I do not remember the first time I had heard about The Penguin nor did I really know at first that this new HBO show was a continuation of the 2022 Batman movie The Batman until after starting it, but I was just coming off of my first-ever Sopranos binge (a decade late, I know!), so to say I was craving something, anything that could compare to having experienced the legendary irreplaceable show about mobster Tony Soprano, The Penguin was the most gangster one I didn’t even know I needed so badly, and it came at just the right time in my TV-watching journey.

In a deeper look into the Gotham crime families’ underground world recently ridden by disaster and terror by the Riddler in the 2022 film, survival is one of the main themes for The Penguin (along with of course power, the feminine, vengeance, survival of the fittest, and Gotham family legacy!).

Each character somehow has their own justification for their evil side or wrongdoings juxtaposed with their “real” family lives (yes, even Penguin comes home and just wants to cuddle with his mom!). But only the smartest, most hardworking and loyal will survive; make one wrong move or say the wrong thing and you could be expendable in an instant, regardless of your allegiance and grit.

Colin Ferrell’s performance as The Penguin himself aka Oswald Cobblepot, or nicknamed “Ozzy” (who also starred in The Batman 2022 film) is one for the ages! His unreal transformation morphing into the villain trying to take down the Falcone family—who already has their own ongoing fight with the Maronis—particularly Sofia (played by the gorgeous and entertaining Cristin Milioti; she embodies the character almost naturally in a way that has me obsessing over the mob princess’ next insane move) plays out in a series of shady dealings trying to secure control over a new drug that’s hit the streets as the main grower and distributer (the drug users are known as “Dropheads”).

Now after being 5 episodes in and having a reason to live for Sunday nights again, I am fully invested in this war for taking back Gotham’s underground and who will eventually climb on top (oh, and will we see Batman in episode 6?).

Everything about The Penguin is as addicting as it gets: the acting, the style, the writing, the cityscapes, the unexpected blood and gore—I promise nothing but class from this mini series. Oh, and don’t forget to watch The Batman at some point if you haven’t already as this will set the premise for what’s to come.