The Penguin Really Surprised Me

Its a show I had zero interest in watching, but after hearing good things about the first episode I decided to give it a go, and I'm very glad I did.
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[@GartheKnightReturns]

Actually The Batman was filmed in parts of Scotland. So that explains why it looks like a city ran by alcoholics. Because it is.

[@louisduarte8763]

Yup. I recognized the Glasgow Necropolis in that movie, after visiting it myself 5 years ago.

[@xokltten]

Okay

[@xokltten]

Fair enough

[@freshnewcungadero]

Scotland is one of the most based countries in the world imo.

[@totesmagotes213]

@@louisduarte8763Was coming here to make close to that same comment. I went there in 2018 though, but yeah it was instantly recognizable on screen.

[@DOOMStudios]

I still can’t get over the fact that is Colin Farrell in that makeup. It’s just fucking incredible.

[@ArnoldJudasRimmer..]

Absolutely insane. I only knew that was him today...and I have seen ads all over london on buses lol

[@kenrdickIamar]

Second Part kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@kenrdickIamar]

It’s insane lol

[@dksoulstice6040]

Whatever awards they can win for this sort of thing, give them all the awards.

[@TheSaxon.]

Crazy. You'd have thought he'd have just put on the weight and shaved his head but chose to torture himself instead. Very fitting.

[@steveouk90126]

They're using the same model as Joker: not justifying the villain's actions, but putting them into the proper context of how that person became that way.

[@Taurean_SAMA]

More difficult to portray than it sounds 👏🏽

[@steveouk90126]

@@Taurean_SAMA One of the most difficult things to portray, actually. For instance, Hannibal Lecter's background was impressive the first time, but run into the ground by pretenders since.

[@bl1neoner370]

Different motivations. The Joker is just a Psychopath with a bent on wreaking havoc against society, I have no sympathy. Oswald is more relatable since he's just trying to get ahead in an evil world. He could have been a lot like Batman if his luck had been different. The Joker is just a shitty reverse Taxi Driver.

[@se_eikeboom6891]

@@bl1neoner370 Ah yes, the psychiatrist.

[@MajorCanada]

This is called a proper character narrative. Disney should take notes.

[@CanadaPlus]

Man, DC really trying to destroy Agatha All Along, even though no one was watching it anyway.

[@kenrdickIamar]

Colin showed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@kenrdickIamar]

Second Part kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@michaelstephens9852]

Surprised anyone even still has a disney account

[@edmonddantes563]

I’d never have heard of that movie if not for drinker, nerdeotic, TheQuatering and all this crew lol. I like all those guys but still

[@LittleGalaxyBoy]

I actually enjoyed both Penguin and Agatha, two shows I'm really glad we got. One show paying homage to Mare of Easttown and European detective dramas, embracing a more open approach to nudity, violence, and other mature themes. The show’s also pretty open about its LGBTQ themes, which might not be to everyone’s taste. But honestly, the connection between queer culture and witchcraft has been around for decades so it fits. Then there's Penguin, a truly unique crime drama that's naturally drawing comparisons to The Sopranos. I loved the grounded, yet visually captivating take on Gotham City. It feels like a blend of Gothic European (Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow) with New York City, while still carving out its own identity, much like The Batman did. Gotham in this series though leans more towards New Jersey and Brooklyn, which works perfectly for exploring before the Central Gotham. Colin Farrell is fantastic as the Penguin, and I thought the show's beginning was handled really well. Glad we got both shows myself.

[@MaskedxSaiyan]

“feels like a show that’s for and written by adults” you hit the hammer on the head.

[@oildalejones567]

What did he hit it with?🤔

[@SavageJarJar]

You hit the nail on the head, not the hammer. Or maybe you meant it like how you said it. What did you hit the head of the hammer with?

[@1destinyslegacy]

Well said.. this was good...

[@wakeupuk3860]

Yes, he got it right on the mark, only after watching it for ten minutes his comment came into my brain which I have not thought for maybe three years now.

[@AKeyearea8]

The writing sucks

[@techgroveusa]

The show's gritty tone and complex characterization elevate it beyond typical superhero spin-offs.

[@TheGodOfWarhammer]

Collin Ferrel deserves an Emmy for this. His performance has a touch of Tony Soprano, and I love it!

[@sanberrios14]

All I see is Tony at times, you can tell he's trying to emulate his voice as well.

[@xokltten]

Part Two kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@xokltten]

Next Part: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@WolfgangWhyte]

And to channel all that through all that latex - yeah, he's earned a trophy or two

[@kenrdickIamar]

Fr yes

[@chance_ondriezek99]

The fact that IGN only gave this a 5, proves they’re impossible to please 😂

[@norddorian5791]

It just proves that they are woke ®€t@®d$

[@sanberrios14]

The only thing that can please them is garbage like the acolyte

[@Silverflower351]

They wanted the female penguin from that animated show 😅😅

[@andrecolon1469]

Wasn’t lame and gay enough for them

[@Ride-Drive]

5? It's 8 on IGN site

[@EthelJung-j5w]

I have always been more of a DC man than Marvel, so this one caught me by surprise. Bravo. THIS is how it is done.

[@SuicidalSummerSnowWoman]

ill hold my accolades for when the series is finished... been burned by DC too many times

[@m16dude967]

DC tends to write the villains better than the heroes.

[@ashroskell]

Note of caution: you only have one episode so far, but it’s okay to be optimistic I guess? Haven’t seen it yet, but reviews like this draw me in, as does the presence of the woefully underused Clancy Brown in anything. I even went to see Cowboys And Aliens on the strength of him being in the movie. And, yeah, he was the best thing in what came close to being a great film but just ended up being, “meh,” for some reason.

[@MatthewMcRowan]

not really, 5/10 at most. Tony Soprano without slutty wife

[@ethangilbert4896]

DC will always be a more authentic comic book company, its just a shame WB doesnt seem to care at all about properly portraying its characters. Hopefully matt reeves and james gunn can deliver, I have hope

[@samcwyss01]

This is the show Gotham wanted to be

[@kenrdickIamar]

Second Part kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@kenrdickIamar]

This is the Gotham we all wanted to see

[@SteveAustin-zv1nn]

I kinda liked Gotham. Sort of got a little boring and over the top towards the end though. I liked the "Joker" character and I really liked the Penguin interpretation. This looks far more up my street though.

[@LudicrousInc.]

Let's just hope the superpowers stay away from this one 😤😤😤

[@dariusewing6962]

True But Gotham wasn't bad tho it got corny after season 2

[@tejfilms5326]

And this was written by a female writer and a very competent one,nothing like the 'modern' shows made now a days written by woke ladies.

[@denisl2760]

Funny how its not all over the advertising for the show. Almost as if having actual talent means you don't have to use feminism as a crutch.

[@marshalsunrise6582]

You lying , you seriously lying It's rare to find something good written by a woman in today's media atmosphere but damn she damn outdid herself , I don't know her normal skill level but damn more women like her should be writing shows instead of hacks I've only seen 1 episode but I want to see everything else Why doesn't she write for everything in DC that's dark ,she's just good

[@yotuel9064]

The gender of the writer shouldn't be even in the debate. Only the quality of the script.

[@Piperitum]

*joke ladies

[@britt6184]

​@@yotuel9064True. Sadly we've been conditioned to expect garbage due to "the message".

[@DavidAnderson-m5c]

There was one moment early in the episode, when Penguin, carrying the bagged corpse of Falcone the younger, comes to the top of the stairs, and starts the long climb down. For a man with normal feet, that would be a slog. For him? Pure torture. So what does he do? He lets gravity help out and tosses the body down the stairs to the next landing. Presumably repeated until the ground floor, where a short trip to the car is so much easier. That was the moment I was completely sold on the series. The writer, director, and actor took the time and effort to put this logistical decision into the story, and it had the immediate effect of making the viewer side with Penguin. I was not only NOT disappointed for the rest of the episode, but my admiration and appreciation only rose. This is one of the best debut episodes of a crime drama I've ever seen, and in my 68 years I've seen a LOT.

[@jmgonzales7701]

It was also efficient suprisingly, because i thought it would be ur typical slow burn series that is very popular with noir, gangster/mafia type genre.

[@mkultra2456]

fake comment

[@huginnmuninn2155]

yes it always helps when characters feels like real people who really do the stuff - as opposed to that just getting handwaved.

[@hurricane_laura]

When you said that was Colin Ferrell, I had to pause the video to look at him, and he's still unrecognizable. THIS is the cool stuff that happens when practical effects are used over CGI.

[@kenrdickIamar]

Next Part: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@kenrdickIamar]

Loving it

[@XAVlER444]

Next Part: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@XAVlER444]

Second Part kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@XAVlER444]

Colin Version kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@alexkeihorn7364]

Colin Farrell really went fully Daniel Day Lewis with this one. He’s completely unrecognizable.

[@kenrdickIamar]

Next Part: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@kenrdickIamar]

Yes fair enough

[@jacobdada]

Never go full Daniel Day Levis😉

[@sterlingarcher74]

He’s always been underrated. But him becoming grotesque and unrecognizable for this role definitely puts him in a class above everyone else in his generation.

[@Woodsaras]

Ok guys. He didnt do the makeup or special effects. Its all thanks to themake up team. This must have cost a small fortune and took a team to do it.

[@CaptainLuckyLuke]

I love that all the rank and file criminals at the warehouse were pleased/relieved to see Oswald. It shows he doesn’t have his henchmen, he has his boys.

[@zerrez9791]

I'm glad the writers understand that Gotham itself is a character and thus deserves the care and attention to detail the same as penguins prosthetics.

[@bitty_beastly47]

You 100% are copy pasting the "Gotham is a character in itself" opinion. You are an NPC

[@BrandonScott-mi5pz]

EXCELLENT WORK. THE CRITICAL DRINKER 🍺

[@ESTKING-in3cd]

@@bitty_beastly47 😂

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

So hes basicly Tony Soprano with Superpowers???

[@AnaOhKay]

@@bitty_beastly47 r u alright mate?

[@gelchert]

Regarding Farrell’s casting, supposedly Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill both turned the role down because they wanted more money than Robert Pattinson. Farrell got the role partly because he was available, but largely because he’s not a prima donna.

[@DoubleO88]

Jonah would've done great but Seth Rogan? Maybe if it was the 1960s or 1997 campy Batman.

[@thesnoopmeistersnoops5167]

British and Irish actors have a reputation for being reliable, turning up and getting on with it.

[@LexingtonDeville984]

⁠​⁠@@thesnoopmeistersnoops5167That is very much true. British and Irish actors just turn up and get to work without throwing temper tantrums ala Rogen and Hill demanding more money than Pattinson.

[@seanpgallagher22ify]

Hell yeah. Farrell is way better than both of them.

[@samherrera2702]

Thank God!

[@Beautiful-ModelBarbara-Hut-s1j]

The show beat me over the head with a stick, slapped me in the face and called me a good boy. feels alive man! early 8/10, possible 10/10 if the show keeps going like this!

[@GodEmperorOfDune747]

I actually watched the episode twice, and I haven't done that in years. I forgot what good writing and good acting looked like. What an awesome time!

[@ninja-mouse]

His mom surprised me the most. I really thought she was just worried about him, instead she encourages him.

[@IanHolt-su2vm]

Yea me to, I just couldn't get enough.

[@Dizcreti]

Yeah I’m surprised people are surprised did you forget who matt revees was?! Also The batman was a good movie

[@scottishcelts2040]

Same here

[@Bossanova.]

I recommend "Marco Polo" and "The Blacklist" but get them on the high seas instead of netflix.

[@RM_VFX]

What's amazing is that they were able to design an original face, that looks nothing like the actor underneath, but still looks like a real dude instead of an uncanny cartoon.

[@22grena]

And body

[@Markcantfindausernam]

There was a lovely little moment when Penguin and the kid are on the train and Penguin looks down at the seating for handicapped ( or whatever the appropriate word for that is now) people but refuses to sit there despite arguably being able to. Its nuanced touches like that which reveal something about the character, and perhaps more importantly, the care and creativity of the writers and actors to bring it all to life.

[@alandoak5146]

I noticed that too.

[@IvanlyChannel]

Batman Begins had a more stylized Gotham, then Nolan sort of dropped the look for the next 2

[@patfer1189]

Exactly. It was pretty gritty in Begins.

[@LucianDevine]

@@patfer1189 Batman was actively sorting out the city and criminals, hammering them to the point of desperation, and the Harvey Dent Act helped keep a lot of those criminals locked up in DKR. That's likely why the cities looked a bit more alive and well, versus Begins, where he hadn't started yet.

[@GoldCrotalus]

I've always believed that Nolan's biggest mistake with the Dark Knight trilogy was not embracing the art direction of Batman Begins. It's the only film in the trilogy that looks and feels like a comic book movie. The other two don't even look like they're in the same universe.

[@robwalsh9843]

Batman Begins had sort of a Great Depression-meets-Art Deco look which lent itself well in creating a distinct Gotham vibe. The Dark Knight made Gotham look like regular Chicago and The Dark Knight Rises made Gotham look like regular New York. That was a mistake on Nolan's part.

[@LucianDevine]

@@GoldCrotalus I think it's because of Batman's influence on the city. Crime was down, WAY down. So much so that even a drug dealer was having trouble making a sale. Organized crime was all that was left, and was actively on Batman's radar, with him helping the cops make arrests with irradiated bills. Of course the city is going to look different. Then the effect is magnified by the Harvey Dent Act in DKR.

[@RJWeir-tn4mn]

Well written, well acted, well directed, with a touch of darkness. This show is right up my alley.

[@AKeyearea8]

Well written? Lol. You mean the black slave he got?

[@Dr.DisrespectFan918]

Agatha better

[@ANTIStraussian]

​@@Dr.DisrespectFan918wtf is Agatha

[@MatthewMcRowan]

boring and generic dialogues and plot, only Farrel plays well, directed just the same as every single tv show since 10 years, what darkness?

[@AKeyearea8]

@@MatthewMcRowan well said

[@stiffzombie1537]

I guess I'm the only one who thought Farrel's performance as The Penguin was something special in The Batman. He was by far my favorite part of the movie, and I was stoked to hear they were making a series.

[@moshymosh]

Nah, you're not the only one. This channel just became extremely cynical once it got some attention for criticizing movies that deserved critique. Now Critical Drinker is just an extremely toxic, shallow version of what it once was.

[@Youcannotfalter]

You aren't the only one, The Batman was a big success and the penguin in it was fantastic. The Drinker sometimes is way off.

[@elfanraiden81]

Me too

[@buckatoms]

The only thing that didn't sit well with me in The Batman was catwoman complaining about white privilege and Mayor Black Woman Magic. So far, it looks like they've learned their lesson. We'll see.

[@Youcannotfalter]

@@buckatoms Ill definitely agree about that one, it was cringe and took me out of the story for a bit. I think Zoë Kravitz probably pushed for that crap dialogue.

[@petrowegynyolc7108]

He hired Victor first out of necessity to help him carry Falcone's corpse. Only when he saw that he's from the same neighborhood it crossed his mind to maybe spare his kin. Maybe, he once had been entered into the underworld the same way - at least that's my headcanon from the way he spoke about that old mafioso.

[@alandoak5146]

Yeah, he hadn't decided to spare him yet, but maybe he saw a little spark of promise in that first impression.

[@and_o]

Oswald used to have a stutter as well, so that's another reason why Victor was spared.

[@osiris7945]

Rex calabrese you mean

[@petrowegynyolc7108]

@@osiris7945 sí

[@petrowegynyolc7108]

@@osiris7945 Yeah - and that's what good writing does: making the story enjoyable for Level 4 nerds and normies alike.

[@syn1183]

Started watching the drinkers review, stopped 30 seconds in to watch the penguin and came back to pick up where I left off. Definitely a good first episode

[@dpuckett]

lol, I did the same thing.

[@swizinSims]

Yep, me too. Drinker knows the good ones

[@MatthewMcRowan]

imagine needing second opinion to validate weather you like something or not

[@syn1183]

@@MatthewMcRowan no I didn’t need his opinion I just never heard of penguin before and thought it looked good from what I saw and didn’t want the spoilers So I stopped watching.

[@ripevanwinkle494]

@@MatthewMcRowanWho hurt you little buddy?

[@robsnowden6262]

For the DC Universe, I thought Gotham city was suppose to emulate real world Chicago, while Metropolis was supposed to emulate New York City…

[@kerbalairforce8802]

Depends on the version. Gotham was always NYC to me as a kid, and Metropolis felt like a great lakes city, even though it's supposedly geographically coastal

[@K1214-m9w]

Bob Kane and Bill Finger based Gotham on New York.

[@barnbwt]

I always thought Metropolis was supposed to be Cleveland of all places (slightly more urbanized and obviously from decades ago during the city's heyday, of course). In the early-mid part of the 20th century, Cleveland was a 'new' city, unlike Chicago and New York that had ancient buildings (and ancient public infrastructure) all over the place by comparison. So that's why Metropolis was so bright, shiny, new, and Mid Century Modern as opposed to Art Deco in inspiration.

[@evenAndre]

What I found awesome was that Oswald looked "soft" in some scenes, but in closeups with his eyebrows raised and black eyes, he looked really menacing. Very good start indeed!

[@stevemaricar4350]

Never thought I'd be hooked on a series about a peripheral character like the Penguin. The mature tone, complex character development and well-acted roles do make this a stand-out in the crowded field of comic book adaptations.

[@catmenot7143]

Collin Farrel is a genius. The guy will win an Oscar one day.

[@nhmooytis7058]

He was nominated for The Banshees of Inisherin but lost to Brendan Fraser in The Whale. He’s been nominated for and won many other awards. At this point the Oscars have very little credibility left.

[@Tom-qp6oh]

He's a straight white male...So not likely anytime soon.

[@BioshadowX]

Between this, Jessica Jones ,and Andor, it's curious how the best stories set inside a shared universe are just a great story that happens to take place in a shared universe, rather than trying to completely upend it. Hmmmm

[@maxhermann5307]

I loved daredevil season 1 aswell

[@TechnicalHulk]

Yep, Punisher and Daredevil had the same feeling. I hope this shows the Marvel showrunners what people actually want.

[@nathanieldiaz5254]

Only season 1 of Jessica Jones cause the later seasons were awful

[@nathanieldiaz5254]

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. also applies to that

[@aldunlop4622]

They are adult shows that don't treat the audience as simpletons or children. Mature writing wins every time.

[@jd32k]

Collin Farrel has quickly become one of my favourite actors. He killed it in the Gentleman movie. And now as The Penguin. He's so good

[@norwegiantechnolover]

He's always great, it seems. Have you seen him in True Detective?

[@s1d3k1ckRO]

I did not expect this to come out. When I saw the ad I couldn't wait to see the drinker's thoughts about it. Now I can't wait to get home to watch it.

[@kenrdickIamar]

Colin showed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@kenrdickIamar]

It’s legendary

[@Chumdubgess]

It’s fantastic, enjoy!

[@Nebuloid1]

I did not know this was a series, totally thought it was gonna be a movie... Allrighty then.

[@adamscott2580]

It's pretty dang good and refreshing as Drinker mentioned, looking forward to the season for sure.

[@rickswordfire4774]

"...telling my AA sponsor that I've fallen of the wagon for the third time... today." I love this joke.

[@charxmoon9495]

I kept asking myself through the episode, where the duck is batman. Then I realized the show will be ending with penguin winning, only to have batman come out at the very end. Penguin smiling, and suddenly saying "fuck" as his smile fades, the camera pans to reveal what his eyes see. Batman standing , camera pans to Batman's face, he smirks, and the credits roll.... And then the movie will come out .

[@jmgonzales7701]

I hope they modify the suit a bit

[@ThatGaritGuy]

I wonder if they'll be able to get Robert Pattinson or if they'll have to use a body-double

[@bassguitar2709]

DC dunked on Marvel Franchise so hard with this winner

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

Lol DC dunked on marvel with Joker. Marvel has been crap for 5 years

[@MarvelMTs]

That P Diddy reference got me nearly falling onto the floor from laughter

[@kenrdickIamar]

Next Part: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@kenrdickIamar]

So true lol

[@HannahKayW]

@@kenrdickIamarWhy on earth are you commenting on every comment with a minimal response broken into two comments. It’s not deep, it’s weird.

[@everope]

​@@HannahKayW it's a bot

[@DaDude2011]

A very well timed roast

[@StrumGod]

Lots of people are praising colin ferrell, but cristin miliotti really shines here as well

[@snakepond2716]

Cristin Milioti is an underrated actress. She was great in Palm Springs and steals every scene.

[@vismayavijoy4818]

She is . One look at her as Sofia & you could tell she's batshit crazy & terrifying something Disney can't achieve with countless female oriented shows🤡

[@JumpCutThis]

Loved her in PS- solid actress.

[@kariikonen8695]

When I knew it was Cristina Milioti I realized Ted really screwed the mother so hard to turn her into a crime boss

[@antoniowakardo7280]

USS Callister - - she was amazing in this episode of black mirror.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Man, I can't believe that The Mother from How I Meet Your Mother is actually good actress. She's also killing it in The Wolf of Wall Street.

[@Synto56]

“You had my curiosity, now you have my attention” - Calvin Candie - Critical Drinker

[@Baelzar]

Pretty amazing how much he can emote through that make-up. The way they framed his eyes, turning Farrell's big brown eyes into those beady glowing brown orbs....

[@EbonyPope]

Colin's makup is just incredible. Practical effects have also progressed over time. That's why I think it's a shame they aren't used even more. Like modern animatronics have such tiny motors and are practically as articulate as the real think and modern masks like Colin's are so flexible and look so natural it's beyond great. It also gives the actors something real to react to and act with. Truly incredible.

[@TheWarmachine375]

As The Senate himself would say, "A surprise to be sure but a welcome one."

[@kenrdickIamar]

Second Part kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@kenrdickIamar]

Very true

[@davidcasas504]

based

[@88-V-..-A-..-N-88]

“He said the thing” - 👆

[@MegaSpideyman]

The Penguin or Drinker's review?

[@andyf313]

While I never expected much from him, I was shocked by his cinematic performance, and given the fact he remained in character off camera, and the director is directly quoted as saying he'll miss Oz after their shoot is done. Shows how brilliant Colin truly was as this character. I can't believe they actually found writers who could provide a sturdy bedrock on which the actors could perform & shine. I can't wait to see the whole show! -and I never usually care about Batman's villains.

[@docproc144]

To speak on a few things Drinker said in the video, I’ve been watching several cast and crew interviews from this show to learn more about the production of it (cause I like shit like that), and regarding Farrell’s role in the Batman movie, he felt kind of placed in some scenes cause he actually was. Apparently Farrell read the script, got in the prosthetics, and loved playing the character so much that he asked Matt Reeves for more. So Reeves said they tried to fit him in every scene they could get away with. I think it really speaks to Farrell’s dedication as an actor, to sit through like 3 to 4 hours of makeup work each time and still want more opportunities to contribute with the character. Also regarding the Penguin prosthetics themselves, apparently Matt Reeves was kind of unsure about it, but the guy who did the makeup (unfortunately I can’t remember his name off the top of my head) told Reeves to trust him and that he not only could make it work, but that he’d do it so well that people couldn’t tell it was prosthetics. Kudos to that guy for having enough faith in his ability and the quality of his work to take a leap of faith like that and pitch it to a director.

[@GeoffryGifari]

yeah, the makeup artist was mike marino I believe

[@DPMusicStudio]

Great comment!

[@MeusliCat]

I had to check twice to make sure it was really Colin Farrell

[@lonestarrk9308]

I’m not gonna lie, this is the first show in a long time that I’m actually excited for the next episode. I did not expect much.

[@Gavin-w4r]

Truth, been too long

[@AJ_from_Queens]

I was gonna skip this one but I trust this man’s opinion so much I’m gonna throw it on the wishlist

[@ToesToJesus]

It was such a small moment, but one of the Penguin moments that I LOVED from the Batman was "You're the worlds greatest detective and you don't speak Spanish?" That cemented for me that THIS penguin was going to be an actually interesting character instead of some weird Burgess Meredith waddling trick cane caricature.

[@bironjames9948]

Why ?

[@ToesToJesus]

@@bironjames9948 Why what? Why did I like that moment? Because, to me, it showed that THIS penguin was going to use his wits against the Batman, instead of trick canes and goons. The Batman Penguin was clever enough to point out that the Batman was not as smart as he thinks he is, especially if he needs his, the Penguins help. It showed that the Penguin could seize a simple weakness of The Batman and laugh at it. Good stuff.

[@orsomethinglike]

@@ToesToJesusI loved that moment in the movie - it made me laugh out loud. 😂 I think it also showed that the peinguin is more hands-on involved in criminal operations which would probably include talking directly with Mexican cartel lieutenants. It’s subtly weaves a sense of backstory and a lived life into the peonguins character, and that’s what makes it great writing.

[@Travis-vc9nh]

Hey don’t be ripping on burgess meredith. He was a good Penguin for his time an filled the role well in the type of show he was in. Obviously the overall tone of Batman has changed since the 60s and the characters change with it

[@racheltheradiant4675]

Burgess Meredith is classic! Back when it was safe for children to watch Batman.

[@Y0momma_Lol]

Nah IGN could give she-hulk and echo an 8 but gave penguin a 5 Shows how much credible IGN really is🤣

[@Linklex7]

IGN has always sided more with its Disney overlords over WB. Unless WB promotes the message (like Birds of Prey or Batwoman).

[@1ButtonDash]

are you fking serious they gave it a 5?

[@M-S_4321]

​@@Linklex7IGN bends over (reluctantly?) to deliver messaging friction for the mousehouse.

[@JesiAsh]

Looks like 5 by IGN is like must-watch

[@l.pricetag.5207]

Never listened to them since their Alien Isolation review.

[@harrylipscomb6343]

I think the kid actor for Victor is suprisingly good mixing together fear with a kind of amazment

[@vaclavmacgregor2464]

The way you say Go away Now truly reflects your happiness at being pleasently suprised with this new show.

[@Kelnx]

It's so rare to hear high praise from Drinker, particularly when it comes to modern superhero schlop, that I might have to actually watch this now.

[@Deadman1957TEB]

I loved that nearly smirk Victor did when Oswald ejected the 9 to 5 disc, magic acting!

[@EB-bl6cc]

Agreed. He was still too terrified of penguin to risk a full-on smirk, so the acting there made complete sense

[@OlYables]

That was a hilarious touch. You can easily picture Oswald identifying and singing passionately along to Dolly's pean to the overworked, underappreciated underling.

[@Texastrue43]

Drinker>IGN Every damn time

[@tamisthewizard3199]

I love seeing Mr. Krabs I can’t imagine him as a children’s voice actor anymore.

[@gnarwhal7562]

From what I've read, the Penguin was originally meant to be the opening half of the Batman sequel, but it bloated the film's runtime, so Matt Reeves and WB opted to just make it a mini-series instead. If this is the level of quality that we can expect for the sequel, then I can't imagine what they'll have in store for us next; (I'm beyond excited!)

[@ProtoMarcus]

Not quite - Matt Reeves planned on making a PENGUIN movie but then executives proposed to adapt it into a Series instead. Development of The Penguin occurred in 2021 whereas production of The Batman was in 2020 They were also developing GCPD set in the same universe but scrapped this one and recycled some of its ideas into The Penguin

[@cameronscott7304]

Here's hoping The Batman II is less bloated than it's predecessor. I enjoyed The Batman but it was too long.

[@MidlifeCrisisJoe]

@@ProtoMarcus Oh man. A well done GCPD show would be amazing.

[@MuchDrOrange]

​@@cameronscott7304It's only three hours though? I feel like instead of criticizing them for length we should just let them tell the story they want to tell.

[@DerpASherpa117]

​@@MuchDrOrangeCameron is right, it was overly long. I enjoyed it though and thought Pattinson, Farrell and Dano stole the show. No other Batman film has captured the gritty, yet somehow elegantly dilapidated aesthetic of Gotham, like a pearl encrusted with rust, like The Batman. Reeves's Gotham has the dark Gothic structure of Burton's Gotham but without the campiness, and it has the austerity of Nolan's Gotham without the hyper-realism that subsequently removes all character from it. It resembles most closely the Animated Series from the 90s which is obviously a huge compliment.

[@sivad1025]

It's Tony Soprano with a penguin waddle

[@kenrdickIamar]

Colin showed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWirnIWKibKdhs0

[@kenrdickIamar]

Finally

[@davidcasas504]

and that is a good thing, Tone is the best TV character ever.

[@sullivandmitry1416]

Nah, not yet. Tony is one of the most unique and complex characters ever written. He is still the peak of what a morally grey protagonist (villain hero) can possibly be. Walter white comes very very close, but he’s still less nuanced and complex than Tony.

[@sivad1025]

@sullivandmitry1416 Oh for sure, I'm not giving the Penguin that much credit. I'm just watching the Sopranos for the first time right now so it was bizarre seeing discount Tony in a fat suit in Gotham Also, I admittedly have 2 seasons left of Sopranos, but I would probably put Jimmy McGill above both Tony and Walt. Better Call Saul does an exceptional job threading the needle from start to finish. There's never a point where Jimmy feels objectively evil and irredeemable as Walt and Tony often do. That's not to say Walt and Tony aren't complex, I just don't find them as compelling since their motivations are pretty straightforward and they lack serious reflection of their own moral failings. Tony spends a lot of time in therapy, but it's really not complicated: he's a murdered and a cheat and he doesn't care because he wasn't raised to value women and human dignity.

[@nickfunkhouser7096]

I love the little nod to the dark victory comic with sofia.

[@Hailtothe303]

It's what Mauler always says. If its written well, anything could be good.

[@thisismyname3928]

🤢🤮

[@xokltten]

Nice

[@xokltten]

Fair enough

[@TheSaxon.]

Colin Farrell never had the makings of a Varsity athlete.

[@Grasslander]

The Sopranos!

[@lordsomber]

You can go

[@WATCHMYCLIPSZ]

*"Leave the batman,take the gabbagool."*

[@boletop6204]

Oz Cobb? That mozzarella with legs was number 2 ?

[@rufusgoldstein2655]

I believe he does. D1 starter

[@buzmil]

Hats off to Cristin Milioti, she's managed to be absolutely lovely......and completely f***ing terrifying at the same time as Sofia

[@Rizzo2185]

Who would’ve thought that good character development, writing, directing and amazing actors would make for a great show?!

[@WillChes2]

It truly was a shock to us all

[@michaelbrice5169]

The Batman was the Batman world we all wanted. It’s like playing the Batman Arkham games

[@adtastic1533]

I like it better than Dark Knight

[@OliPeters2003]

@@adtastic1533Me too. While I admit that Heath Ledger portrayed the best iteration of The Joker, the world this version takes place in is much more the Gotham that we envisioned as kids.

[@highbrowstonebender7063]

speaking of which, imagine the Pattinson Batman going toe to toe with that universe's version of Victor Szazs. A lesser known but terrifyingly brutal batman villain. Hell, keep Anthony Carrigan in the role and let him show us his acting chops as a rated R version of the character. Legit, Carrigan in Barry was fucking amazing and to let him go full darkside would be something to see.

[@FierceDeityRick]

SPOILER sorta The best part was being completely thrown a loop like you were being conned as well when he gave the ring away and had the kid Vic who didn’t answer his phone send the car while he got himself “caught” at the scene of the crime.. great stuff!

[@Sedgewise47]

“…So-actual New York, then…” 😆!…

[@cruisersonly]

I just watched this, after my GF drug me to the TV and I could not find any excuse to do something else. And... I owe her a BIG thank you. I expected to have to make myself sit through it and keep my mouth shut just for her. Instead I found it as big a surprise as the Drinker has. I was amazed. This is excellent stuff!!!

[@davidbutler1622]

I always thought Metropolis was based on New York and Gotham City was based on Chicago.

[@None_of_your_business666]

5:03 proof the drinker is not a misogynistic drunktard...

[@jezzalanko]

Props to a Scotsman given praise to an Irishman

[@ThatGaritGuy]

Scotsman praising an irishman playing an Italian-american

[@greattribulation1388]

I was really surprise at this too, the level of intellect he possesses is subdued by his being uncouth and vulgar. The ring plot seemed completely innocuous. Then you see it all unfold. I’m anxious to see the young soldier that kids turns into. Very well written, and farrels acting is beyond anything he’s done before. I hope the first episode isn’t a spoiler for the rest of the season.

[@PaulBongiorno-v2l]

About time Colin lives up to his hype. Hasn’t been since 2008’s In Bruges, that he’s been in something I wanted to see, and finally shown some range.

[@piffpete420]

Impressive performance from Colin, I had no idea it was him

[@MensanThespian]

Wow! Spot on, Critical Drinker. Episode 1 was outstanding. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@docproc144]

The first episode was excellent. Colin Farrell really shines as Penguin. He’s unrecognizable in the role.

[@JumpCutThis]

Amazing to think that for the ego of Seth Rogan and Jonah Hill, he’d never have gotten a whiff of this project. All I can say is *THANK GOD* I love Farrell so I’m glad to see him get his due here.

[@matane2465]

He's unrecognizable as The Penguin. Who the hell is this because it's not The Penguin.

[@docproc144]

@@matane2465 I think it was a stroke of genius to make Penguin a lower level disfigured mobster in this. This version feels so much more grounded and connected to the world Reeves is building as opposed to the version we’re accustomed to.

[@Twoface227]

I watched it only because I didn't have anything else to watch at the time. Likewise, I was completely impressed by this show. I love how you can see in Colin Farrells face when the character is sorting something out in his head, thinking through his options, without breaking, or coming across as weak. This show is REALLY well done, and looking forward to the rest of the season.

[@LeSteeler]

The Batman is super successful

[@mmcquay73]

I was also so shocked how well written this first episode was. I was very very impressed and relieved that a spin off could be so creative. Bravo this far 👏👏

[@leroybrown9143]

They tell you why Oswald doesn't use his own men when he meets with the family and they tell him the drops, the money and the men are theirs not his. At that point he needs someone who isn't tied to the Falcones, they don't exists to try flipping, and is only loyal to him. The makeup is incredible. I have high hopes from the network that's given us Oz, The Wire, The Sapranos, and my personal favorite, Boardwalk Empire.

[@JumpCutThis]

Don’t forget Six Feet Under- I absolutely loved that series.

[@leroybrown9143]

@JumpCutThis 💯 Dude's wife prostituting herself and writing about it in her book was INSANE.

[@GeoffryGifari]

almost forgot about boardwalk empire

[@kernowarty]

I would have no idea this was Farrel if I wasn't told. Even his eyes don't give it away.

[@galetinm]

The kid didn't want to steal his car, just the wheels.

[@tayzer22]

I cannot believe that's Collin Farrell. The makeup is incredibly well done. If I wasn't told who it was I never would have guessed.

[@yawayisi3979]

Clancy Brown is the force that binds every comic book universe

[@ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΑ-ε1ω]

YES HE IS

[@louisduarte8763]

I think the 1st DC adaptation I heard him in was as Lex Luthor on Superman: TAS. For a long time, I thought he was black.

[@ArgoDave]

I can't think of any role he's done that wasn't great. But he'll always be The Kurgan to me!

[@34BigPete]

@@louisduarte8763 I think he's supposed to be greek in Superman: TAS.

[@CyanRooper]

"Are you feeling it now, Mr. Krabs?"

[@S_raB]

I: Idiots G: Generating N: Nonsense

[@TheWarmachine375]

The Penguin show: *being a success* The cancelled Batwoman movie: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@davidgantenbein9362]

BatGIRL movie, nobody was crazy enough to give the failed Batwoman show a movie 😅

[@DarkMegaPlague]

yes

[@kenrdickIamar]

Right

[@kenrdickIamar]

Yes lol

[@gloweye]

Not a joke, a tax write-off that gets us more money this way. Nothing personal. It's business. ---- Disney, probably.

[@jerryhorton5708]

Thank you, Drinker. I’m excited to watch this now

[@jonbaxter2254]

Imagine if it's like Andor, a fantastic show that nobody asked for and surprised us all.

[@MistrBeat]

If the show is good enough for The Critical Drinker to make a positive video about it, it is on my watchlist. Thank you! 🙂 Heath Ledger = Joker, Colin Farrell = Penguin

[@DavidAnderson-m5c]

I really do hope your comment gets more reads and likes, because, based on this first episode at least, I think you are spot on.

[@MistrBeat]

@@DavidAnderson-m5c That is very kind of you, thank you!

[@andyknolls8735]

it is a stark contrast to the new joker movie. Who the "F" thought it would be ok to turn a villain movie into a musical. Think they watched clips of Deadpool/Wolverine movie and thought to themselves "Hey thats what made this movie great, lets do that and make a Billion".

[@cainemarko5021]

You had me at Clancy Brown... The rest of the review was just icing! I'm looking forward to catching up.

[@wxwaxone]

Clancy makes everything better

[@JumpCutThis]

I saw him in the trailer and nearly wet myself- such a huge fan of his.

[@martinvulu1848]

The tension between Oz & Victor is SO taut!! I think a lot of people can put themselves in the shoes of EITHER character & understand his motivations. Can't wait for episode 2!

[@SpFlash1523]

NGL, I kinda always thought "The Penguin" would be pretty good.

[@jimmydavis7587]

If only we'd listened to you...

[@GuildOfTheBlackCrow]

Engaging storyline, you say? an intriguing and well rounded female character, you say? A purpose to the protagonist, you say? Count me in.

[@sup3414]

God, your "anti woke" rherotic is obnoxious.

[@asimhussain8716]

@@sup3414 God I know right? People want good stories?? SooOO OBnOXioUs!!

[@bitty_beastly47]

​@@asimhussain8716nah dawg. The anti woke = good is not equal to good story writing. Besides, it's been one episode. GoT had a decade of awesome before it fell harder than any series before it

[@GuildOfTheBlackCrow]

@@sup3414 Thank you.

[@asimhussain8716]

@@bitty_beastly47 It's not "anti-woke = good," it's "woke = bad". Not being woke doesn't guarantee a good story, prioritizing woke absolutely does guarantee a bad story because when you're prioritizing shallow ideas with flimsy foundations all while neglecting important parts of a story, of course it's going to be bad.

[@jdz72]

I was channel surfing and found myself watching about 10 minutes of the penguin. I saw enough to motivate me to binge-watch it from the start .

[@daidavies6210]

When i sat down to watch this I wasn’t expecting to rewatch it straight after for the second time, I’ve never done that before. This was simply Brilliant.❤

[@redsoxu571]

To answer the opening question: it's the Rule Of Andor. Any time you have a spinoff or adaptation that seriously feels like it has zero hype or even reason to exist, there has to be a creative involved who is inspired to bother in the first place. Andor was the most "why?" thing I'd ever heard of, until I saw it and realized that centering on the title character was really just an excuse to sandbox the time of the early rebellion in Star Wars. THEN it all made sense. Odds are that, at some point in the production process of The Batman, someone decided that there was something to this Penguin characterization that would lend itself to a worthwhile dive into criminal elements.

[@ekathe85]

The formula seems to be zero reason to exist plus zero hype plus male main.

[@rateater1857]

@@ekathe85 Nah, female mains work, too - Jessica Jones was AMAZING. Well, the first season at least. A lot of people seem to forget that once upon a time Marvel tv shows actually used to be really good and grounded, before, you know. All that. The hallways scenes in Daredevil alone inspired like half of action Hollywood (the other half already had watched Oldboy).

[@undertaker9991]

The Penguin: Woke up this morning, got myself a umbrella.

[@chucktelschow]

Yep, my son and I watched this last night and we loved it. Looking forward to the rest of the season.

[@elizabethmolino2856]

Come on Drinker,The Batman was a huge success of a film.But I'm glad that you enjoyed the Penguin.

[@MetikalMan]

I have not felt fear of a female villain like Ms. Falcone since Ma from Dredd. Her cold and measured performance stole the show.

[@Dan-yw2ku]

Lol I remember watching dredd and just being disgusted 😂

[@zimriel]

Jada was good in Gotham. Especially when she was tormenting... her "Penguin" (Oswald hated being called "Penguin").

[@Dan-yw2ku]

@@zimriel and she got the worst fucking death in the show 🤣

[@rateater1857]

I super super recommend reading The Long Halloween, a Batman comic Sofia comes from. Possibly the best Batman comic ever made, definitely top 5 at least. Incredible artwork, too.

[@Dan-yw2ku]

@rateater1857 sad part is I haven't even read that yet even though the reviews are awesome

[@user-xp8nj8eu9s]

If I had a nickel for every time a Batman character got adopted because they failed to steal a car, I would have two nickel's. Which isn't a lot but it's weird it happened twice

[@Jeremy-ql1or]

You might want to read the comic. You will have more than two nickles.

[@Grasslander]

Snarky Jay's line!

[@petrowegynyolc7108]

Wonder if it will end up the same here