Same week as DC Joker: Folie à Deux released to critical apathy and disappointing box office returns, Penguin Episode 3 – “Bliss” – continues to remind everyone that there is, in fact, a way to tell great stories that rewrite established lore. While Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb is very different from his DC Comics counterpart, his side story draws heavily from his relatively brief appearance in the comics. Batman, no place for accusations of provocation. This certainly helps Penguin there are eight episodes to learn more about him.
Episode 3 isn’t traditionally the flashiest of episodes: after the premiere and its immediate aftermath, this is where the character comes into play more. IN PenguinIn Victor’s case, that means more Victor and a deeper exploration of Sofia and Oz’s relationship. We also learn what Gotham’s new drug will be, which kills any theories about connections to any of DC’s most notorious drug-dealing villains.
Penguin Episode 3 brings the slow-burning show almost to its halfway point, building on Alberto’s promise of a new game-changing drug that will guarantee control of the streets of Gotham, and moving Oz and Sofia into a stronger position to loosen the powerful grip of the rest of the characters. The Falcone family, led by Scott Cohen’s Luca. With the exception of one explosive scene, there isn’t much action, but the show still tells its story just as well through less flashy character interactions.
It’s impossible not to love Milioti’s Sofia Falcone
One of the best new additions to the DC adaptation
It’s almost become a cliché to say that Cristian Milioti is great as Sofia “The Executioner” Falcone, but it’s hard to argue with that opinion, and let’s get it out of the way immediately. Episode 3 offers further insight into her powers as her father’s true heir in Alberto’s absence, while also giving the first hints about how she actually ended up in Arkham. And while she may need Oz’s proximity to the lower rungs of Gotham’s criminal ladder, she’s entirely believable as a formidable figure.
Again, It’s the subtleties of Milioti’s game that please me the mostas well as stellar costume work that made her look the business. Her barely contained contempt for almost everyone she encounters; the withering harshness of her insults to Oz about his questionable taste; obvious rage in her eyes. It’s one of the most challenging and impressive performances in any DC project, and the end of the episode delivers everything fans of the series could want: the battle we all know is coming.
The dynamic growth of Victor and Oz
Penguin’s Batman flashback adds depth and tragedy to Vic’s story
Since episode 1, Oz has been grooming Victor Aguilar (Renzy Feliz) as the representative of the followers he aims to have when he takes over. At the same time, they developed a sort of Batman and Robin power dynamic in which the younger character’s values ​​are radicalized. Towards the end Penguin episode 3, which reaches its climax with Victor becoming a much more interesting character simply by introducing more free will.
The episode begins with a flashback showing Victor’s point of view of the Riddler’s attack on Gotham from Batmanends. From this point on, it’s clear that this will be his episode, and expanding on his backstory and the conflict of his old life and his new job with Oz is the best opportunity to see more from Feliz.
At the simplest level he’s very good because he’s so different from Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti; more reserved, more pleasant, more… normal. In fact, he’s the only likable character in the entire series who doesn’t actively make you feel bad for liking him. Considering that this ugly world is supposed to be one that Batman cares enough about saving, it plays an important role, and it was crucial to get deeper into its skin like we do here.
How Episode 3 Defines the Rest of the Season
Things are picking up speed faster than you expect.
Still, Penguin put Oz in the position of a dangerous manipulator who just keeps his head above water, almost maintaining control even when things are out of his control. By the end of the third episode, everything changes and we are promised a more active conflict. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the show’s slower progression, especially since it feels like the finale could have been delayed a few more episodes.
This is partly Why PenguinLimited release of episodes was a good idea :rwith the exception of some other comic book TV show adaptations, which have a habit of sagging in the middle due to a lot of slower episodes, Penguin copes with it. The pacing isn’t exactly lightning fast by any means, but bringing such a central conflict to the forefront so early is a promise to the audience that there’s no agenda for filler.
Gotham’s underworld expands again with the emergence of the Triads, who feel they only matter as a cog in Oz and Sofia’s wheel. But that’s the point, and it’s not any weakness in the performance of the new additions to PenguinStarring boss Feng Zhao (Francois Chau) or Link Tsai (Robert Lee Leung). The only real problem here is that how many elements for PenguinGang war, the absence of Batman – and, more appropriately, Jim Gordon – seems like a big stretch.
The cliffhanger at the end of the episode is a nice injection of action, although it feels like things are getting a little too established, and at the same time, drawing Victor back into Oz’s web is a clever set piece. Once again, we’re faced with the reality that no matter how much Oz thinks he’s at the pinnacle of power, he’s always just one or two steps away from another explosion. And that’s where Penguin really shines, with or without fidelity to DC Comics lore.