Ever since HBO’s The Sopranos became a TV phenomenon, gritty crime dramas that make you root for the bad guy has become an enduring subgenre, and can even be considered the lifeblood of “Peak TV.” In the past few decades, viewers have rooted for Walter White escaping the DEA, Tommy Shelby ruling Birmingham in secret, and Barry ruthlessly dispatching with his targets. There’s something satisfying in watching an evil scheme by, say, a Targaryen go off without a hitch.
But in recent years, trying to find a fresh angle on the anti-hero story has become more and more difficult. Now, it’s all come full circle: HBO is airing The Penguin, a very Sopranos-inspired series that subverts the idea of anti-hero in a way that’s both obvious and shocking.
