The Penguin Soars As The DC Universe’s Best Villain Origin Story
Image credit: HBO Max
HBO Max’s The Penguin is the greatest villain origin story of 2024. This dark, tragic story places itself far beyond traditional tropes, revealing that Oswald Cobb, also known as The Penguin, was a “bad guy” long before anyone else deemed him to be–cementing his place as the ultimate villain.
The show received critical acclaim after just a few episodes, and when I finally watched, I immediately understood why. Colin Farrel was unrecognizable as The Penguin, he perfected the accent, the signature walk and the raw emotions, and without his flawless lead, this show would not have been the success that it is. The entire cast understood the assignment, but we’ll get into that a little later. In addition to the superb cast, the plot, costume design and set details all contributed to The Penguin securing a place in my personal top 10 favorites.
Beyond its technical brilliance, The Penguin introduces us to a complex character—Oswald “Oz” Cobb, aka The Penguin. Early on, he seems like an underdog, someone we might root for, despite his dark trajectory. Before The Penguin was available to stream, I was already intrigued because it was a spin-off of The Batman (2022), produced by Matt Reeves. As I watched, I appreciated that I didn’t necessarily need an in-depth knowledge of DC Comics or the DC Cinematic Universe to follow the motives of every character in this show, and that alone speaks to the exceptional writing and production. The series stands on its own without relying on a Batman cameo, while subtle Easter eggs and hints tease connections to The Batman Part II (2026).
The Penguin is one of Batman’s most iconic enemies, first introduced in Detective Comics No. 58 (1941), where he killed a crime boss who insulted him and began positioning himself as the new leader of the criminal enterprise. HBO Max’s series mirrors this introduction, opening with Oz murdering Alberto Falcone, leader of the Falcone crime family, after being mocked. This act sets the tone as Oz’s actions unleash chaos in Gotham’s already crime-riddled streets.
I knew Oz wasn’t the hero of this story, but at first, I was on his side—almost forgetting he was a villain. Surrounded by more powerful figures, working for one of Gotham’s top crime families, and clearly disrespected, he felt like an underdog. Even Oz believed he was an underdog. He cared for his mother, was “a poor kid from the east side with something to prove,” paid Victor more than he’d ever earned, had a sense of humor, loved his Aqua Breeze car freshener, listened to Dolly Parton in his free time and mixed slushie flavors for fun. The writers lured me in with these humanizing traits, and, cautiously, I took the bait.
As viewers, we’re conditioned to empathize with villains, understanding their grievances and even quietly rooting for them despite their flaws. But with each episode of HBO Max’s The Penguin, my empathy for Oz vanished as his true nature unfolded. I expected a story of Oz trying to break out of the unfavorable position his past crimes have put him in because of who he worked for and claim his place as Gotham’s new crime leader. Instead, I realized he’s a habitual liar, manipulator and traitor with deep-seated mommy issues, willing to betray anyone to get what he wants.
Developed by Lauren LeFranc, the series delves into themes of classism, disability and generational trauma, deepening the understanding of each character’s sinister motives. These themes are brought to life through Oz's relationships with the other characters, particularly his mother, Francis Cobb, Sofia Falcone aka Sofia Gigante and Victor Aguilar, who all serve as reflections of his own darkness.
Image credit: HBO Max
From her first appearance, it’s clear that Sofia was a formidable obstacle for Oz, driven by her quest to uncover what happened to her brother, Alberto. Sofia’s style, cadence and cold determination make her stand out as my favorite character in the show. She’s acutely aware that Oz is untrustworthy—after all, he helped her father frame her for murder and stood by as she was dragged to Arkham Asylum, where she endured years of torture and abuse. Her time in Arkham made her ruthless, forced to fight for survival among inmates.
Now back in Gotham, reunited with the family who betrayed her and facing Oz, her former driver turned enemy, Sofia is relentless in her pursuit for revenge. She doesn’t care about becoming Gotham’s crime boss; she’s focused on making her family pay for framing her for the murder of seven women and ensuring Oz feels the same pain he inflicted by murdering her brother.
She faces Oz several times throughout the show, inching closer and closer to getting revenge, but never fully accomplishes this goal. My heart broke in the final episode when Sofia, set up by Oz and other crime leaders, was dragged back to Arkham against her will—so close to a happy ending. The one bright spot was her receiving a letter from Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, revealing they’re half sisters. I can’t wait to see them possibly join forces in The Batman Part II and have a diva-off! I might start screaming in the theater from excitement.
Image credit: HBO Max
Victor also became one of my favorite characters in the show. After Oz murders Alberto, he catches a group of teens trying to steal his car rims. Victor, unable to escape, is held at gunpoint. Seeing Victor’s speech impediment, Oz, who relates due to his own disability, spares his life and forces him to help hide Alberto’s body. By the end of the first episode, Victor begs for his life, promising to help Oz—and Oz takes him up on it.
Victor became Oz’s trusted companion, similar to Batman and Robin. Before Victor’s encounter with Oz, he lived a seemingly normal life in Gotham; he had a family who loved him and a love interest who made living in Gotham feel a little less dreadful. Victor’s family died in the flood caused by The Riddler in The Batman, so it’s no surprise that he grew closer to Oz even while committing crimes. For Victor, Oz became his new family.
While I understood Victor’s loyalty to Oz, I always felt uneasy about their relationship and protective of Victor, hoping he’d find a way out of the cycle of crime. By the series' end, my unease was justified. Despite Victor pouring his heart out and calling Oz his family, Oz strangles him, proving that The Penguin cares about no one but himself. This scene was the most heartbreaking of all—if I could’ve jumped through the screen to save Victor, I would’ve.
Though it is clear that Oz caused a domino effect due to his own selfish choices, it’s impossible to ignore how his mother, Francis, shaped his sinister nature. Episode 7, Top Hat, delves into Oz’s childhood, revealing the chilling moment he murdered his brothers to become his mother’s sole focus. Though devastated, Francis never confronts Oz about the truth when she finally finds out what actually happened to her sons.
Image credit: HBO Max
Suffering from Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia, Francis’ condition deteriorates, yet she remains fiercely proud of Oz, encouraging him to do whatever it takes to succeed. In return, he promises to move her into a luxurious Gotham penthouse. In a vulnerable moment, Francis asks Oz to pull the plug if her illness worsens, reducing her to a “vegetable.” But when that moment comes, Oz defies her wishes, keeping her alive in a vegetative state—not out of love, but selfishly, just to keep her close.
I should have known there’d be no happy ending for a villain as sinister as Oz, but if I had my way, Sofia would’ve avenged her brother and retired blissfully in Italy—my girl deserves her permanent vacation! As I write this, I’m realizing Victor’s ending was the most heartbreaking of all–he gave up a chance to start fresh outside Gotham, and sacrificed everything to help Oz—only to have his life taken by the very man he considered his new family. My heart is still broken. Victor’s tragic fate is a direct reflection of Oz’s nature—selfish and manipulative, even towards those he claims to care for. This self-centered behavior is evident in his relationship with his mother, Francis, whose influence over him from childhood plays a key role in shaping his dark path.
What excites me most is how this show sets the stage for The Batman Part II. What will Sofia and Catwoman’s alliance look like? Will they team up with Batman or go rogue together? I can’t wait to find out. I noticed that the creators of the show chose not to show Oz exactly as The Penguin is depicted in comic books and animated movies or series where he makes an appearance–I wonder if this will be something his character will evolve into as he appears in The Batman Part II.
Image credit: HBO Max
Overall, The Penguin captivated me with its intricate characters, layered storytelling and its refusal to shy away from the dark realities of villainy. By the time the credits roll, the true tragedy of The Penguin is clear—no one, not even Oz, can escape the consequences of their actions. It’s simply a must-watch–it’s a show that lingers in your mind long after you finish watching and it reminds us that even villains have stories worth exploring to help us appreciate the foundations of some of our favorite heroes.
