Taking place after the catastrophic events of Matt Reeves’s “The Batman” (2022), the HBO series “The Penguin” follows the tumultuous life of slimy antagonist Oswald ‘Oz’ Cobb, otherwise known as The Penguin. Portrayed by Colin Farrell, the villain acts as a mechanism for exploring themes related to power, greed and family in Gotham’s dark underbelly.

Continuing his role from “The Batman,” Farrell’s extreme body transformation made him virtually unrecognizable as The Penguin. In a “Good Morning America” interview, the star shared that his prosthetics application for the role took up to four hours by makeup artist Mike Marino.

Farrell’s complete embodiment of The Penguin has set a new bar for method acting in Hollywood. His impressive delivery and tactful precision in speech, mannerisms and attitude has earned Farrell critical acclaim.

The drama’s gritty appeal and perfectly weaved narratives is enhanced by the compelling performance of Cristin Milioti, who plays Sofia Falcone.

Farrell and Milioti each have been nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Male Actor in a Limited Series and Best Female Actor in a Limited Series respectively, and “The Penguin” has been nominated for Best Television Limited Series.

“The Penguin” takes a page from mobster classics like “The Godfather” (1972) and “Scarface” (1983), placing an emphasis on crime and street politics instead of the traditional comic-book dynamics between hero and adversary.

Oz is a typical criminal who lies, cheats, steals and kills. However, his superpower isn’t his business acumen or trigger finger, but his knack for persuasion. Even though his shady attributes are on full display, he uses charisma to talk himself out of compromising situations and into the hearts of those with good intentions.

There are few, if any redeeming qualities to the character, yet he is crafted in a way that somehow manages to demand empathy from the audience at times. Oz is hiding a dark and deadly secret that promises to unravel the fabric of everything he worked for. We witness him struggling to cope with trauma and guilt, which only propels his motivation to acquire power by any means.

Like that of a spider, the other characters are tangled in a web of chaos constructed by The Penguin. His mother, Francis (Deidre O’Connell “Outer Range”), is succumbing to dementia and kept hidden by her son in a small apartment. His accomplice, Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz), was coerced into doing his dirty work, and his nemesis, Sofia Falcone, suffers deception and a tragic loss at his hands.

The show’s greatest strength is the use of the main characters to examine the complexity of familial relationships and their lasting effects. The dysfunction between Oz and his mother is incredibly loud throughout the eight-part series. Oz claims to be motivated by a desire to make his mother happy, but it’s clear the harsh critiques she offers whittles away at his confidence.

Not much is revealed about his father in the series, but there are possible clues alluding to who he could be. Suffering from his own loss, we see how the tragic events from his past continue to haunt him and shape the impenetrable walls he builds around himself for protection.

It becomes clear how his loss impacts Oz’s partnership with Victor, which is initially reminiscent of the bond between father and son. Victor once lived with his parents and siblings, but his life was tragically changed by the flood that destroyed his neighborhood, depicted at the end of “The Batman.”

When we meet Victor, he is committing small crimes on the streets of Crown Point, Gotham’s most dangerous neighborhood. With no connection to family and few friends, Victor clearly feels indebted to the villain for “saving him” from an unknown fate. He becomes Oz’s apprentice to learn the “tricks of the trade,” and becomes a stronger, smarter asset to their alliance. But despite proving his loyalty over and over, he just can’t seem to shake The Penguin’s skepticism and suspicions.

Sofia’s relationship with her family is filled with trauma. In her childhood, she discovered her mother deceased in their home. Her father, Carmine Falcone, was a rich and connected crime boss who had the police declare Sofia’s mom’s death a suicide.

Carmine also had Sofia convicted of several murders and committed to Arkham (Gotham’s infamous psychiatric hospital). Upon her release, Sophia emerges with a score to settle and a heart to mend. Her crusade for redemption and vengeance takes the audience on a thrilling journey of discovery and self-empowerment. She is a villain in her own right, as her motivations take her down a dark and twisted path.

The production of the mini-series is impeccably done and draws attention to the impact of economic despair. Through the eyes of Oz and Victor, we see just how many people are still without jobs, water, and electricity in the city’s poorest neighborhood. The cinematography masters the ability to channel the grim nature and desperation of the city environment through muted colors and gritty violence.

What was initially planned as a limited series has fans yearning for the next chapter in Oz’s diabolical quest for power. The bleak ending suggests maybe there were variables he forgot to consider as he wreaked havoc on the mean streets of Gotham City.

Season One of “The Penguin” is streaming now on HBO Max.