The Penguin The Penguin on HBO - General Discussion

[Slick]

 

[DCDAVE]

The Penguin is great, much better than I expected, but to suggest that it is better than The Sopranos in any way is rather ridiculous, especially if you only saw the last season. The last season of The Sopranos was one of its weakest, but even still, it had many, many great moments and you need to have watched the story from the start to properly judge and understand them. The Sopranos, at its best, probably remains the great television series of all time. And that is not even taking into account how literally revolutionary and mindblowing it all was when we first saw it in 1999.

It’s my opinion and by the number of likes/responses to my post, some on the board agree with me. Anyway, I was just reacting to a YouTube critics review.

 

[BatsAndNights]

Important

 

[DKDetective]

It’s my opinion and by the number of likes/responses to my post, some on the board agree with me. Anyway, I was just reacting to a YouTube critics review.

First off, it is my right to express my opinion that I think your opinion is ridiculous. Second, I suspect those folks were reacting to the rest of your post, which was very sensible commentary about the strengths of The Penguin, which most of us agree with.

Last, making such a bold statement comparing a show with one you have barely watched to opine on comparisons made by some YouTube critics is ALWAYS a mistake.

 

[BatsAndNights]

I will say the only real things Penguin and Sopranos have in common are the shared morbid humour in a show about gangsters.

That's...kinda it

Batman 66 has more in common with The Batman than this has in common with Sopranos lmao

 

[DKDetective]

I will say the only real things Penguin and Sopranos have in common are the shared morbid humour in a show about gangsters.

That's...kinda it

Batman 66 has more in common with The Batman than this has in common with Sopranos lmao

I mean there are some other connections with the whole Jersey-ness of this Gotham and where Oz grew up and the whole mother thing. But yeah, I think the comparisons are overblown by the superficial visual similarity between this Penguin and Tony Soprano (even though Farrell as Oz probably owes more to DeNiro and Raging Bull). And it being a contemporary mob show with an HBO logo at the start.

 

[Kane52630]

The proper comp for this show is Daredevil season 1 in terms of style and substance.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

The Penguin and The Sopranos are doing two totally different things. It's like how The Batman is influenced by Taxi Driver but is a fundamentally completely and utterly different type of story. Oz doesn't even really have anything in common with Tony apart from the design clearly taking a bit of inspo from Gandolfini and a (very different) overbearing Mom.

Penguin has more in common with Boardwalk Empire. A very pulpy show where frankly Golden Age Batman could have rolled up with and smacked Steve Buscemi around with his dainty purple gloves and it wouldn't have been particularly tonally jarring.

 

[antsman41]

 

[BatLobster]

I mean there are some other connections with the whole Jersey-ness of this Gotham and where Oz grew up and the whole mother thing. But yeah, I think the comparisons are overblown by the superficial visual similarity between this Penguin and Tony Soprano (even though Farrell as Oz probably owes more to DeNiro and Raging Bull). And it being a contemporary mob show with an HBO logo at the start.

Another thing that kinda felt like a bit of nod to me was the scene of them watching Rita Hayworth from "Gilda" on TV. Just so many scenes of Tony or other characters just sitting around and watching TV in The Sopranos, which was a pretty bold choice at the time.

 

[antsman41]

Script is locked too… cue the Nirvana.

 

[DCDAVE]

First off, it is my right to express my opinion that I think your opinion is ridiculous. Second, I suspect those folks were reacting to the rest of your post, which was very sensible commentary about the strengths of The Penguin, which most of us agree with.

Last, making such a bold statement comparing a show with one you have barely watched to opine on comparisons made by some YouTube critics is ALWAYS a mistake.

Brother, let’s just say we enjoyed the show. That is why we a posting on the Penguin thread. It’s just good to be a DC fan and we seem to have a quality show.

 

[DCDAVE]

The proper comp for this show is Daredevil season 1 in terms of style and substance.

Daredevil seemed like it was in its own universe. First two seasons were outstanding though but they should have made it an elseworld Marvel show.

 

[Karelia]

So, will we see what the ratings/viewership numbers are for this anytime soon? I saw The Batmsn got a boost in watch time a few days ago leading up to The Penguin release.

 

[Boom]

Got a real kick out of the first episode. I missed this world so much.

 

[antsman41]

 

[Snow Queen]

>Turns on the Batman supervillain show
>Finds a series about a guy who takes care of his mom, listens to Dolly Parton, supports sex workers, anti-misgendering, looks out for kids with disabilities

 

[AndrewGilkison]

This show made me want to reread Batman: Dark Victory again.

 

[JackWhite]

I'm surprised no one here has mentioned the shot of Oz's deformed/mangled foot. Man, that was total nightmare fuel for me.

 

[squeekness]

I'm surprised no one here has mentioned the shot of Oz's deformed/mangled foot. Man, that was total nightmare fuel for me.

They certainly did a good job of making it look real.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

The proper comp for this show is Daredevil season 1 in terms of style and substance.

 

[Snow Queen]

I'm surprised no one here has mentioned the shot of Oz's deformed/mangled foot. Man, that was total nightmare fuel for me.

 

[Sithborg]

This is gold so far.

I need Sofia to somehow survive for The Batman Part II, unlikely as it seems at the moment.

I also need scenes of her meeting her sister.

 

[BatsAndNights]

I'm surprised no one here has mentioned the shot of Oz's deformed/mangled foot. Man, that was total nightmare fuel for me.

I mentioned in the spoiler thread about it. For some context, I've worked as a support worker for people with physical and/or learning disabilities, it's called a bunion and it legitimately looks 1:1 with what I've actually seen. The makeup department continues to put in work

 

[Deck Rickard]

This show is excellent. I know it’s only one episode but DAMN. Everyone was great. Farrell brings a depth to Oswald that we’ve never seen before. He’s by no means a “good” guy - he was definitely going to shoot Vic before being persuaded not to - but with his upbringing and his insecurities over his disability and other things, you really feel empathy for the guy and start to root for him. And Cristin Milioti is straight up terrifying. Anyone who has read Dark Victory knows that the comic book version of Sofia has considerable size and muscle mass that allows her to be a physical threat. Milioti doesn’t have that, and she doesn’t NEED it, because her presence alone is so damn intimidating that you think she’s capable of peeling the skin off your face at any moment. Her performance is a masterclass in subtlety. She keeps herself very controlled but you can feel that viciousness bubbling under the surface.

I can’t wait to see more. Poor Mr. Maisel didn’t last long, lol.

Also, brilliant Dolly Parton needledrop at the end.