The Penguin S1 E2: "Inside Man" Review

I have to say that even though the show put what's so far its best foot forward for its pilot episode, The Penguin sustains a strong showcase of episodic storytelling into its second episode, fleshing out its story and characters in ways that legitimately excite me.

Very much like The Batman, the strengths of both episodes of The Penguin lie primarily in its characterization and acting. Colin Farrell once again brings the subtle comic relief I've come to love from Oz while also sustaining an air of menace that I'm interested to see develop more as the show goes on. We're made to understand how Oz got powerful, made to understand the threat that he poses, and made to see another side of his character we haven't really seen up to this point. I know the comparison has been made by others, but the character-centrism of this gangster show really reminds me of The Sopranos. That said, I like the team-up of Oz and Vic a lot. Their polar-opposite characterization makes for an intriguing dynamic that both Colin Farrel and Rhenzy Feliz make the absolute most of.

As for Sofia Falcone, I love how haunted she is. The show smartly and gradually reveals new layers to her throughout the duration of episode 2 in ways that are very unusual. Usually, questionably moral and ethical characters who initially seem to be safe are shown to be sinister. But here, Sofia initially seems to be sinister but is eventually shown to be far more complex than anything else.

As is usual for second episodes, Inside Man does a lot of building, both world-wise and narratively. It's a lot of setup that I imagine is going to get paid off in later episodes, but I don't imagine that this approach will catch regular viewers of TV off-guard in any major way. Additionally, I do want to reiterate that this show is very MA-rated. Just because it's based on a PG-13 movie doesn't mean it's relatively watered-down. It's got the mouth of any other MA-rated crime drama.

I'm finding that reviewing a TV show is different from reviewing a movie, so this show may provide a good learning experience for me. Nevertheless, I know merit when I see it, and The Penguin possesses merit aplenty. Inside Man carries on the strong example that the pilot episode set, containing some undeniably great acting, intelligent and effective team-ups, and rock-solid pacing. Best of all, it makes me want to see what it's going to do next! I will keep you all posted.

Romans 2:6-8