Colin Farrell’s biggest battle in The Penguin wasn’t against crime lords—it was against critics who tried to trash his performance.
When Colin Farrell signed on for The Penguin, he wasn’t just gearing up to battle Gotham’s notorious crime lords—he was unwittingly prepping to face a bigger menace: the critics. Turns out, Farrell’s portrayal of the gritty, snarling Oswald Cobblepot had naysayers circling from the start, ready to shred his performance.
Colin Farrell in The Penguin | Credit HBO
But Farrell? Not one to back down. His Penguin was an unapologetic, grimy tour de force that dared viewers and critics alike to look away. As he dug into the role, Colin Farrell shut out the noise, letting his brutal and captivating take on the character speak for itself.
Critics Slam The Penguin, But Fans and Ratings Tell a Different Story
When The Penguin hit the screen, fans were all in on Colin Farrell’s gritty, prosthetic-heavy take on Oswald Cobblepot. But not everyone was sold.
Critics weren’t exactly handing out high fives. They called it patronizing—and said it didn’t live up to mob drama legends like The Godfather or Breaking Bad. One X post concluded:“The real villain of #The Penguin was…”
The real villain of #ThePenguin was IGN pic.twitter.com/SCNdZAbcVu
— Heavy Spoilers (@heavyspoilers) November 11, 2024
Per critics, Farrell’s Penguin got lost in the shuffle—overshadowed by Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone—and lacked the chops, the wit, and the wings to rise to the occasion. But the real kicker? Fans didn’t agree.
While some websites threw shade, Rotten Tomatoes gave it a glowing 95% rating. Over at The Guardian, they handed out a perfect 5-star rating, while Entertainment Weekly and Looper kept the love coming with solid B-grades. Even USA Today gave it 3 out of 4 stars.
So, while critics were busy trashing it, The Penguin still found its audience. It might not have been The Godfather, but Colin Farrell’s version of the iconic villain didn’t need to be.
Fans Call Out Critics as the Real Villain of The Penguin
Colin Farrell in The Penguin | Credits: HBO
Fans are calling out critics as the real villain of The Penguin after a few sites gave it a poor rating. Social media is splitting up with outrage, with many fans insisting the show deserved a better rating.
I mean, it’s ign but like what the fu-
Everytime I see an IGN take its like HOW? How do you always have the opposite opinion. It has to be branding at this point
— Brad (@BradicalYT) November 11, 2024
Seems a bit unfair to compare it to the sapranos, that show went on forever didnt it?
— Jaz Mystic (@Jaz_Mystic) November 11, 2024
The Penguin is a solid 8 at minimum. Yet every Call of Duty release gets a 10 masterpiece rating every year from IGN somehow. lol
— Dennis (@rosejr27) November 11, 2024
It’s literally the best TV show of the year.
And it’s not particularly close.
— Liberal Hivemind (@LiberalHivemind) November 12, 2024
Can we officially Ban IGN? Terrible take after terrible take.
— ACE (@ACE__MCFC) November 11, 2024
A 5 is unacceptable… This why no one respects ign 😂
— J👑BLEACHTYBW (@Animesempai0) November 11, 2024
Does anyone actually takes IGN seriously anymore? They are the bottom of the barrel in every imaginable way.
— Corrky (@Corrky_) November 11, 2024
While critics like The Guardian and Entertainment Weekly praised it, other websites’ lukewarm reviews left fans scratching their heads. Whatever the reason for the divide, one thing’s for sure: The Penguin is the talk of the town.
