I wasn't overly fond of The Batman but I was intrigued by an unrecognisable Colin Farrell as The Penguin. This spin off series serves as an origins tale that retreads the familiar fall of Gotham's old underworld and the rise of its more manic and colourful villains. The Penguin works as a crime drama because Farrell delivers a horribly plausible sociopath. His Penguin is a character you root for despite his being a manipulative, self serving killer who has no redeeming features, but is excellent at faking them, conning the audience as well as his victims. The episodes are perfectly paced and lurch from cliffhanger to cliffhanger with breathless pace. Like the other antagonists you are drawn along with the momentum of Farrell's scheming Oz Cobb as he wheels, deals and betrays his way to the top of Gotham. The series even manages to end with a cruel and downbeat finish that reminds us what the consequences of trusting in monsters can be. There are also a few hints at future developments in this iteration of the DC franchise.