The Penguin Reviews Score Higher Than The Batman on Rotten Tomatoes

The Penguin Reviews Score Higher Than The Batman on Rotten Tomatoes

As a seasoned gamer with years of immersing myself in the dark and gritty world of Gotham City, I must say that the first reviews for The Penguin have piqued my interest significantly. With its 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this crime saga seems to be a promising addition to the Batman universe, even without the caped crusader himself.


As a die-hard fan here, I must say that the early responses for “The Penguin” are definitely worth chattering about! This HBO production starring Colin Farrell, delving into the criminal underworld linked to “The Batman,” made its debut on Rotten Tomatoes yesterday. And guess what? The initial reviews are predominantly glowing! With a whopping 91% approval from critics, this spinoff series has been officially tagged as fresh, surpassing even the 2022 movie by filmmaker Matt Reeves in terms of critical acclaim, which garnered an impressive 85%.

According to Aramide Tinubu of Variety, The Penguin is a “skilled analysis of criminality,” which is both chilling and captivating. Farrell’s performance in this role, for which he was nominated for an Oscar, is particularly noteworthy. The makeup team did a fantastic job transforming the actor into a menacing aspiring kingpin who is as pitiful as he is terrifying.

According to NPR’s Glen Weldon, Lauren LeFranc’s series, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” was one of the standout television productions of the year. Remarkably, despite being yet another series without Batman (following shows like “Gotham,” “Pennyworth,” “Batwoman,” and “Gotham Knights”), Weldon drew parallels between “The Penguin” and HBO’s renowned series, “The Sopranos.” He described it as a psychological drama disguised in mob attire: It skillfully combines its gritty, enjoyable action with more complex, intellectual attractions.

As a gamer, I found myself at odds with Alan Sepinwall’s review of “The Penguin” game. He described it as a Mafia-style drama filled with bloodshed, but lacking a protagonist who is captivating or multidimensional enough to hold the chaos together. Michael Farrell, cast in the lead role, was seen as a grim, embittered character who, despite his constant success in outsmarting his adversaries, became tiresome because he lacked the depth to justify the amount of time invested in him.

Christian Holub from EW pens that the spinoff of Batman, titled ““, successfully delivers an engaging crime narrative without overly relying on the missing Dark Knight. However, the series occasionally succumbs to the flaws typical of Batman adaptations. Despite the successful presentation of a Batman story sans Batman, viewers might find themselves questioning their interest in a Penguin-centric series around the fifth or sixth episode of this eight-part series, pondering, “Why am I still watching a show about the Penguin?

Cristin Miloti, known for her roles in TV shows like ‘Fargo’ and ‘How I Met Your Mother’, gives an outstanding performance as Sofia Falcone, a character who rivals Penguin, according to Daniel Fienberg’s review for The Hollywood Reporter. Her portrayal of a recently-released serial killer makes Sofia appear as a believable tragic victim and the embodiment of Gotham’s flaws. You can feel both pity and fear for her character equally. The confrontation between the two characters brings out Miloti and Farrell’s best acting, but the captivating interplay reaches its peak prematurely in the storyline.

Eric Goldman pens for TVLine: “Although it may not match the excitement of watching Batman directly, it offers a captivating and immersive diversion, delving deeper into the significant underworld of Gotham City that often forms the backbone of the Dark Knight’s stories.

The Penguin” featuring Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, James Madio, Scott Cohen, Michael Zegen, Carmen Ejogo, and Theo Rossi will make its debut on Thursday, September 19th, on both HBO and Max. From the second episode onward, it will air every Sunday starting from September 29th.

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2024-09-13 00:10