Summary
The highly anticipated HBO show,The Penguin, is a spin-off series ofThe Batman, which featured Robert Pattinsonas a dark and mysterious Bruce Wayneand Batman. InThe Penguin, Colin Farrell reprises his acclaimed role of Oswald Cobb, the famed Batman villain often known as the Penguin.
The crime drama taking place in the underbelly of Gotham sees Oswald transform into a full-fledged gangster as the show explores his rise to prominence. Even in its first episode,The Penguinis shown to be a quintessential crime drama, with its gritty depiction of a criminal underworld being reminiscent of othercrime shows that share similar qualities.
Set in London,Gangs of Londonis a crime show that sees Britain’s capital city become the location of a massive turf war involving numerous gangs after the death of one of the most powerful criminal bosses. After the sudden death of his legendary father, Sean Wallace has to deal with the rising tensions and rivals that seek to gain power in his father’s absence.
In a show depicting the criminal underworld,Gangs of Londonoffers a more action-oriented portrayal of criminal organizations battling it out for power, withThe Penguinlooking to have action set pieces that rival the British drama.
Despite its popularity,The Penguinis not the first television show to explore Gotham City, withGothamfollowing James Gordon, a good-hearted detective who investigates the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne.
In the wild chaos of Gotham, Gordon comes into contact with famed comic book characters such asBruce Wayne, the Joker, Penguin, and Catwoman, giving DC fans plenty of iconic figures to marvel at. Similar toThe Penguin,Gothamprovides more depth to Batman villains, depicting their rise and how they operate in a cold and callous city that has become famed for being the home to a slew of superheroes.
In the Italian heartland, where mobsters and the mafia originated, the crime dramaGomorrahtakes place following the rise of Ciro di Marzio as he becomes more influential within the Savastano clan. Amidst a civil war in the heart of Naples, di Marzio maneuvers his way through criminal warfare that brings heightened tension and drama to viewers, with betrayal, deceit, and corruption playing its part in the Italian show.
For fans ofThe Penguinand its turf war, which acts as a core aspect of the show,Gomorrahis a crime drama whose depiction of gang warfare stands at the height of television.
One of British television’s best offerings,Peaky Blinders, introduced viewers to a period drama revolving around a gang based in Birmingham, England. The Peaky Blinders gang that makes up much of the series is held up by Tommy Shelby, a wild maverickplayed by Cillian Murphy.
Set in the early 20th century, the ferocious Shelby leads his crew as they engage in criminal activities that capture the attention of the authorities. The resulting premise led to an enthralling drama that sees the Peaky Blinders gang controlling their turf amidst the constant chaos in their lives.
Cast
Steve Buscemi, Stephen Graham, Michael Shannon, Charlie Cox, Jeffrey Wright
The HBO showBoardwalk Empiresaw Steve Buscemi as the incomparable Enoch Thompson, a political leader who manages relationships with gangsters and other influential figures in Atlantic City. While engaging with high-profile individuals, Thompson manages to balance illegal activities with his extravagant lifestyle.
Basing many of the characters off historical figures,Boardwalk Empireexplores famed gangsters of the past, such as Al Capone and Charles Luciano, making forriveting television in typical HBO fashion. Despite not reaching the heights of mob shows such asThe Sopranos,Boardwalk Empirebecame a beacon for HBO in the 2010s, with the show being sure to have influencedThe Penguinin certain ways.
While not focusing on the mafia, the FX showSons of Anarchyconcentrates onthe lives of the outlaw biker gangSAMCRO in California, with the main protagonist, Jax Teller, tangling with themes of loss, love, and criminality throughout the show.
With the founder of SAMCRO being his father, Jax has to deal with his death and how to navigate the group while dealing with criminal endeavors alongside figures such as his difficult stepfather, Clay, and best friend, Opie.Through the course of seven seasons,Sons of Anarchydelves into the criminal underworld from the viewpoint of bikers, serving as a refreshing perspective that still fits the billing of a thrilling crime drama.
Throughout television history, no show changed the landscape more thanThe Sopranos, a mafia tale that tells the story of Tony Soprano and his exploits as a mob boss in New Jersey. As TV’s original antihero, Tony was a flawed but highly entertaining character who carried viewers into the mob life, with the show showing his criminal pursuits, mental health troubles, and family issues, making him an iconic character in television history.
The HBO show has been regarded as a hallmark of the crime genre, withThe Penguinmost certainly trying to reach a similar peak with its storytelling and portrayal of crime.
