S01.E01: After Hours

[Snazzy Daisy]

Synopsis:

Quote

In the wake of Carmine Falcone’s death, Oz attempts to legitimize himself among Gotham’s criminal underworld.

Air Date: Sep 19, 2024

 

Edited September 19 by Snazzy Daisy

[thuganomics85]

Solid enough of a start/return to this universe, but it did start out a little slow for me and only really picked up once Sofia Falcone entered into the picture.  But everything after that worked for me and I'm looking forward to seeing how this all plays off.

While he is certainly helped by the make-up and prosthetics, Colin Farrell is so good as Oswald that I literally forget that he's playing this character.  He really just disappears in this role and that's impressive since it easily could have fallen into "Oh, look, it's Colin Farrell in a fat suit!" territory in lesser hands.  He just embodies him in a way that works on almost every level.  Thought he stole the show in The Batman and I'm looking forward to seeing him lead things here.

But the scene stealer this go around is definitely Cristin Milioti.  As soon as she entered into the frame, she just made Sofia such an intimidating and intense presence that you can easily buy her being a massive threat to Oswald.  Even if she ends up buying this "Alberto was killed by the Maronis" trick for now, I can see her very easily putting the pieces back together with a quickness and even an even bigger threat to old Penguin.  Can't wait to see more of her.

Rest of the supporting cast was good.  Great seeing the likes of Michael Kelly as a scummy politician, Carmen Ejego as Oswald's love interest, and especially the always excellent Clancy Brown as Sal Maroni.  Saw Mark Strong's name in the credits, but I didn't spot him here.

Not sure what is going to happen with this kid "working" for Oswald.  I can see him either betraying him at some point or fully buy into what Oswald is claiming to sell.

I'm sure at some point things will escalate to a place where I will have to hand-wave Batman not getting involved.  But since this is only a week after the events from the film, I can buy him being so focused on fixing everything in Gotham after the flood that he isn't able to get in the middle of this gang war at the moment.  Doubt he will be showing up either way, but I wouldn't mind a Jim Gordon cameo at least.

[paigow]

Oswald gets to play big brother / hero for Vic... Too bad that Mama nixed the comedy gold road trip from Hell... Yes, Bruce Wayne is too busy paying for reconstruction projects to deal with Falcone Family Matters

[Snazzy Daisy]

The Penguin | Inside Episode 1 | Max

 

[paigow]

18 hours ago, thuganomics85 said:

Not sure what is going to happen with this kid "working" for Oswald.  I can see him either betraying him at some point or fully buy into what Oswald is claiming to sell.

Oswald can no longer trust his warehouse crew... Vic is the only loyal soldier available... so the series will be over if Oswald is literally facing off against 2 crime families by himself... Vic can help recruit other juvenile criminals

[peridot]

When Oz busted into the safe, it looks like there was a picture of Michael Kelly's character.  I wonder who he sent it to.

Oz's smooth-talking of Falcone Jr. was good - he immediately targeted his addictions to lower his guard.  I couldn't believe Falcone Jr. felt bold enough to humiliate Oz like that.  He should have had guards with him at all times.

I wasn't sure how he get out of his situation, but it was very smart to set the families against each other.

Those poor college kids, though.

I enjoyed this. 

[Snazzy Daisy]

That’s one hell of a premiere! 😘

It’s good to know that Oz appreciates little things (sunrise, air freshener, unique color) and has an acquired taste in music.

A nitpick — Oz drives a Maserati. He can definitely afford a good doctor for his bunion.

The look on Vic’s face when Oz says “if I don’t come out…” — aww, that kid already likes him! 😆

The introduction of Vic brings out the softer, vulnerable side of Oz. He understands that life is harder for people with disability.

Quote

“People underestimate you, but not me. I always knew you were capable of more.”

Sofia Falcone is intimidating yet restrained.

The car chase is quite underwhelming if compared to the one in The Batman. 

In the scene where Oz is naked and tied-up, Mike Marino’s full body makeup and prosthetics are as impressive as the facial prosthetic — a complete transformation. 🔥

 

[paigow]

11 hours ago, Snazzy Daisy said:

A nitpick — Oz drives a Maserati. He can definitely afford a good doctor for his bunion.

Thomas Wayne would fix it for free... Oh wait...

[magdalene]

That was a bit good. I remember back in the day when Colin was Hollywood's hot young thing and I got into it with a then bf insisting he was miscast in that atrocious Alexander movie. I wasn't much into the hot young thing. But boy have I changed my tune on him starting about 15 years ago.  I too don't see Colin under there and I have looked. He is well matched with the female gangster foil who is utterly terrifying. The teenage protege is of course a trope to humanize the villain protagonist but this is working very well on me. I am loving them together.

And he likes listening to Dolly. What's not to love.

Edited September 22 by magdalene

[paigow]

29 minutes ago, magdalene said:

 The teenage protege is of course a trope to humanize the villain protagonist

and who is the next generation of super-villain for the inevitable time jump sequel to tell a heart warming tale about his kindly gangster mentor - only for an insensitive boss to ROFL... The Circle Of Rage Kill continues....

[Tachi Rocinante]

If the quality holds up for the whole season, I see Emmy noms for Farrell and Milioti (and makeup).  Both were excellent, but for completely different reasons.

Why the gap for the next episode?

 

[paigow]

3 hours ago, Tachi Rocinante said:

Why the gap for the next episode?

Penguin is the key HBO Sunday show... but the early Thursday drop was to minimize NFL competition...

[Chicago Redshirt]

On 9/21/2024 at 6:15 PM, paigow said:

and who is the next generation of super-villain for the inevitable time jump sequel to tell a heart warming tale about his kindly gangster mentor - only for an insensitive boss to ROFL... The Circle Of Rage Kill continues....

What if...this Victor morphing into an analogue for Victor Zsasz a Batman serial killer foe from the comics?

Not that there's any real connection between the two Victors beyond their first names, but still...

[Kel Varnsen]

It was interesting but probably could have been shorter. I did like how quickly Oswald took out Alberto though. But really the best part was Sofia. I honestly don't understand why Cristin Milioti isn't a huge A-list star. When she was on screen I couldn't look away, and now I wish she was the lead in this show. Although I probably shouldn't be surprised since she has been great in everything I have seen her in.

[tennisgurl]

I love seeing Cristin Milioti in this kind of role, she's normally playing these very sweet lovable quirky girls, while Sofia is...certainly quirky, but in an only slightly restrained psychotic sort of way. I loved the scene where Oz was talking to the other mob guys and you can see Sofia in the background slowly coming towards them, the energy completely changed the second she showed up even before the camera focused on her.