If there’s one big takeaway from HBO’s The Penguin, it’s that Oswald Cobb (Colin Farrell) has some strong feelings about food. Perhaps that’s why they changed his last name from Cobblepot to one that comes straight from a popular salad. Or maybe that’s a coincidence.
Regardless, in the first two episodes of the series, there have been scenes all built around what Oswald thinks about food — or drink. Having not watched ahead on the season, it’s possible these could be two and done. But hopefully, it’s a running joke in every episode that he goes on a rant about something relatively banal about cuisine.
With fingers crossed that it’s the latter, here’s a running list of every food preference Oswald Cobb has so far on The Penguin. And we’ll update this every episode. Probably.
Episode 1: “It’s Better, Right? When You Mix The Flavors?”
In the premiere of the series, as Oz is making Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz) drive him around Gotham City, he asks Victor about a bodega he used to visit named Buddy’s Grocery, and if they still have Slush Puppies there. And more importantly, if Victor ever mixed the flavors, which is called a suicide. Victor hasn’t, and Oz gets upset, telling him he’s got to mix the flavors.
Then after they’ve successfully tricked the Falcone crime family into thinking the Maroni crime family murdered Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen), they celebrate by getting Slush Puppies. And of course, Oz makes sure Victor made them suicides. “It’s better, right? When you mix the flavors?” Oz says. The metaphor is about mixing the two of them together. But also it’s about how Slush Puppies are more delicious that way. The more you know!
Episode 1: “I Asked For Extra Pickles, And They Give Me Two?”
Less of a food preference and more of a food complaint, while Oz and Vic burn evidence the chow down on sandwiches — and the amount of pickles is not to Oz’s liking. “I asked for extra pickles, and they give me two? So what, a normal amount of pickles is one? Makes no goddamn sense.”
Look, he’s not wrong here, though it is a little rude that he refuses Vic’s offer of some of the pickles from his sandwich because he doesn’t want the ones his “dirty little mouth touched.”
Episode 2: “Jesus, Vic! I Said No Cilantro!”
While preparing for a party with a few members of the Falcone crime family and several of Eve Karlo’s (Carmen Ejogo) girls, Vic is carefully placing some hard-shell tacos on a plate. Weird party food, but what’s more upsetting to Oz is that there’s cilantro on the tacos.
“Jesus, Vic!” Oz yells, midway through explaining his plan to take down Sofia Falcone. “I said no cilantro! It’s f**kin’ everywhere!”
Vic tries to apologize, but Oz is pissed, and adds, “Might as well shove a bar of goddamn soap in my mouth. Girls are on their way. Start pickin’.” And then Vic starts to pick the cilantro off the tacos. But Oz hasn’t forgiven him, and when he’s introducing Vic to one of Eve’s girls, Roxy (Jessie Pinnick), he says, “This is the guy who f**ked up the taco order.”
Of note, cilantro tasting like soap is a genetic variation in a small number of people. Seems like Oz has that genetic variation, and he ain’t eating no cilantro because of it!
Where To Watch The Penguin:
The Penguin Premiere Dates And Episode Guide:
The first episode of The Penguin premieres Thursday, September 19 at 9 pm ET on HBO and Max. There will be an encore airing on Sunday, September 22 at 9 pm ET, and then the show will move to its regular time slot of Sundays at 9 pm ET starting on September 29.
Here’s the full list of episodes in The Penguin, with premiere dates:
- Thursday, September 19, 2024: The Penguin, Episode 1: “After Hours”
- Sunday, September 29, 2024: The Penguin, Episode 2: “Inside Man”
- Sunday, October 6, 2024: The Penguin, Episode 3: “Bliss”
- Sunday, October 13, 2024: The Penguin, Episode 4: “Cent’Anni”
- Sunday, October 20, 2024: The Penguin, Episode 5: “Homecoming”
- Sunday, October 27, 2024: The Penguin, Episode 6: “Gold Summit”
- Sunday, November 3, 2024: The Penguin, Episode 7: “Top Hat”
- Sunday, November 10, 2024: The Penguin, Episode 8: “Great or Little Thing”