Exploring Gotham City, New Jersey in “The Penguin”

There’s a chill in the air, and it’s not just because winter is coming to Gotham City. HBO’s new series, The Penguin, stars a totally transformed Colin Farrell as the notorious comic book villain come to life. The movie expands on the 2022 Matt Reeves movie The Batman and follows Oz Cobb (Penguin) and his messy ascent to mobster supremacy. 

Here’s a fun fact: Gotham City is set in New Jersey. Over its 75+ years in existence, Gotham has been depicted in New York, New Jersey, and even Chicago. As the grittier sister city to Superman’s utopian Metropolis, Gotham has an industrial, Newark-inspired vibe in this adaptation, which leans into the darker, more realistic side of the area. With poorer districts flooded in the aftermath of The Batman, a power vacuum has formed — one that the Penguin is eager to fill.

If you’re a fan of action-filled car chases, violent shootouts, emotional betrayals, and much more, The Penguin is the show for you. Even my awesome mom, who isn’t a big fan of superhero stuff, looks forward to every episode of this series. At its core, The Penguin is an underdog story about a crooked, violent, angry guy in a world that begs him to be even crueler.  

The sharp dialogue of the show drops you right into the dark underbelly of Gotham. From The Penguin’s Jersey-esque line deliveries through a massive prosthetic mask and bodysuit, to the countless mafia-inspired threats being spewn between shootouts, the show’s language evokes that Godfather energy. Perfect for those Jersey audiences hoping for some of that organized crime television our state always excels at being the setting for. 

The show’s expert performances deserve applause. Cristin Milioti shines as Sophia Falcone, a character who balances hardness and compassion as she rises opposite Oz in Gotham’s crime scene. We learn of her tragic backstory, how she’s remolded her life into one that prioritizes power, and finally get a Batman villain you can empathize with. Sophia vies for power in her misogynist family after her brother’s death, using her time in Arkham to begin a drug trade that will save her ungrateful family. The drug, which offers users a mental escape from Gotham’s brutal reality, is rapidly gaining popularity. It’s no wonder this magical drug is starting to grow bigger than Bane’s mega muscles.

The dynamic between Oz and Victor (Rhenzy Feliz) gives the show a strong-beating heart. Victor is a victim of circumstance. The massive flood at the end of The Batman has left him without a family, home, or future. Then slides in the Penguin, who adopts Victor in a prisoner/mentee/employee way. It’s complicated, but the two share a kinship as outsiders looking for a win. Penguin cares and doesn’t love to show it, but if you’re an asshole who’s rude about Victor’s stutter… “he’ll gut you like a fish.” Aside from being a heartless liar and backstabber to others, we see a very human longing for acceptance from Oz when it comes to Victor. 

I had the great opportunity to attend this year’s New York Comic Con and see the panel for The Penguin! The entire cast was present and eager to talk about the New Jersey-based television show. The conversation began with the showrunner (Lauren LeFranc), who talked about being inspired by X-Men and Batman: The Animated Series.

At Comic Con, the first group that came out was The Penguin showrunner Lauren LeFranc and star Colin Farrell. His prosthetic makeup designer, Mike Marino, also discussed the multi-hour process of applying the costume. He said Elephant Man inspired him and [he] has always found interest in the transformative art of makeup. The rest of the talented cast came out to loud applause and answered their fair share of questions. Michael Kelly, who I’ve never seen not play a ruthless killer, was all smiles. He spoke about how filming episode 4 went down. Spoiler: he was not thrilled to be fake tortured. At Comic Con, I could see the cast come out and discuss their roles with enthusiasm. Marino also explained the hours-long process of getting Farrell in costume. Many folks, myself included, think an Emmy nomination is on the way for such a unique character.

I will never have enough good things to say about Kristin Milloti. Talented, stunning, stylish, fun — she delivers in everything she’s in. She discussed her character’s dramatic fall and rise, and how her descent into madness makes her Oz’s perfect foe. Nature versus nurture was a big theme brought up by the showrunner, and the cast agreed it would be discussed further as the rest of the season plays out. We also found out many of them were inspired by Danny Devito’s Penguin from the film Batman Returns. Digging into the twisted psychology of someone like the Penguin also enticed the showrunner and Farrell into exploring the character further. 

In the hush of the crowd, we all waited on baited breaths as the panel delivered us news, entertainment, and most importantly an unforgettable time. It’s hard to make a 5,000-person room feel intimate, but the care in the conversation on stage gave everyone the feeling that The Penguin matters a lot to everyone involved in bringing it to HBO. Emmy nominations are probable for this dark drama, and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone from this talented cast takes home a win. 

The only queer representation in the show appears briefly in the first episode, when Oz and Victor walk past trans sex workers. Oz gives them a friendly greeting and continues on his way. It’s a small moment, but it’s kind of nice to see a heartless monster show more empathy than some real-life politicians.

One might wonder how The Penguin holds its own without Batman. The series is a testament to solid writing and the complex character of Oz. Unlike Bruce Wayne, Oz doesn’t have gadgets or billions to help him — he’s a street-level villain clawing his way up from the gutter. We root for him even as he betrays those around him, making his journey compelling on its own.

A known liar, a killer, a hot-tempered wildcard. Oz Cob is a character plucked from The Sopranos, another Jersey darling. His accent has unmistakable flecks of Garden State in it. The Penguin has that Jersey grit that we can’t wait to see make its mark on Gotham City, New Jersey.