“The Penguin,” Max’s newest limited series on the popular Batman villain, has come out in its entirety. It’s a true Max show at its core — gritty, edgy and Sopranos-esque in its exhibition — setting a new standard for comic-book television adaptations. “The Penguin” follows the events of “The Batman” (2022) .
Oz Cobb — also known as the Penguin — is dealing with the repercussions of murdering Alberto Falcone. Falcone is the brother of Sofia Falcone, the daughter of deceased crime boss Carmine Falcone. After spending a whole decade in the institution, Sofia is unexpectedly released from Arkham Asylum.
Given the asylum’s reputation for torturing its patients, everyone walks on eggshells around her. She reunites with Oz from episode one, and we can tell that the two have some history together that may complicate things after the murder of her brother. We also meet a young man who becomes a close associate, or even friend, of Oz.
Victor Aguilar becomes a right-hand man of sorts after he attempts to steal parts from Oz’s car. Oz catches him during the crime, and instead of punishing him for it, he decides to keep him around. The reason why “The Penguin” has received such acclaim is because this is not a regular franchise superhero show.
Every single minute of this show is character-driven, relying on Victor’s ambition, Sofia’s mental state and Oz’s supposed “change” of heart. Oz looks after Victor like his own son, takes care of his sick m.