User reviews

This episode finally gave us the experience of seeing Oz as the classic supervillain he's always had the potential to be. The show, which previously played around with whether the protagonist wanted to be an eccentric Gotham criminal or a wounded man seeking redemption, has now fully embraced both sides, revealing a version of the character with the strength and presence of a villain on the rise.

The scene where Oz, decked out in a fur coat, commands the Gotham underworld bosses with a speech full of promises of revenge and justice is a standout moment. Colin Farrell gets to deliver a performance that taps into the essence of a true comic book villain in this intense scene, where he embodies the real Oswald Cobblepot and declares, "We're taking Gotham back."

As Oz steps into his supervillain role, the episode also shines by diving into the series' darker and more thematic side. The confrontation between Sofia and Eve is one of the best examples of how The Penguin uses dialogue scenes to explore the emotional depth and tension between strong female characters. In this conversation, they discuss the injustices women face in Gotham and the need to distort their identities to survive. Carmen Ejogo is flawless as Eve, showing a rich emotional arc through subtle facial expressions. With each shift in stance, she transitions between confidence and vulnerability, adding an unexpected depth to a secondary character.

And that's what works so well here: even with its supervillain approach, the show still tackles human themes, from Vic's struggle to balance his morality with his new life in crime to Oz's hunger for respect and power. This episode marks an interesting turning point, where the show accepts itself as a story about villains while highlighting that, one way or another, they're human too.

In episode 6 of The Penguin series, all expectations were exceeded! The plot once again turned out to be intriguing and exciting, perfectly balancing between drama and unexpected twists. The characters reveal themselves from new sides, and we see their internal conflicts and aspirations, making the audience worry about each of them.

The directing is simply at the highest level - every scene is thought out to the smallest detail, and the visual effects add an impressive atmosphere. The musical accompaniment perfectly emphasizes emotions, enhancing everything that happens on the screen.

I would especially like to mention the acting - it is simply fascinating! Every movement and every remark is filled with meaning, and the chemistry between the characters is impossible not to notice.

The delight and inspiration of watching does not leave anyone indifferent! I can't wait for the next episode!

I've enjoyed every episode so far but I though the one before this was the weakest because of its wobbly logic, and the one before that was excellent but unnecessary. This episode gets everything back on track with gritty plausibilty and forward momentum building toward the finale. It should go without saying by this point that the acting from Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti and Deirdre O'Connell is excellent. Rhenzy Feliz gets another pivotal moment to show off his chops and he again rises to the occasion. I think this is Lauren LeFranc's best writing of the series: virtually every scene is tense, grounded, believable and true to the characters as they've been established in prior episodes.

II like Ozs subtle tactic of changing his voice and height levels during his Gold Summit speech. He starts out standing on the bed of the truck and handing out beers in high and dominant position. Then he steps down and stands at their level as he proposes unifying their respective groups against the Gigante/Maroni faction. It starts out fiery and charismatic, particularly when he defends himself from the Triad leader calling him out for being a lying backstabber. Brilliantly, Oz doesn't deny it, he changes level yet again by sitting on the back of the truck and and owns up to what he did. He's speaking softly, feigning vulnerability and spinning it as he's just another poor person doing what was necessary, like all of them have had to do. Seems like he hooked all the gangs except the Triads at that moment. Zhao eventually capitulates, realizing he will be outnumbered if the Triads do not join with all theand he can undermine or even remove the Penguin and seize power for himself later.

This time, the story got real deep between Victor and Oz, and I gotta say, I was feelin' it. The way they built that back-and-forth had me hooked-it showed us who they really are and what they're goin' through. The end, though? Man, that threw us all for a loop. But look, I don't see Victor dyin' just yet. I bet Sofia's gonna come for Oz's mom, just like he went after her brother. I'm tellin' you, takin' Victor out now would make all that character build-up feel like a waste. But hey, that's just how I see it-you might see it different. Well just have to see when the next episode comes out. Let's get it.

It's a mix of mixbats follow the true meaning of DC with Victor become you know who and the physiatrist become scarecrow scene by scene. Besides being a mix of the greatest shows on earth sopranos broadwalk and the wire with a touch of DC. This is the greatest show ever. All we need is Nolan to come back and bring the gang together. Sorry show runners but right now in this world we need the guy with the cigar in a parade. Saying that this is as good as TV gets just waiting for Oz to eat some Lobsters vs fish. Can you imagine that a guy like him eating Lobster in the subway waiting for winter coming. #GOT.

Sofia and Oz work the perimeters. The city's underworld is dank as dank can be. Time has passed and the drugs are being produced by men who are payed a large amount of money. Oz realizes that there are other gangs out there and he attempts to unite with them. Vic runs into Squid who attempts to extort him, not knowing that he is a small timer in the scheme of things. Vic is conflicted. Squid is part of the hood and Vic has been one of them, yet he knows the guy is going to cause trouble.

Sofia is doing her own research into something that will hurt Oz, like Oz hurt her. She goes to hooker central and is eventually joined with Oz's woman. She begins her endgame. Oz's mother is getting worse and worse and continues to mistake Vic for Oz. This whole thing is getting more and more weird.

There is a great scene where all the leaders of the various families meet with Oz. He hands them cans of beer. He delivers a self centered speech, enticing them to join him in his enterprises. If they pop the top of their can, they are in. Great moment in cinema. Of course, as has been the case, the episode ends with a good narrative hook.

HOW CAN IT END THERE !!

Oz and Vic are in the mists of growing the Bliss business around the city. I'm guessing a decent amount of time passed since last week as a lot of the product has grown. Vic is getting some hassle from squid and must create a solution to the problem. Oz is planning on rallying the troops around Gotham to deal with and push back from Sofia and Sal. Oz's mom isn't adjusting as well as he hopped as they are left without power. Meanwhile Sofia and Sal are on a mission to find what Oz holds close and destroy it.

Another very solid episode. Definitely a bit of a slower pace in which I feel the next two episodes are going to be mental. There are yet again even in a "build" episode a lot that happens. You have Vic seriously leaning into this new life, Oz scrambling to grow the business, Sofia seems more cool and collected on the hunt for Oz while Sal is foaming at the mouth wanting revenge.

Oz and his mom is a brilliant segment in the show, it is the only shred of loyalty the man has and the only small thing left as a viewer I can see still liking Oz for one good quality.

I can't wait for next week, even in the small moments of niceness and purity we get, I never feel safe as the viewer, I was right, 8/10.

The Penguin now operates from the underground and his mushroom business flourishes. But Sofia is hunting him. Victor gets confronted with someone from his past, who wants to use him to get into Oz's business. By shooting him, Vic completes his journey to the dark side. A genius as Oz is he invites all the minor gang leaders and gives them beer! He unites them against the Maronis and Falcones. Ergo bibamus - so let us drink!

But this wouldn't be the Penguin if it wasn't for Sofia to find out about Oz's hideout. She breaks into it and sees Vic dancing with The Penguin's mother. Oh boy, how shall I wait a whole week, not knowing if they survive?

The Penguin is just the best show of the year. It captivates its audience for weeks and doesn't lose one bit of its quality. The finale will be exceptional!

Episode 6 of The Penguin was a masterclass in storytelling, solidifying itself as my second favorite after the Arkham State Hospital episode. Oswald's speech was nothing short of phenomenal, capturing the raw essence of his ambition and cunning. The dialogue was sharp, layered, and delivered with a conviction that left a lasting impact. The episode masterfully balanced tension and character development, offering deeper insights into Oswald's psyche. The pacing, combined with stunning visuals, kept me engaged from start to finish. This episode stands out as a defining moment in the series. Love to watch it.

The Penguin has been a series that has been filled with setup, characters, storylines, and Gotham lore to fit within the Batman Epic Crime Saga. Long-form television allows for smaller moments that wouldn't have made it into a two-hour movie to survive the cutting room floor. However, there are some outstanding character moments in "Gold Summit" that need to fit into the larger story of The Penguin, and some outstanding moments for Eve and Victor come out of it. The cliffhanger ending in the penultimate episode makes the promise of wild things to come next week, but it can sometimes feel like we're never actually getting there. However, this is an exciting moment and one of The Penguin's better unresolved endings, even if it's dulled a bit by the show's overreliance on the device. Eve finally gets her time to shine in episode 6, with the long-awaited confrontation between her and Sofia arriving in one of the most tense and well-written scenes of The Penguin so far. The way Eve navigates the situation adds so much to the character, and the respect the two women end up having for one another after their "not so different, you and I" moment is really satisfying to watch. The time focused on Victor is well spent this week, as his storyline with Squid is important for his character. The first half of "Gold Summit" does a good job of showing how much Victor is enjoying his new responsibilities, juxtaposing that with how he looks and feels at the end. The "action" wasn't all it was cracked up to be, and being a gangster might not be for him. "Gold Summit" focuses on Oz, who is busy with the Bliss business and looming winter weather. Oz knows that without help, he won't be able to move on the Maronis and the Gigantes' powers. To show his communicative manipulation skills, Oz pulls together other Gotham gangs and schmoozes them with Tricorner Gold Ale. The Penguin showcases Oz's ability to talk himself into or out of anything he wants, but the execution of the scene isn't entirely convincing. The series has set the precedent that people are susceptible to Oz's manipulative ways, so it can be attributed to that. The Penguin still manages to squeeze captivating moments out of its characters, such as Victor and Eve, who confront the consequences of being connected to Oz. While "Gold Summit" does work towards the endgame battle between Oz and Sofia, the seemingly never-ending sense of buildup has me eagerly waiting for the inevitable climax.

"The Penguin" follows the iconic character as he navigates his way to taking over the city, stepping into a more prominent role after his appearance in the film starring The Batman. While the storyline is straightforward, it complicates itself with the mature themes HBO is known for, making it a departure from what traditional movie fans might expect.

This series captures the essence of what shows like "The Sopranos" and "The Wire" have achieved, but it feels like HBO is using the Batman brand to explore its own creative vision-both good and bad. It's clear that this show is still searching for its audience, as it seems to be made without a specific fanbase in mind. Overall, "The Penguin" is a bold and intriguing addition to the HBO lineup that may resonate with viewers looking for a fresh take on the beloved character.