The Penguin has proven to be an icy cool success. According to HBO, the highly anticipated spinoff series starring Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti received an impressive 5.3 million views across all platforms in the US during its first four days. The count, which began on its release day, September 19, includes both repeat airings on HBO and streaming viewship. This strong start has put The Penguin ahead of some major series like the final season premiere of Succession, which had 4.9 million views, and The White Lotus Season 2 premiere, which attracted 4.1 million. However, it just missed topping True Detective: Night Country, which reportedly drew 5.7 million views.
On a global level, the show has also hit a significant milestone. It now holds the title for the biggest 4-day audience for a new series on Max since the January 2023 release of The Last of Us. The show marks Colin Farrell’s return to his role as Gotham’s notorious crime boss Oswald Oz Cobb, continuing from where he left off in The Batman.
The series picks up the narrative in the immediate aftermath of The Batman, where Oz is grappling with the power vacuum left by the death of his former crime boss, Carmine Falcone. With the underworld in chaos, Oz seizes the opportunity to establish his dominance and control Gotham’s dark, criminal underbelly.
Beyond its popularity with views, The Penguin has also earned a solid thumbs-up from critics. In her review for Variety, Aramide Tinubu praised the show, calling it “a masterful examination of criminality, twisted, disturbing and deeply enthralling.”
Joining Farrell in the star-studded cast are Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo and Michael Zegen. Mark Strong portrays Carmine Falcone in flashbacks, while John Turturro originally played the character in The Batman.
At the helm of the show is Lauren LeFranc, who not only serves as the showrunner but is also the writer and executive producer. The Batman director Matt Reeves is back on board as an executive producer through his production company, 6th & Idaho, alongside Dylan Clark of Dylan Clark Productions. Colin Farrell isn’t just starring as the lead but is also taking on executive producing duties. The first three episodes are directed by Craig Zobel, who is also an executive producer. 6th & Idaho’s Daniel Pipski, Bill Carraro and co-executive producer Rafi Crohn round out the team bringing this gripping Gotham tale to life.
With its gripping storylines, returning characters, and a talented crew, “The Penguin” is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about series of the year. Whether you’re a fan of crime dramas or just can’t get enough of Gotham, this seems to be a must-watch.
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