Ask Matt: Should There Be a ‘Penguin’ Season 2?

Welcome to the Q&A with TV critic — also known to some TV fans as their “TV therapist” — Matt Roush, who’ll try to address whatever you love, loathe, are confused or frustrated or thrilled by in today’s vast TV landscape. (We know background music is too loud, it’s the most frequent complaint, but there’s always closed-captioning. Check out this story for more tips.)

One caution: This is a spoiler-free zone, so we won’t be addressing upcoming storylines here unless it’s already common knowledge. Please send your questions and comments to [email protected]). Look for Ask Matt columns on most Tuesdays.

Will We See More of The Penguin on HBO?

Question: Why are so many people speculating in their post-mortems of The Penguin about a Season 2? It was always stated that The Penguin was supposed to bridge The Batman and The Batman Part II movies. It seems like the show is basically unrenewable at this point. Matt Reeves has said that they’re looking to do more for HBO in the future, but the second film is the next thing. So any future TV show that occurs in this universe would have to be after that and pick up from the end of it. They can’t really do anything else until after the next movie, which is scheduled for 2026. This show was very much informed by Carmine Falcone’s death in The Batman, and it seems like they’d have to let the next movie guide their choices for what to do next on TV.

[Spoilers] Even if the next show would focus on the character of Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell) again, it would have to be a very different setup with a substantially new cast because of how high the body count from this season was. I’m glad they managed to keep Sofia alive, and I hope we see her again at some point. But this particular story arc feels very closed to me. — J.L.

Matt Roush: The “why” has to do with HBO’s recent track record of announcing shows as limited series (Big Little Lies, The White Lotus), and then when they take off and are well received, they magically get second seasons or more. And properties derived from comic books and superhero movies are equally well known for doing sequels. The Penguin is somewhat different, being a self-contained story depicting Oz Cobb’s evolution into the iconic Penguin supervillain, and they obviously left it open for both him and Sofia Gigante (as she’s now called) to reappear in the Batman movies and possibly other projects. I’m content for now to let this scheming Penguin rest as a one-and-done, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see HBO revisit this I.P. while the Penguin buzz is still hot — a Sofia and Selina Kyle series, anyone?

For Shame?

Question: I was just wondering if there’s any evidence of actors being ashamed of their connection with shows like The Rookie and Doctor Odyssey, with their eye-rolling, ridiculously anti-real-world plots and dialogue? I wince a little every time I see Don Johnson on his new show and can’t help wondering if he thinks about how far he’s fallen from the heights of Miami Vice — and even Nash Bridges. Do they ever admit to any embarrassment? — Jim

Matt Roush: Whoa, lumping The Rookie with Doctor Odyssey is a bold statement. (Not my doing.) The point here being that much of what constitutes broadcast network TV these days qualifies as guilty pleasures — “prestige TV” has moved to the streamers, mostly — whether your comfort food is the formula procedural or the over-the-top melodrama. Doctor Odyssey clearly falls into the second camp (and I do mean camp) — and to answer your question directly, it’s rare for a star to admit being embarrassed to be on a show while the show is still in production. Not a good look. In Don Johnson’s case, that sheepish grin he’s wearing as the ship’s captain suggests that he’s having a blast on a show that isn’t exactly taxing his acting muscles. (I recall how good he was on HBO’s Watchmen not so long ago.) That said, I’m sure I’m guilty of wincing while watching him and Joshua Jackson banter. But hey, a job’s a job.

Will Lone Star Be Rescued?

Question: I know that my favorite show, 9-1-1: Lone Star, has been canceled at Fox, but is there any chance it will get picked up by ABC, like 9-1-1? — Susan

Matt Roush: Sadly, no. Fox has set Feb. 3 as the date for Lone Star’s series finale, and ABC is starting from scratch, it would appear, to launch its own 9-1-1 spinoff. Latest word is that Hawaii will be the most likely setting.

Give the Guy Something to Do!

Question: Will FBI, either cut Jubal (Jeremy Sisto) loose or write some actual dialogue? I am so sick of his “yeah, yeah, yeahs” while the team does all the work. — Stacy

Matt Roush: This made me laugh. I’m not a regular watcher, and I know the character of Jubal has had some personal subplots like the other main characters, but any time I tune in I can’t help but think that Jeremy Sisto (who I’ve enjoyed in shows as various as Six Feet Under, Suburgatory, and OG Law & Order) is currently one of the most underused actors on TV.

Cult TV Alert!

Comment: I just wanted to say how much I love Interior Chinatown! Some of the outright funniest moments I’ve seen recently are in that show (and so far I’m only three episodes in). Thanks for the mention in your daily column. I also saw Jimmy O. Yang on late-night TV this week, so I might have noticed it anyway, but this is one I wouldn’t have wanted to miss! The scene in which Jimmy keeps trying to enter the police precinct while everyone ignores him is a modern classic. Yang is amazing, and Ronny Chieng just keeps going from great scene to great scene. — D.P.

Matt Roush: Always enjoy passing on enthusiastic recommendations. (This month’s streaming glut has kept me from finishing this series, but what I’ve sampled is very clever.) I agree that Yang (a favorite from Silicon Valley) is terrific, and Ronny Chieng is having a moment. Not only is he killing it on The Daily Show and stealing his scenes in Chinatown, but he has a new comedy special on Netflix (Love to Hate It) premiering Dec. 17.

And Finally …

Comment: While growing up in the 1980s, I recall Debra Winger’s excellent work (Urban Cowboy, An Officer and a Gentleman, Terms of Endearment, and Black Widow among others) and was not surprised to be wowed by her splendid performance in the recent episode of Accused. Her acting style continues to be the most effortless I have ever seen. She never looks like she’s working hard to deliver. It just flows so fluidly. A very uncommon asset. Her last awards and nominations were definitely earned, and I hardly need to say that this appearance deserves recognition. — Fred

Matt Roush: This wasn’t my favorite episode of the anthology, but as usual, the cast more than made up for any of the contrived script’s shortcomings. I love how Accused gives rarely seen actors some juicy material to play, and Winger was well supported by Mercedes Ruehl and Christine Ebersole.

That’s all for now. We can’t do this without your participation, so please keep sending questions and comments about TV to [email protected]. (Please include a first name with your question.)