The Penguin (HBO 2024): The series that dedicates 8 episodes to the Penguin without Batman

🐧 The Penguin (HBO 2024): the series that devotes 8 episodes to a Batman villain without ever showing Batman

For 85 years, film and television told the Batman universe through the lens of its hero. Every villain, every ally, every location was staged through the eyes of the Dark Knight. In September 2024, HBO broke that logic with a decision as simple as it was radical: make eight sixty-minute episodes devoted exclusively to the Penguin, without ever filming Batman, without even mentioning him. The result redefined what a superhero series can be. The Penguin is not a minor spin-off — it is probably the best television adaptation of the Batman universe ever produced, an award winner at the 2025 Emmys, a direct sequel to Matt Reeves' The Batman 2022, and the likely blueprint for the upcoming film sequel.

This article covers everything you need to know about the series: the staggering performance of Colin Farrell, unrecognizable under four hours of daily prosthetics, the eight-episode narrative structure that turns Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot into a mob godfather worthy of Coppola, the expansion of the Reeves' Universe launched by The Batman, the central role of Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone Gigante, and why this series is permanently changing the way Hollywood approaches DC adaptations. By the end, you will know exactly where to place The Penguin in the Batman timeline, how to watch it to get the most out of it, and why it remains the most important DC event of 2024-2025.

📺 Why The Penguin is a major TV event

To understand why The Penguin is more than just another series in the saturated landscape of superhero adaptations, you have to measure what it dares to do. No other comic book villain had ever carried a premium television series on his own. Gotham in 2014-2019 featured a gallery of villains, but built around a young Bruce Wayne. Pennyworth told Alfred's story. Neil Gaiman's The Sandman is not Batman. Batwoman remains a classic hero. The Penguin is unique: eight episodes devoted exclusively to a character the mythology has always presented as secondary, with no presence from the opposing hero.

HBO took this gamble for a specific reason. In 2022, Matt Reeves' The Batman relaunched the DC film universe in a dark, realistic direction, rooted in adult crime drama. The film's success (770 million at the worldwide box office) proved there was an audience for a grounded, gritty, mob-driven Batman. Rather than wait for an immediate film sequel, HBO and DC decided to expand this universe through premium television — a model that had already worked for Better Call Saul on AMC and Andor on Disney+. The series had to deepen a character already introduced on the big screen without repeating the film, and set up the narrative for the film sequel The Batman – Part II, expected in 2027.

The gamble paid off beyond expectations. At the 2025 Emmy Awards, The Penguin won several major prizes, including best performance for Cristin Milioti and several technical awards. Critics compared it to The Sopranos, to Breaking Bad, to Coppola's The Godfather. It is probably the first time a Batman adaptation has been mentioned in the same breath as the masterpieces of American mob drama. To understand the full arc of the character who carries the series, a look at the complete history of Oswald Cobblepot provides the mythological context.

🎭 An unrecognizable Colin Farrell: four hours of prosthetics every day

The most immediately striking element of The Penguin is Colin Farrell's physical transformation. The Irish actor, who had already appeared briefly as the Penguin in The Batman 2022 (five minutes in total), reprises the role for the series' eight episodes with a makeup setup of industrial intensity. Four hours of prosthetics a day. A face entirely rebuilt in latex. A widened jaw. A bulbous nose. Added scars and blemishes. When Farrell arrives on set in the morning, the makeup team starts at 5 a.m. so he is ready for the first take at 9 a.m. This industrial routine lasted for six months of shooting.

Why such a physical investment? Because the performance only works if the viewer completely forgets Colin Farrell. The series rested on a risky gamble: turning a usually comic character (the classic Penguin of the comics and of Burton's 1992 film) into a tragic godfather worthy of Tony Soprano. To pull off that shift, the actor could not be recognizable. The makeup literally had to erase Farrell to make Oz Cobblepot appear. That was the price for the performance to break free from every reference to earlier versions of the character.

A reinvented walk, voice and personality

Beyond the makeup, Farrell completely reinvented the character's body language. The limping gait (the Penguin gets his name from that walk), the deep voice with a New York-Italian accent, the nervous tics, the eating rituals (Oz constantly eats fast food in the series) — each of these details is an acting choice, not a legacy of the classic character. The result is a radically new Penguin, unfamiliar even to fans who thought they knew the character. This reinvention recalls what Heath Ledger did with the Joker in The Dark Knight — starting from scratch, ignoring previous versions, creating an entirely new figure.

🌃 The expanded Reeves' universe: the series as a bridge

The Penguin does not stand on its own — it is a direct sequel to The Batman 2022. The series begins a few days after the end of the film. Gotham is flooded because of the final explosion triggered by the Riddler. Mayor Don Mitchell Jr. is dead. Carmine Falcone was assassinated in the film's final scene. Mob power in Gotham is completely vacant. It is in this vacuum that Oz Cobblepot sees his opportunity: to become the city's new godfather. The series tells exactly how that rise unfolds, day after day, manipulation after manipulation, murder after murder. This thread continues in Carmine Falcone: origins, criminal empire and legacy of the godfather who shaped Gotham.

This direct narrative continuity with Reeves' film gives the series a unique role in the history of DC adaptations. It is neither a prequel nor a standalone sequel — it is a MIDQUEL, a story set between The Batman 2022 and the upcoming sequel The Batman – Part II in 2027. This narrative structure allows the universe to be explored in depth without interfering with the hero's main storyline. Batman himself is mentioned by other characters (notably Sofia Falcone, who has known him since Crime Alley), but never filmed. This forced absence of the hero pushes the writers to portray Gotham as a real city — not as a stage for Batman, but as a complex ecosystem where the mob, the corrupt police, politicians, the media and the working class interact. To grasp the social dimension of this post-flood Gotham, references to Crime Alley and the city's poorest neighborhoods recur throughout the series.

The narrative bridges with The Batman 2022

Several characters from The Batman 2022 return in The Penguin. Carmine Falcone is dead, but his children Sofia and Alberto are at the heart of the series. The Maroni clan, mentioned in the film, becomes Cobblepot's main antagonist. The Riddler, locked up in Arkham, does not appear physically, but his shadow hangs over the first episodes through references to the flood he caused. This density of references rewards viewers who have seen the film, without making the series incomprehensible for newcomers. See also the analysis of the differences between The Batman 2022 and the Nolan trilogy to place the universe of this series.

📚 Eight episodes: the structure of a Gotham Godfather

The series is built in eight sixty-minute episodes, released one per week between September and November 2024. This structure deliberately echoes the great classic HBO series (The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, The Wire). The pace is slow, contemplative, almost theatrical. Murders are rare and always carry consequences that shape the following episodes. No gratuitous cliffhangers. No spectacular twists for the sake of spectacle. This narrative discipline, rare in the superhero genre, helped lift the series to the level of great television drama.

The dramatic arc can be summed up in one sentence: Oz Cobblepot, Falcone's scorned lieutenant, takes advantage of his boss's death to attempt a hostile takeover of Gotham's mafia. To succeed, he must eliminate or neutralize every rival: Sofia Falcone (the late boss's daughter and rightful heir), the Maroni clan, the Russians, the Triads, and several temporary allies who betray him over the course of the season. Each of these obstacles becomes an episode. Each episode also deepens Oz's psychology — his childhood, his relationship with his mother who suffers from Alzheimer's, his teenage protégé Vic Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz, another standout performance). This double storyline — a criminal rise to power AND a psychological portrait — is what sets the series apart from a simple mob thriller.

Episode 4 as the emotional pivot

Episode 4, titled "Cent's the Same to Me", is unanimously considered the high point of the series. Focused exclusively on the character of Sofia Falcone and her past at Arkham Asylum, it interrupts the main storyline to deliver a devastating flashback covering ten years of the heroine's life. Cristin Milioti gives a performance that would earn her the 2025 Emmy for Best Actress in a Limited Series. This narrative boldness — interrupting the main arc for an entire episode to deepen a secondary character — is typically HBO and unusual in superhero series. It is also what turns The Penguin into an auteur work rather than a mere commercial extension of the film.

👑 Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone: the other Emmy performance

If Colin Farrell is the series' visual revelation, Cristin Milioti is its dramatic revelation. Known until then for lighter roles (notably How I Met Your Mother), Milioti completely switches register to play Sofia Falcone Gigante. Her character is probably the most complex in the entire series: daughter of the murdered godfather, locked up for ten years at Arkham Asylum on false accusations orchestrated by her own father, released to reclaim her criminal inheritance — without knowing whether she wants to follow the path of crime or break free from it.

This moral ambiguity is what makes Sofia more interesting than Oz himself at many points in the series. Where Cobblepot is a relatively linear tragic figure (he rises, he rises, he eventually falls), Sofia constantly swings between vengeance and redemption, between violence and tenderness, between the madness inherited from Arkham and regained lucidity. This oscillation gives rise to several memorable scenes, notably in the aforementioned episode 4. To measure the depth of the character, the context of Arkham Asylum — where Sofia spent ten years — is essential.

Sofia also shares with other strong female figures of Gotham a dimension of struggle against patriarchal mob structures. Like Catwoman in The Batman 2022 (Selina Kyle is, moreover, Sofia's hidden sister, as revealed in the film), Sofia embodies the possibility of female emancipation within male criminal circles. This proto-feminist dimension of the character, unexpected in a series centered on a male antagonist, partly explains the critical enthusiasm for the series. To understand the family connection between Sofia and Selina, the story of the Falcone sisters sheds light on the entire structure of the Reeves' Universe.

🎬 Why this series changes the face of DC on screen

Beyond its intrinsic qualities, The Penguin has a structural impact on the superhero film industry. Before 2024, DC TV adaptations were either average-quality CW series (Arrow, The Flash) or ambitious but uneven projects (Titans, Doom Patrol). The Penguin is the first DC series to reach the prestige level of the great HBO productions. It proves three things that will lastingly change future DC productions.

First, that a villain can carry a series without the hero. This demonstration opens the door to comparable spin-offs on the Joker, Catwoman, or other secondary figures. James Gunn, who runs the upcoming new DCU, has already announced work on similar series for Clayface (the horror film planned for 2026 could serve as a possible pilot) and for Arkham Asylum.

Second, that a cinematic universe can expand through TV without diluting the original film. The Reeves' Universe comes out stronger from The Penguin, not weaker. This logic reverses that of the DCEU in the 2010s, when each film scattered attention away from the next. To understand the coherence of the Reeves universe as a whole, the context of the Batman films in the complete chronology is illuminating.

Finally, that a mob drama can sustain 8 episodes without resorting to superhero conventions (supernatural fights, gadgets, costumes). The Penguin is, technically, closer to The Sopranos than to anything DC has produced before. This legitimization of an adult format grounded in reality paves the way for future adaptations that can break free from the constraints of the genre. It is probably the series' most lasting effect on the industry. The gallery of Gotham's villains is full of characters who could carry similar series: Black Mask, Hugo Strange, or even Two-Face would deserve their own series.

🔮 The Penguin and The Batman Part II: the bridge to 2027

The series has a precise narrative function in the Reeves ecosystem: setting up the film sequel. The Batman – Part II, scheduled for 2027, will have to deal with a Gotham that The Penguin has profoundly transformed. Without revealing the exact twists of the series finale, it's fair to say that the end of season 1 leaves Gotham in a political and criminal state radically different from where the film left off. The mayor has become beholden to Oz. Sofia Falcone has veered onto an unpredictable path. Mob power has been restructured around a new hierarchy. When Robert Pattinson puts the Batman suit back on in Part II, he will have to navigate this reconfigured Gotham — not the one he left at the end of the first film. To go further on this topic, see also What to rewatch before The Batman Part II? The fan's preparation guide.

This direct narrative continuity is an enormous creative investment on the part of Reeves and his team. It means that viewers who want to fully understand The Batman – Part II would do well to have seen The Penguin. This viewing requirement, which could have felt like a chore, becomes a pleasure thanks to the series' intrinsic quality. For future viewers discovering the Reeves universe in order, the optimal path is now: The Batman 2022 → The Penguin (8 episodes) → The Batman – Part II 2027. The other important figures of the Reeves' Universe — such as the Riddler or Catwoman — will likely see their treatment enriched by the series' repercussions.

A season 2 on the way?

Officially, The Penguin was announced as a "limited series" — a single, completed season. In practice, its critical and commercial success could push HBO to order a season 2 or a spin-off. Several secondary characters from season 1 (notably Sofia Falcone) call for a natural narrative follow-up. It remains to be seen whether Matt Reeves will want to expand the TV universe permanently or focus on the film sequel. The answer will probably come during 2026, depending on production decisions for The Batman – Part II.

📺 How to watch The Penguin if you are new to the Reeves universe

For viewers who have not seen The Batman 2022 and want to dive into The Penguin, here is the optimal viewing strategy. There are three possible options depending on how much time you have.

Option 1 — Everything in order. Watch The Batman 2022 first (3 hours), then move straight on to the 8 episodes of The Penguin (8 hours). Total: 11 hours over two weekends. This is the royal road: it gives you the full context, lets you appreciate every reference, and best prepares you for the 2027 movie sequel.

Option 2 — Series first, movie after. Go straight to the 8 episodes of The Penguin, then go back to The Batman 2022 if the series wins you over. This approach works because the series can be understood on its own (the first episodes quickly recontextualize the stakes), but you will miss several nods and emotional echoes. It suits viewers who want to test the tone before committing to 11 hours.

Option 3 — Wikipedia and a direct plunge. Read a short summary of The Batman 2022 on Wikipedia (5 minutes), then start the series. A low-effort solution that works but significantly sacrifices the experience. Avoid it if possible.

What to watch after The Penguin?

Once the series is over, there are several natural extensions. The most obvious: waiting for The Batman – Part II in 2027. In the meantime, several comics considerably enrich the experience. The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb is Reeves' main source of inspiration for his universe — the Falcone-Maroni mob is central to it. Batman: Year One by Frank Miller sets the noir-realist tone that permeates the series. The Black Mirror by Scott Snyder features Dick Grayson as Batman facing a comparable mob-ruled Gotham. The essential Batman comics are the best gateway to these reads.

🦇 The Penguin will be remembered as a turning point in the history of the genre

To conclude, The Penguin will go down in the history of DC adaptations for three reasons. First, it is the first superhero series to reach the prestige level of great HBO television drama — not a flattering comparison, but a genuine place in the same creative family as The Sopranos, The Wire or Breaking Bad. Second, it proves that a villain can carry a long narrative on his own, without the opposing hero — which opens up endless creative possibilities for the future of the DC universe. Finally, it is the performance that turns Colin Farrell from a respected actor into the memorable figure of a career — his physical transformation into Oz Cobblepot joins Heath Ledger's as the Joker in the pantheon of great screen incarnations of the Batman universe.

For fans discovering Batman through the series, The Penguin is also an unusual but effective gateway. Rather than starting with the hero, they start with Gotham's crime — with the economic and political structures that make this city a unique terrain. This bottom-up approach, through the criminal margins, gives a deeper understanding of why Batman exists and why he is necessary. Without organized crime, there is no need for a Dark Knight. The Penguin tells precisely the story of that need, by showing a Gotham where no official institution can stand up to an ambitious Cobblepot. It is in this moral vacuum that Bruce Wayne, in the background of the series, prepares his return. And it is this underground urgency that will give The Batman – Part II its narrative power in 2027.

Going further into the Reeves' Universe

For fans who want to explore the Reeves universe beyond the series, several complementary articles are available. What are the differences between The Batman 2022 and The Dark Knight trilogy places the founding movie within the history of Batman cinema. Everything you need to know about the cast of The Batman details the movie's full cast. The Batman – Part II gathers what we know about the upcoming sequel. To place the Penguin within the broader context of Batman villains, the dedicated portrait of Oswald Cobblepot in the mythology remains the best gateway. And for collectors who want to extend the experience with physical items, the Batman figures and the Batman poster collection offer several pieces dedicated to the Reeves' Universe. To structure a complete approach, the ultimate guide to Batman merchandise remains the essential starting point.