'The Penguin: Episode 3' Review: There are gradual improvements

We are now three episodes into The Penguin, and we are starting to get a real feel of what HBO's television series and somewhat The Batman tie-in this show actually is. Three episodes with each almost at an hour's length has felt more like an entire season at this point, but it's also starting to feel like not much is really going on for the character. The Penguin's first three episodes have each pretty much showed us the same things over and over, with snippets of story or mild teasing of character development and backstory taking place here and there. It doesn't feel like it has been giving us all that much to look forward to, though there has been a whole lot of dialogue between recurring characters that is to hint at something greater to come throughout the season. The first two episodes set up a theme of the Penguin ultimately being a lone wolf, a slimy individual that will play any side in the pursuit of money. What's interesting about Penguin's character so far is how little he seems to care for the power side of things, there are few signs that show he's interested in being a larger member of the general crime syndicate world. And his speciality in fact lies in the fact that he can move from one person to another in attempt to get what he wants. There's some interest here in how Penguin manipulates and exploits his way into gaining trust. Though there hasn't been a whole lot of how desperate he really is to do so. Rather, we have seen briefly that Penguin is more of a loose trigger more than anything else.

This state of Penguin as someone incapable of holding their temper has been the most interesting aspect of the show so far. Though it has been used sparingly. I have liked this about the story in that it's teasing the ways in which Penguin suddenly goes from zero to one-hundred out of nowhere, mostly showing a calm and collected nature when it comes to the business side of things, but instantly becomes ruthless towards any person that shows a sign of disrespect to him. The show has painted a picture of a man that has a very ugly appearance, but that's far from the true ugly. The Penguin relies a lot on its build-up of tension and drama to pursue these moments, showing the lack of patience Penguin tends to have. In regards to how violent Penguin can be, these instances haven't been displayed too often, and the level of his anger is actually what has been used to set up the season's main story so far: Penguin cracks and kills a member of a mafia family to which it starts an entire war in the streets of Gotham. Hiding away who is responsible as he leverages the strength they have to not only protect himself, but also gain the support needed over a new drug shipment that is scheduled; a new drug that is capable of having a massive impact on the streets.

This side of the narrative has been here and there so far in these first three episodes, mostly pertaining to the theory of it. There has been bits of drama with who killed the family member and the hunt for who is responsible while Penguin has managed to get out of close calls, and I mentioned in my last episode review that I didn't quite enjoy how easy it was for Penguin to escape these situations. Primarily in how Penguin ends up getting lucky at the last moment, or his sudden increase in loyalty isn't questioned by anyone. In episode three, things changed a little to give us more backstory on one of the show's weakest characters thus far: Victor. The supposed child sidekick of Penguin that he has been showing an odd amount of care for, taking him in, showing him the ropes and protecting him. It's a bit unlike Penguin to be doing this, a little out of his character to show genuine care for anyone. Victory has been the show's weakest character though, primarily because the character's performance is just void of emotion. But I did enjoy that the show tried to give his character a little more depth within this episode by going into his past briefly. Victor's past is something of recent trauma, one where the effects of the recent The Batman had entered his life. The floods leading to the loss of his family as he survived above a rooftop. With Victor now alone and with a select few of wrongdoers, he's left to the streets.

It took the episode a long time to show this part of Victor's story, with a lot of build-up and building towards it with the introduction of other characters from his past that we haven't yet seen before. But what's immediate is Victor's tested loyalty yet again as it's clear he has the intentions on leaving this new life behind and running away. Victor's character does seem incredibly weak so far, he's one that is constantly at the edge of tears and definitely isn't cut out for the world Penguin has offered him, even with a large sum of cash per week. But this comes from the fact that Penguin didn't really offer the life to Victor, more it was imposed on him after he's caught trying to steal from Penguin. It's an interesting look at how a character has essentially been forced under Penguin's wing to which they feel too much fear to say no or try to reject his help. I did enjoy this aspect of the episode. It definitely gave a more serious look at the relationship the two have, and what may come later as the tension rises and loyalty continues to be a theme here. I would have to say I have more interest in this side of things than the current story with the Falcone family and the whole drug thing. That has bored me a little. Too slow and with too many recurring characters with little more to the world.

So despite more of Victor's presence, which I haven't liked so far, this episode was focused on him and probably the strongest episode yet. It was pretty decent. I wish the episodes would stop being so stupidly dark though. It adds nothing to the show other than removes so much of the depth within the scenes.