In its second episode, The Penguin waddles toward the pulpy crime show it needs to be.
This review contains spoilers forThe Penguinepisode 2.
Oz Cobb starts the second episode ofThe Penguinfeeling good about himself.
Oz succeeds by weaponizing everything delightful aboutColin Farrellsperformance.
Ozs boisterous attitude and unusual looks invite people to underestimate him, leaving room for his machinations.
barks Vitti, and Oz deflates.
That approach doesnt work so well when the episode turns its attention to Ozs personal life and backstory.
she asks when Oz mentions Vitti; Hes untouchable!
), but Farrell cant push similar pathos through his layers of make-up.
The same issue plagues interactions between Oz and his mother Francis.
Worst of all are the scenes with Oz and his sidekick Vic (Rhenzy Feliz).
And the show really wants to add depth to Oz by connecting his troubled childhood to Vics predicament.
Despite these missteps, Zobel and Johnson hit their stride in every scene with Sofia Falcone.
The moment of weakness proves to be an anomaly for Sofia.
New episodes of The Penguin premiere Sunday nights at 9 p.m.
ET on HBO and Max.
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Rating:
4 out of 5
