moronis seem like (heh) morons. When did they steal the mushrooms? Would penguin tip them off about those? He wanted to sell to the triad dude right? Why didn't Moroni mom smell the gasoline on her kid before fwoosh, crispy family? That whole part was so rushed and dumb. Then somehow Sal got "the keys" by overpowering his assassin, then made it out of the penitentiary to some safe house that Sofia found in less than five minutes? Sofia thugs iced Moroni thugs, audible gunshots from guys protecting their boss who just escaped prison.. but he just sits and keeps eating dinner... (The whole depiction of prison and Arkham is really dumb and makes every employee look inept and lazy but more just like lazy writing. For example why would he have pills in his cell and not get dosage issued by prison doctor? How does he get to have special crime meetings with his accomplices in the meeting room? One single line about Sal paying off guards for special privileges would have done it.)

Exactly, I have no fucking idea what they did with the writing in this episode. I'm sure later there will be a gay flashback again but the timeline is so fucked with things happening that are pretty big with no explanation that lead to something big that they show us but we had no idea how they got there. They LOOOOVEE to spend a long time on mundane crap that doesn't advance the story though, the writers trying so hard to be Breaking
Bad or Better Call Saul but their setup is so shit it just gets confusing.

 

[Xenomorphs Are Cute]

I really liked the first 3 episodes honestly. Penguin being a conniving bastard is actually fun to see, I never had this much excitement watching the Penguin since Tim Burton flicks. His relationship & conversations with Victor is nice too, it shows he's got a heart too. Victor is also pretty good too cause his character arc is nice. The best character is the Pimpmobile Maserati tho. I literally can't care for any other characters here.

Spoiler: Episode 4

Now the 4th episode kicked in & just 4 mins in, I get a line about patriarchy, & said line is basically penis envy. After, 44 of mins of unnecessarily long backstory (this shit could've been 20 mins. at best, Victor had a flashback too, but it was short sweet & simple) later, I get a line which reminded me of FOX's Gotham show about "men doing her wrong", which is followed by something which makes me question.

Why did we get 40 mins. of sympathy build-up, when she goes full schizo at the end anyway by Killing everyone? Hell, it's like they forced in a Harley Quinn of their own here, to make it even worse, she's not even going full-schizo either cause she spared the kid so it feels tacked-on now, you already orphaned her, might as well end any of her upcoming future sufferings.

I admit it's nice to see how corrupt Arkham is, but not 40 mins. of it.

Also, I can't take that Latino psychiatrist seriously, I saw him as Shades in Luke Cage & I can't get that out of my head.

Spoiler: Episode 5

Episode 5 is just sad, I fucking loved that car goddamnit. Also, holy shit Police Chief Bock sounds like Simple Jack from Tropic Thunder, give that fucker a lozenge or two. Also, if the little girl is going to an orphanage anyway, why leave her alive anyway?

On one hand, Oz executing Nadia & Taj was cool to watch, but then the whole Sal thing happen & brings in too many questions. Why not just gas his room too instead of the stabbing? Sofia isn't the first human being to do it. How did the fight between him & Mikey go? Why does an assassin have the keys instead of the Prison Guard opening Sal's door for Mikey? How did he just get out the prison so casually? I know he had control in the prison, but it still feels too plot-armory. How did he suddenly have a Safehouse so readily? How did Sofia found him so quickly (we're talking barely a day here)?

Also, side-note, Sofia's eye-liner is ugly, that's truly some schizo styling there.

 

[Wild at Heart]

This guy has such a punch-able face, and I never find myself thinking that about anyone. I don't think its the kind of negative charisma they were going for with him, he just looks like an IT guy. There are theories he is secretly another DC character, but IDK.



I can really feel the influence of a woman creator and director with this show, like others have mentioned, no strong men in the show, they are all idiots. One badass bae with a tragic patriarchy backstory, and a bunch of DEI hires in the cast and crew.

I'm also surprised no one has mentioned Ervad, the Iranian Capo of an Italian mob. First appears at the beginning of E2, and is portrayed by actor Fajer Al-Kaisi. What a fucking joke.


It is like playing make-believe at this point. Why are we showing Italian crime families to be not only diverse, but having DEI hiring practices for CAPOREGIMES? No wonder they are called Maronis.

Not to get off topic, but it reminds me of Batman: Caped Crusader, also created by a woman. Batman sounds like a tumblr sexyman (subversion of the male gaze) , Penguin is a woman, and Barbara Gordon is a black attorney in the 1920s. Make believe yet again. It feels completely off because it is a woman's attempt to de-masculate a male icon and make the show more soft and diverse. It just feels wrong.

 

[frozen_runner]

I've seen 4 episodes so far. My only complaints about the 4th episode that everyone hates are that:

1) Arkham almost felt too comic bookish for this show. (The crazy people felt theatrically crazy instead of genuinely crazy, if that makes sense.)

2) I was reminded it's CURRENT_YEAR by the lack of boobage in the asylum intake scene.

Look at the movie Blue Velvet. Isabella Rossllini said she used her model training while acting in the film to create nudity that isn't appealing or stimulating, and it really worked. In a film full of memorable imagery, she helped create an unforgettable scene.

Why is Cristin Milioti too good to similarly go topless? HBO used to be the place for nudity that reminded you that you were watching premium cable, not network TV trash controlled by Broadcast Standards and Practices. It's very jarring when you're watching something for grownups and the lack of context-appropriate nudity reminds you frigid cat ladies run everything now.

 

[Xenomorphs Are Cute]

This guy has such a punch-able face, and I never find myself thinking that about anyone. I don't think its the kind of negative charisma they were going for with him, he just looks like an IT guy. There are theories he is secretly another DC character, but IDK.



I can really feel the influence of a woman creator and director with this show, like others have mentioned, no strong men in the show, they are all idiots. One badass bae with a tragic patriarchy backstory, and a bunch of DEI hires in the cast and crew.

It's actually ironic, cause he used to be somewhat cool as the Shades in Luke Cage

Not the best, but not unlikeable. If that makes any sense.

I'm also surprised no one has mentioned Ervad, the Iranian Capo of an Italian mob. First appears at the beginning of E2, and is portrayed by actor Fajer Al-Kaisi. What a fucking joke.


It is like playing make-believe at this point. Why are we showing Italian crime families to be not only diverse, but having DEI hiring practices for CAPOREGIMES? No wonder they are called Maronis.

Sal's wife is Iranian so it's not really surprising that there are immigrants working like that under her.

 

[draggs]

Sal's wife is Iranian so it's not really surprising that there are immigrants working like that under her.

And if they cared about having even a little bit of realism, the boss having a non-Italian wife would have undermined his respecc and authority with the other Families, and having non-Italian capos would have put him one very short step away from all the other Families combining to dumpster his organization. It took most of the mafia organizations decades to even consider non-Sicilian Italians for higher positions, and even today non-Italians as anything more than associates and soldiers is a big taboo. Isn't even a question that non-Italians as made guys or capos is completely taboo. These goyslop productions just can't resist stripping anything distinctive from their works, generic villainous organization is generic villainous organization. And today generic villainous organization means muh diversity

 

[frozen_runner]

These goyslop productions just can't resist stripping anything distinctive from their works, generic villainous organization is generic villainous organization. And today generic villainous organization means muh diversity

They are actually mandated by Hollywood to do the "diversity" thing these days. Even the best current year projects have to work within those restrictions.

 

[The Nothingness]

Couldn't Sofia have just been a true and honest psycho who did fucked up shit?

I won't have had a problem with that since prior to fourth episode, we saw Sofia torturing Oswald so you got the impression she was psychotic. But no, now the torture is "justified" because Oz turned on her and then she got framed by her family. She kills the rest of the Falcones because they betrayed her. What was the "justified" reason for Sofia killing Magpie in Arkham?

This show already had a interesting character dynamic where this version of the Penguin did not come from a wealthy background while Sofia did. Episode 1's opener gave a glimpse of who this Oz wants to be based on the story he told of the local mob boss he knew growing up. He wants to be someone who takes care of those close to him and is respected. Meanwhile you had the Falcones who only care about staying on top and Sofia could have been the opposite of Oz. Instead, she basically ends the Falcone criminal enterprise and starts a new one under her maiden name while appealing to those who were not made men in the last episode.