The Penguin review: Sopranos comparisons are off but Colin Farrell has created a classic villain

James Cox

*This article contians spoilers if you aren't up to date with HBO's The Penguin*

The Batman ranked as another film that failed to live up to previous versions of the caped crusader, such  as Christopher Nolan's Dark Night, but it has gifted us a stunning spin-off in The Penguin.

Set in the aftermath of The Riddler's masterplan that sent Gotham City into ruins, the dark series is the perfect playground for Oswald Cobb.

Colin Farrell's transformation as 'Oz' is a sight to behold in itself, as the Irish actor is unrecognisable as the scheming gangster.

After the death of mob boss Carmine Falcone, The Penguin begins his ascent to the top of the underworld, willing to step on anybody in his way be they family, enemies or former friends.

Cristin Milioti plays Sofia Falcone, who has emerged from a 10-year stint in Arkham Asylum, hellbent on becoming the queen of Gotham and gaining revenge for the murder of her brother.

While Farrell is the star of the show, Milioti is not far behind as the violent and damaged Sofia.

Her interactoins with Oz are some of the best scenes in the show. Their fragile relationship is tense as Sofia (rightly) suspects him of involvement in her brother's death.

The show is topped off by brilliant supporting roles including The Penguin's reluctant assistant Victor (Rhenzy Feliz), his mother Francis (Rhenzy Feliz), and his girlfriend Evie (Carmen Ejogo).

The eight episodes play out at a relentless pace, and will leave viewers eagerly anticipating the second season of the series.

Such was the popularity of the early episodes of the show that criticis compared The Penguin to classic mob series The Sopranos.

Those comparisons were perhaps unfair though, while there are similarities, not many shows can touch the brilliance of The Sopranos.

However, The Penguin is brilliant in its own right. Another key difference is that Tony Soprano had some redeemable qualities as he struggled with the brutal acts of violence he committed.

In contrast, Farrell's Penguin is completely at ease with being pure evil, as we saw in the shocking murder in the season finale.

*****