Plot: What’s it about?
In 2022 we were treated to yet another Batman movie. This one is, aptly-titled, The Batman. And it’s worth seeing. As good as Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy was, I have to say that I might rank the aforementioned title ahead of his. And that’s saying something. For those that haven’t seen it, I certainly won’t spoil anything but I will say that the film featured a darker, more sinister version of an old foe of the Dark Knight – The Penguin. Collin Farrell portrayed him in said film and reprises his role in this eight episode series. It goes without saying that the series serves as a segue to the (as of this writing) planned sequel.
It would (or could/should) go without saying that if you’re watching this, I’ll assume you’re passingly familiar with the events that transpired in The Batman. If not, I’d stop reading now and go watch that movie. Are you back? It was good, wasn’t it? Ok, let’s move on…the series takes place after the events of the film and we follow Oswald’s (“Oz”) quest for control in Gotham. The city is in peril after the seawall’s collapse and Oz seeks to fill the power left by the death of Carmine Falcone (John Tutorro in the film). He also seeks to give his mother, Francis (Deidre O’Connell) the life he believes she deserves and the life she’s always wanted. We see Oz go from a low level street thug who rises the ranks in the city and confronting his enemies including Carmine’s children: Sofia (Cristin Milioti) and Alberto (Michael Zegen) as well as the rival Maroni family led by Salvatore (Clancy Brown). His literal partner-in-crime comes in the form of Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz), a down-on-his-luck teen who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time (or the right place at the right time, depending on your perspective).
It’s fun to be bad, isn’t it? I think that’s what my takeaway from this was. We’ve seen Batman in countless TV and movies, but rarely are we treated to a darker side of those who want to take him down. Yes, we had Burgess Meredith portray him in the campy 60’s TV show and Danny Devito in Tim Burton’s sequel, but aside from that we’ve not really had a villain quite like the Penguin. And it’s not gone unnoticed. Collin Farrell won tons of awards for his portrayal of Oz and the production values, makeup and overall story only sweeten the deal. Even if the Batman universe isn’t your thing – you owe it to yourself to check this one out. It’s worth it.
Video: How’s it look?
If you know anything about the Batman universe, you’ll know that it’s…dark. Like really dark. And so to is The Penguin, which is fitting of the character and his surroundings. Shown in a 2.00:1 HEVC 4K image I found no errors. Nothing. Nada. Detail is impeccable and when you consider that the character portrayed by Collin Farrell is nowhere near as attractive as he is, it’s not always a good thing. Wide shots showcase a layer of clarity that really makes the image pop. Colors, though they’re muted and not many instances of them, are natural and have a definite “pop” to them as well. This is a great-looking series.
Audio: How’s it sound?
Not to be outdone, the included Dolby Atmos mix has a fair share of moments for it to shine. You’d be surprised how many things blow up, collapse or how many gunshots there are. Then again, considering the subject matter – perhaps not? Vocals are rich and crisp, Farrell’s voice is nearly as unrecognizable as his physical features. Surrounds are used with great effectiveness and used often – they really add a lot to the mix. Don’t let the fact that this is a television show deter you – it’s every bit as cinematic as the film that inspired it.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Disc 1
- Inside Gotham #1 – We get a look at the first few scenes, the determination and drive that the writers and actors have as well as some insight into the characters of The Penguin and Victor.
- strong>Inside Gotham #2 – The episode “Inside Man” is profiled and we see what Oz is playing both sides of the fence, his relationship with the various bosses as well as the character of Sophia is explored.
- Inside Gotham #3 – A closer look at the character of Victor Aguilar is shown as we see that he’s the “heart and soul” of the show as well as some of the writers’ motivations for having this character (with no antecedent in the comics) appear.
- Introducing the Penguin – The character, as described, is introduced. We hear from Collin Farrell who tells us of his motivations for our club-footed antihero and how it translated from The Batman to the series.
- The Origin of Oz – Essentially that. We see the genesis of the character at the end of The Batman and what the filmmakers thought would be a “great, episodic look” at a mid-level gangster striving to be the kingpin of Gotham.
- Welcome to Gotham – The look and feel of the city is explored as we see someone like Batman who’s “looking downward on the city” juxtaposed with a character like Oz who’s looking up.
Disc 2
- Inside Gotham #4 – This focuses on the “Sophia-centric” episode where we see her origin, her time in Arkham Asylum and so forth.
- Inside Gotham #5 – This is the episode where Oz really turns to the dark side as he watches with some morbid fascination with the lives he takes.
- Inside Gotham #6 – We see some more insight into the relationship between her character and that portrayed by Clancy Brown (Malroni).
Disc 3
- Inside Gotham #7 – Similar to the fifth installment, we now get a look at young Oz, where he grew up and some of the things that influenced his current path.
- Inside Gotham #8 – The final installment of the series takes a rather deep dive into the last episode.
- Gotham Re-Envisioned – The famous city in the D.C. universe gets a bit of a facelift and its setting, Crown Point, as the basis of the show.
- Becoming the Penguin – Pretty much that. We see Collin Farrell go through his arduous process of “becoming” the Penguin and thus being totally unrecognizable.
- Who Is the Hangman: Portrait of Sofia Falcone – Again, pretty self-explanatory. We get a look at the actress, her character and how she factors into the bigger picture.
- Hearts of the Penguin – There are two people Oz cares about in the series: his mother and a prostitute. Both are profiled.
- A Tale of Two Gothams – I don’t know why they couldn’t have put this in the Gotham Re-Envisioned segment as it’s nearly the same thing. But, nevertheless, we get a look at the city – again.
- Victor Aguilar: The Making of a Henchman – The character of Victor, who had no antecedent in the comics, is shown as is the actor who portrays him.
The Bottom Line
The D.C. Universe finally took a hint as to what Marvel has been doing for years – taking an existing character and giving them their own show. Farrell is simply amazing in his role as the tortured and troubled Oz. High production values, a great supporting cast and a genuinely intriguing premise make this one to check out.
