Batman fans call The Penguin a 'masterpiece' as spin-off show lands in UK and leaves people 'mind blown'

After what has felt like the longest wait for some fans, DC Studios’ new series has finally landed.

And with the first episode having only premiered in the UK in the early hours of yesterday morning (20 September), viewers are already calling it a ‘masterpiece’.

The Penguin is the much-anticipated spin-off from The Batman continuing the epic crime drama Matt Reeves began in 2022 and leaving people ‘mind blown’.

With eight episodes releasing weekly from 29 September, the series picks up just a week after the film.

It follows Colin Farrell’s iconic villain (the Penguin, of course) as he attempts to take over Gotham City’s criminal underworld in the aftermath of The Riddler’s crimes.

Many fans agree that Oswald ‘The Penguin’ Cobb is The Batman’s most important villain and this show marks the first standalone series for him.

And playing him, Farrell looks completely unrecognisable with people previously amazed by his transformation for the role.

The Penguin also stars Cristin Milioti, Mark Strong, Clancy Brown, Michael Zegen and Rhenzy Feliz.

Colin Farrell in The Penguin (HBO)

With only the one episode released so far, and not even a full weekend having gone by since, the show already has a very impressive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently, it’s got a whopping 94 percent average on the Tomatometer and a 89 percent average on the Popcornmeter (formerly the Audience Score).

One user wrote on X: “DC fans should feel extremely lucky we’re getting a show as great as THE PENGUIN. This is mature, disciplined storytelling with nuanced performances and characters that feel like real people. It approaches ANDOR levels of gripping storytelling. It’s that good.”

And another echoed: “That first episode was an absolute mind blown. This series is gonna be a masterpiece just by watching episode one. The tone & the brutality this show is giving is fantastic! Colin truly is Penguin.”

People are raving about the show (HBO)

Plenty of viewers called the first episode alone a ‘damn masterpiece’ as another described it as: “A beautifully crafted crime thriller akin to THE SOPRANOS that is easily some of the best comic based TV we've gotten in recent years.”

Many agreed it’s ‘cinema’ as some are already predicting awards for Farrell’s performance.

Lots of fans are saying it’s ‘one of the best pilot episodes for a TV series’ this year as it’s labelled as ‘peak television’.

The Penguin is available to stream on Sky Atlantic and will be available on NOW later this year.