The Penguin: HBO's Hit Show Dominates DC TV Ratings!
The Penguin Episode 4: A Killer Origin Story That's Breaking Records!
HBO's The Penguin is a total hit, a dark, gritty crime drama spun off from Matt Reeves' The Batman, with that same amazing vibe. It’s less superhero and more a super-intense crime thriller that reminds many of The Sopranos. It follows Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell), the Penguin, in his rise through Gotham's criminal underbelly – battling the Falcone crime family. This entire series currently enjoys that critically acclaimed status which makes this series extremely popular and noteworthy!
Rotten Tomatoes shows a critic score of 94% and an audience rating of 91%; and episode 4 has surpassed every episode, becoming that highest rated. With an IMDb rating of 9.5, it’s up there with only two other DC TV episodes across over 70 years, folks! Only Arrow (Season 5, Episode 23) and The Flash (Season 1, Episode 15) beat it and by only 0.1 each!
This places it ABOVE classics like Smallville, Watchmen, Peacemaker, and Gotham. Seriously impressive for such a new show! What’s the secret behind its phenomenal success? This is absolutely insane; even if it seems to lack originality.
Sofia Falcone's Origin Story: Brutal, Compelling, and Utterly Addictive
Episode 4 gives us Sofia Falcone's (Cristin Milioti) origin story: A shockingly dark journey that perfectly showcases just how creative and capable the writers actually were. A totally gripping story!
It begins with a huge betrayal. Sofia, discovers that her father Carmine Falcone is a serial killer; the person actually responsible for her mother’s death! But here’s that catch: Oz Cobb rats her out, and she's wrongly imprisoned in Arkham. It also adds another very critical layer of betrayal, further demonstrating how cruel Cobb truly is. The result: Sofia gets abused for 10 years and takes ruthless revenge against those connected to the Falcone family, leaving only key players to help support her quest and eventual control over that infamous empire.
It is a grim portrayal but exceptionally well done! Milioti’s acting here really demonstrates this! Those emotional high-points, made more dramatic and powerful by adding just the right amounts of necessary brutality, it perfectly sets up Sofia's vendetta against Oz Cobb for many later episodes.
Why The Penguin's Episode 4 Stands Out (Beyond the High Ratings)
That brutal story is fantastic, but those critical moments aren’t limited merely to the excellent story that showcases excellent pacing. Other significant aspects of this episode should be noted!
- The callbacks to DC comics – hinting at other major plotlines in Gotham city's history.
- The excellent direction and cinematography – creating a genuinely thrilling visual style for viewers everywhere, creating many memorable, impressive visual setpieces. These visuals and the direction's skill create another element of appreciation toward this well-directed series.
- That truly powerful performance from Milioti – a scene-stealing masterclass from start to finish, making this actor well-known beyond The Penguin's fan-base. This actress clearly deserves accolades!
The Arrowverse's Top Spots: How The Penguin's Success Compares
Those two episodes surpassing The Penguin? They both come from the Arrowverse! A totally different style.
- Arrow (Season 5, Episode 23) - an amazing action-packed clash between Oliver Queen and Adrian Chase, with former villains teaming up! An excellent action climax, perfectly capitalizing on many events developed during the prior seasons, it generates excitement for every moment that truly matters. This entire episode excels in the action sequence it utilizes.
- The Flash (Season 1, Episode 15) - that iconic first-season episode highlighting Reverse-Flash. Its impressive narrative structure, clever use of flashbacks and cliffhanger make it completely satisfying and engaging from beginning to end. The writing style completely engages its target demographic. A brilliant and tightly-woven narrative.
The Penguin's vastly different tone, focusing on grit, darkness, and the exploration of a specific setting unlike anything typically associated with the more popular, typical Arrowverse style completely separates this production, making it quite unlike anything frequently found and easily enjoyed from superhero shows!
Conclusion: A New Contender for DC Television's Throne
The Penguin has only begun its reign and is extremely well-received! Those record-breaking ratings show an intensely popular show; yet the creative strength, impressive storyline and powerful direction creates those elements frequently missed within other productions of its type! This is going to easily be considered for future adaptations, showing that excellent storytelling and use of already well-known plots always makes a major success! Those stellar performances, smart writing and amazing cinematography made the episodes worthy. It’s set itself apart. Expect big things!
