Created by Lauren LeFranc
The Penguin premiered on September 19, 2024.
Distributed worldwide as an HBO Original series.
Series Review
The Penguin peels back Gotham’s shadows to focus on Oswald “Oz” Cobb’s ruthless rise and the fractures in his world.
Season 1 follows Oz’s journey from loyal enforcer under Carmine Falcone to self-made crime lord.
Over eight tense episodes viewers witness Colin Farrell’s raw, prosthetic-transformed performance, Cristin Milioti’s chilling return as Sofia Falcone setting the stakes, and Rhenzy Feliz’s Vic Aguilar caught between loyalty and conscience.
Emotional family scenes with Deirdre O’Connell’s Francis Cobb and gritty power plays against Clancy Brown’s Sal Maroni ground the action in personal cost.
Expect dark betrayals, strategic alliances, and moments of unexpected vulnerability that humanize Gotham’s most infamous schemer.
Ratings
• IMDb: 8.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
• Google Audience Score: 89% liked this TV show
The Penguin Actors
Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobb / The Penguin

DOB: May 31, 1976
Bio: Irish-born Colin Farrell has long been celebrated for his transformative performances, earning critical acclaim in In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin.
In The Penguin, he disappears under layers of prosthetics to fully embody the disfigured, cunning crime boss in post-Falcone Gotham.
Role: Oz begins as Falcone’s right hand. After the Don’s death he carves out his own empire while wrestling with his identity.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 1–8
What to Expect: Magnetic charisma mixed with simmering menace as he balances ambition and a twisted sense of family.
Favorite Things: Collaborating on his character’s look, exploring Oz’s softer moments with his mother.
Notable Works: In Bruges, The Banshees of Inisherin, Minority Report, The Batman (2022).
Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone (née Gigante)

DOB: August 16, 1985
Bio: Cristin Milioti is a versatile actress known for blending charm with emotional complexity.
Rising to fame in How I Met Your Mother and later stunning critics in Palm Springs and Fargo, she now transforms into Gotham royalty with a dangerous edge in The Penguin.
Role: Sofia, daughter of crime boss Carmine Falcone and newly released from Arkham Asylum, emerges as a cold and calculating force determined to reclaim her family’s grip on Gotham.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 1–8
What to Expect: Psychological warfare, family vendettas, sharp dialogue, and a growing hunger for control beneath her poised exterior.
Favorite Things: Delving into Sofia’s hidden vulnerabilities behind her icy façade.
Notable Works: Palm Springs, Black Mirror, The Wolf of Wall Street, How I Met Your Mother.
Rhenzy Feliz as Victor “Vic” Aguilar

DOB: October 26, 1997
Bio: Rhenzy Feliz is a rising star who first caught attention as Alex Wilder in Marvel’s Runaways, later lending his voice to fan-favorite shapeshifter Camilo in Disney’s Encanto.
With a gift for portraying vulnerability beneath bravado, he brings depth to Vic, a young man swept into Gotham’s underworld.
Role: A street-smart teen who becomes Oz’s driver and enforcer while struggling with loyalty and morality.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 1–8
What to Expect: A slow-burning transformation, heartfelt dilemmas, and moments of unexpected courage that add emotional resonance to the crime saga.
Favorite Things: Portraying Vic’s transformation from vulnerable kid to key player.
Notable Works: Runaways, Encanto, The Tender Bar.
Deirdre O’Connell as Francis Cobb

DOB: December 30, 1951
Bio: Acclaimed stage and screen actress Deirdre O’Connell is a Tony Award winner best known for her emotionally raw performances.
She brings aching vulnerability and quiet strength to Francis Cobb, mother of Gotham’s rising kingpin.
With a career spanning Broadway, film, and prestige TV, O’Connell grounds the show’s criminal chaos in something deeply human.
Role: Francis is Oz Cobb’s dementia-stricken mother whose fractured memories and fleeting moments of clarity become central to understanding his motivations.
She’s both his anchor and burden, drawing out a rare tenderness in an otherwise brutal man.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 2–7
What to Expect: Poignant family scenes that reveal the emotional stakes behind Oz’s ruthless drive.
Favorite Things: Exploring Francis’s memory-driven moments and maternal love.
Notable Works: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Path, St. Vincent.
Clancy Brown as Salvatore “Sal” Maroni

DOB: January 5, 1959
Bio: Clancy Brown is a towering presence in film, television, and voice acting, best known for roles in The Shawshank Redemption, Highlander, and Carnivàle.
With a voice as deep as his screen legacy, he brings veteran gravitas to Gotham’s underworld as the infamous Sal Maroni.
Role: Sal Maroni returns from prison to challenge Oz’s ascent, bringing old-school tactics and fierce rivalry.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 1–5
What to Expect: Tense showdowns and strategic power plays as two crime lords collide.
Favorite Things: Crafting Sal’s imposing presence and moral ambiguity.
Notable Works: Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption, John Wick: Chapter 4, SpongeBob SquarePants (as the voice of Mr. Krabs).
Michael Zegen as Alberto Falcone

DOB: February 20, 1979
Bio: Michael Zegen is a skilled character actor acclaimed for his role as Joel Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, where he played a flawed yet endearing ex-husband.
In The Penguin, Zegen channels a darker energy as the haunted heir to Gotham’s most notorious crime family.
Role: Alberto Falcone is the troubled son of Carmine Falcone, battling addiction, insecurity, and a lifetime of unmet expectations.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 2–4
What to Expect: Fragile tensions and tragic turns that underscore the cost of family betrayal.
Favorite Things: Diving into Alberto’s pain and conflicted loyalties.
Notable Works: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Boardwalk Empire, Rescue Me.
Carmen Ejogo as Eve Karlo

DOB: October 22, 1973
Bio: British actress Carmen Ejogo is known for her commanding presence in Selma, True Detective, and Your Honor.
With a career rooted in complex, layered characters, she brings quiet strength and emotional nuance to The Penguin’s murky Gotham underworld.
Role: Eve is Oz’s complex ally and lover whose shifting loyalties add another layer of intrigue.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 1–6
What to Expect: Subtle mind games, emotional ambiguity and the blurred line between love and manipulation.
Favorite Things: Exploring Eve’s unexpected tenderness amid Gotham’s treachery.
Notable Works: Selma, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Your Honor, True Detective: Season 3.
Michael Kelly as Johnny Viti

DOB: May 22, 1969
Bio: Michael Kelly is a seasoned character actor celebrated for his chilling portrayal of Doug Stamper in House of Cards.
His quiet menace and precise delivery make him a go-to for political and criminal intrigue.
Role: Viti is Carmine Falcone’s former lieutenant and a long-time insider of Gotham’s crime network.
Now a power player in his own right, he emerges as a cunning adversary to Oz, questioning every move and forcing him into strategic corners.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 1–5
What to Expect: Cold politicking, slippery alliances and high-stakes power plays.
Favorite Things: Building Johnny’s restrained menace through small gestures.
Notable Works: House of Cards, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Man of Steel, Chronicles.
James Madio as Milos Grapa

DOB: November 22, 1975
Bio: A Bronx native, James Madio is best known for his breakout role in Band of Brothers as T-4 Frank Perconte.
With a career spanning gritty dramas and character-heavy stories, Madio brings emotional intelligence and streetwise charm to every role.
Role: As the Falcone family consigliere, Milos Grapa acts as a strategic advisor caught between the escalating tensions of Oz and Sofia.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 3–5
What to Expect: Calm counsel and strategic mind at the heart of family turmoil.
Favorite Things: Portraying the burden of advising volatile crime bosses.
Notable Works: The Last Push, Jersey Boys, The Basketball Diaries.
Scott Cohen as Luca Falcone
DOB: December 19, 1961
Bio: A seasoned performer with a magnetic screen presence, Scott Cohen has earned acclaim for his layered characters in Billions, The Americans, and Gilmore Girls.
His gravitas makes him a natural fit for crime dramas steeped in intrigue and legacy.
Role: Luca is a distant Falcone cousin drawn back into Gotham’s underworld after Carmine’s death.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 4–6
What to Expect: Calculated ambition, fragile alliances and unexpected twists in family loyalty.
Favorite Things: Diving into Luca’s moral gray areas and hidden agendas.
Notable Works: Billions, The Americans, Gilmore Girls, Love & Other Drugs.
Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadia Maroni
DOB: May 11, 1952
Bio: Iranian-American actress Shohreh Aghdashloo is an Emmy winner and Oscar nominee, known for her commanding presence and rich, velvety voice.
From House of Sand and Fog to The Expanse, she often portrays women of profound strength and intelligence.
Role: Matriarch of the Maroni clan who steps up to shape Gotham’s criminal landscape in Sal’s absence.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 2–6
What to Expect: Powerful diplomacy, sharp strategy and a mother’s iron will.
Favorite Things: Channeling Nadia’s calm yet formidable presence.
Notable Works: House of Sand and Fog, The Expanse, 24, Damsel.
Theo Rossi as Dr. Julian Rush
DOB: June 4, 1975
Bio: Theo Rossi is best known for his breakout role as Juan Carlos “Juice” Ortiz in Sons of Anarchy, where he portrayed a layered and tormented biker.
With roles in Luke Cage and Army of the Dead, he excels at playing morally gray characters with inner conflict.
Role: Dr. Julian Rush is a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum whose sessions with Sofia Falcone reveal deep psychological trauma and his own troubling motivations.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1, Episodes 1–6
What to Expect: Tense therapy scenes, ethical dilemmas and chilling revelations.
Favorite Things: Playing characters with hidden darkness beneath a calm exterior.
Notable Works: Sons of Anarchy, Luke Cage, Army of the Dead, Emily the Criminal.
More Actors
• Berto Colón as Castillo
• Jayme Lawson as Bella Reál
• Emily Meade as Young Francis Cobb
• David H. Holmes as Nick Fuchs
• Myles Humphus as Dom Gigante / Dom
• Kenzie Grey as Gia Viti
• Ben Cook as Calvin
• Hunter Emery as Leo
• Joshua Bitton as Mickey Stone
• Rhys Coiro as Sebastian Hady
• Marié Botha as Magpie
• Owen Asztalos as Jack Cobb
• Mark Strong as Carmine Falcone
• Craig Walker as Detective Marcus Wise
• Aleksa Palladino as Carla Viti
FAQ – The Penguin TV Series
How many episodes and seasons does The Penguin have?
The Penguin is currently a limited series with one season, comprising 8 episodes (Chapters 1–8).
Will there be a Season 2 of The Penguin?
The show was conceived as a limited series, and although the finale attracted strong viewership, Warner Bros. Television has confirmed no Season 2 is currently planned. TVGUIDE
Why did the show change the Penguin’s name to “Oz Cobb”?
To ground the character in a more realistic crime drama tone, creators renamed him Oz Cobb, diverging from “Oswald Cobblepot.”
Does Batman appear in the series?
No. Despite tie-ins to The Batman, the show avoids Batman’s presence, focusing entirely on Oz’s perspective.
Is The Penguin a sequel to Batman?
Yes, The Penguin is a sequel and direct spinoff of The Batman (2022), directed by Matt Reeves.
Conclusion
In the end The Penguin stands out as a masterclass in character drama and world-building.
By grounding Oz’s ascent in family loyalty, moral conflict and street-level politics, the series offers fresh insight into Gotham’s criminal landscape.
Whether you came for the prosthetic magic or the tense alliances, you will leave with a deeper appreciation for a villain who refuses to be defined by anyone but himself.