I wouldn't say it's come out of the blue, since HBO did trail it extensively in the couple of months before it started, but it's fair to say that The Penguin has still taken many folks by surprise. This brilliant crime procedural set in Batman's Gotham City (but without a hint of Batman himself) has won over a legion of fans.
It's mature, bloody, subtle and nuanced, and alongside Colin Farrell as the main man himself it features a range of incredibly impressive supporting performances. Cristin Milioti was by no means an unknown before this, but her star has certainly never been higher as a result of her superb performances all season.
Now that the show has nearly concluded its run (in dramatic style) there are going to be some big questions hanging over the whole thing moving forward. Farrell hasn't exactly been singing the praises of his shooting experience, with the amount of prosthetics he wears in costume clearly causing some discomfort.
There's no word on whether we'll get a second season, in short, so those who want to really make the most of the moment and squeeze every bit of juice from the first season should be on the hunt for extras. How lucky, then, that HBO has actually been obliging on that front for weeks, now.
Tucked away on its YouTube channel you'll find uploads of The Penguin Official Podcast, HBO's own inside look at the show, featuring interviews with its creative team, from actors to technical talent. The podcast is pretty fascinating, since it brings in different talking heads each week to give you insight into the thinking behind key creative choices.
One week that might mean hearing from a script supervisor on why they tweaked certain scenes from how they were first written, or from the senior showrunners about how a certain sequence was deemed pivotal to the overall story. There's been an episode per week since the show started to air, too, meaning you've got more than half a dozen to catch up on.
This might not provide any huge revelations about plans for a second season, or similar, but it's a brilliant way to learn more about a show that's taken so many people by surprise. HBO does the same for other shows like House of the Dragon and The Last of Us, too, which is the sort of added value that keeps it in the running as one of the best streaming services out there.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Max is T3's Staff Writer for the Tech section – with years of experience reporting on tech and entertainment. He's also a gaming expert, both with the games themselves and in testing accessories and consoles, having previously flexed that expertise at Pocket-lint as a features editor.
-
Best Christmas gifts 2024: wellness, fragrances, grooming and more
If you're struggling to find the perfect gift, you've come to the right place
By Lizzie Wilmot Published
-
This iconic KitchenAid stand mixer is $170 off in early Black Friday deal
Get 37% off the KitchenAid Stand Mixer in Best Buy’s Black Friday sale
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
My girlfriend's fave Apple TV+ show is back – it's 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
Bad Sisters is a cult favourite, and it's back now
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Netflix's no.1 show proves videogame adaptions can still be king
Arcane is absolutely smashing it
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
HBO's huge sci-fi show gets first-look reviews that might shock you
Dune: Prophecy might have an uphill struggle
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
I can't wait for massive Netflix action movie with Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman
Carry-On looks sublimely silly
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
HBO's best new shows revealed in massive new reveal-all trailer
HBO is going big in 2025
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Love Netflix's Drive To Survive? Catch this upcoming series about an F1 icon
Senna will tell a brilliant story
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
After J-Lo's Netflix sci-fi flop, the star takes to Amazon Prime in heartwarming turn
Unstoppable looks hugely heart-warming
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Netflix's new Squid Game 2 trailer raises questions – and I'm already sold
The biggest show in the world is nearly back
By Max Freeman-Mills Published