Colin Farrell’s Penguin Series a Certified Hit
By August Tales
When the news of Colin Farrell playing Oswald Cobblepot (a.k.a The Penguin) in Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ hit the scene, eyebrows raised in skepticism. Doubts hovered around Farrell’s suitability as the iconic villain, touching on concerns about his physical resemblance to the character. Fortunately, these apprehensions vanished into thin air. Thanks to impressive work from the costume team and Farrell’s electrifying performance, not only was he a hit, but HBO also green-lit a spin-off series.
The Penguin’s Solo Outing: A Hit from the Start
This standalone series, fittingly named ‘The Penguin,’ made its stellar debut on September 19, 2024. Viewers and critics alike showered it with positive reviews, labeling it a commendable successor of Reeves’ film. In fact, fans hailed it as an excellent example of creating a universe within a series, with some even declaring its pilot episode as the greatest they’d ever seen.
Even when pitted against Disney’s ‘Agatha: House of Harkness,’ ‘The Penguin’ stood its ground, soaring in viewership ratings. Ultimately, Gotham’s notorious villain emerged victorious, capturing a ‘Certified Fresh’ status on Rotten Tomatoes.
Ratings and Reactions: The Initial Jubilation
The groundbreaking series premiered on HBO Max and rode a wave of rave reactions. Spectacularly, the series kicked off with a soaring score of 90%+. Although it later settled at 89% (critics) and 88% (fans), the reception remained overwhelmingly positive. Within a day, it achieved a ‘Certified Fresh’ stigma, evidence of its incredible appeal and viewer satisfaction.
Critics Voice: The Enthralling Grotesque
Critics couldn’t hold back their praises either. Clint Worthington of RogerEbert.com finds the tension between the grotesque and the grounded engrossing. On the other hand, Ben Travers from IndieWire admires Farrell’s ability to bury his charming persona under the Penguin’s exterior without diminishing his natural talent. Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair thinks the chaos enhances the narrative spark and personality of the series.
Martin Robinson from the London Evening Standard gives a nod to fans of mafia films. Christian Holub from Entertainment Weekly praises the series for delivering an engaging crime saga. Remarkably, he notes the series’ room for improvement to avoid pitfalls of Batman adaptations.
A Competitive Victory: DC Triumphs Over Marvel
The series’ success also marked a significant win against competitor, ‘Agatha: House of Harkness.’ Despite the latter also achieving a “Certified Fresh” rating, ‘The Penguin’ managed to overshadow it with higher scores and viewership hype.
As DC reaps the victory, it’s worth acknowledging that both shows are performing exceptionally. An impressive triumph for not only DC but the world of superhero TV adaptations.
Do you have any thoughts or personal takes on the series? Feel free to share in the comments below!
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Image credit: fictionhorizon.com
