Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
The Golden Globes have always been a celebration and acknowledgment of entertainment at its best and sometimes not so much. The tradition of predictable wins and surprising snubs has been followed by the recent Golden Globe Awards, which occurred on August 17, 2025, hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Perhaps one of the most-discussed outcomes this year was the mishandling of the crime dramaThe Penguinand its breakout actress Cristin Milioti. The series showing the growth of Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb’s character, as a gangster in Gotham, emerged as one of HBO’s biggest hits. However, both the show and Milioti as Sofia Falcone getting snubbed felt like cheating due to the following possible reasons.
Cristin Milioti’s performance redefined villains
Cristin Miliotiwas nominated in the category of Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television forThe Penguin. However, the award went to Jodie Foster forTrue Detective: Night Country.
The Penguin: You know It’s Pure Peak When Both Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti Got Golden Globes Nomination
Milioti wasn’t just playing another character from the comic books. She was portraying a very layered villain through Sofia Falcone. As critics also pointed out, she was able to reinterpret the character into a mafia princess who was subtly insane yet spine-chilling. She was at her best in episodes 4 and 5, which had the series’ some of the highest viewerships.
Her deliveries, like in“Daddy is dead, and we are… untamed,”showed her ability to portray simple dialogues in an unsettling way. Her role required a balance between elegance and savagery, which Milioti portrayed well without having to wear much makeup or prosthetics, like her co-star,Colin Farrell, who won the award for the same category for male actors.
Milioto went from being a sweet-natured Tracy McConnell inHow I Met Your Motherto a psychopathic heiress inThe Penguin.Unlike some of her fellow nominees, Milioti had to go against typecasting and the public’s expectations to develop something completely new.
The Penguintranscended its genre
The Penguinwas not simply more of the same superhero spin-off show, it was a smart crime drama that just so existed within the Batman world. It freed itself from the constraints of genre and, at the same time, consistently maintained high production values and storytelling, which made it one of the leaders of TV shows in 2024.
According toForbes, it also showed an increase in growth in viewership from the first episode to the last episode of the series, which is also proof of an increase in the number of people interested in the story. This steady organic growth through word-of-mouth and critical acclaim shows that the show went beyond just comic book lovers.
“Oh, get f**ked”: Colin Farrell’s Reaction is Exactly How Every The Penguin Fan Felt after Cristin Milioti Reveals the Horrible Career Advice She Chose to Ignore
Even though comic book adaptations are usually not given enough respect when it comes to receiving accolades,The Penguinis much closer to prime crime dramas. It was, however, defeated byBaby Reindeerin the category of Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made For Television.
Competition vs. quality
Jodie Foster’s win forTrue Detective: Night Countryover Milioti showed a concerning pattern in awards voting. Although Foster is certainly a gifted actress, the show was not devoid of criticism.
For Milioto, the category was filled with the finest and veteran actresses, including Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet, which perhaps overshadowed her fresher take. Moreover, some voters could have been unwilling to endorse a performance of a comic book portrayal regardless of how good it was.
This bias becomes even more evident when one takes into account that Milioti gave an excellent performance throughout the whole of the season while Foster’s struggling show was heavily criticized, especially during its finale.
Impact of Cristin Milioti’s performance andThe Penguin‘s story
Sofia Falcone, played by Milioti, is a character that forces viewers to reconsider the way many approach female villains in genre television. The series’ ability to incorporate crime drama into the comics format defines a new formula for future adaptations that seemingly got missed by the Globes at their expense.
According toVariety,The Penguindebuted with 1.7 million viewers in the first episode, which increased almost 50% by the time it reached the finale with 2.1 million views. The show is rated 95% by the critics and 91% by the audience onRotten Tomatoes, which also shows the appeal of comic book adaptations to mainstream audiences.
Failure of rising star recognition at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards
Although it was Milioti’s first Golden Globe nomination ever, she has been acting for years on stage, TV, and in films, and has also been nominated for a Grammy and Tony Award, which makes her quite qualified for the win.
The actress, however, kept it low by simply saying she was“in a state of shock”and thanked people for nominating her alongside such great names in her interview withPeoplemagazine.
The Globes have often used this category to promote promising newcomers, as was the case with Anya Taylor-Joy and Lady Gaga. Milioti’s role inThe Penguinwas a missed opportunity to carry on this tradition.
“I really care about all these characters”: The Penguin Season 2 Will Happen With Cristin Milioti, Colin Farrell as Long as Showrunner’s One Condition is Met
Getting awarded definitely boosts morality and fame, butThe Penguinand Cristin Milioti have already been written in the history of television. The opportunity that the show has had to redefine its genre and female villains will shape future works regardless of the prospects of Golden Globes. Maybe that is the real victory anyway.
The Penguinis available to stream on Max.
Bibon Sinha
Articles Published :137
Bibon Sinha is a Biotechnology graduate whose love for content creation turned him toward the field of content writing. With over two years of experience in the field of content writing and management, he is a devoted Marvel fan. Beyond writing, he’s drawn to combat sports and spends his downtime with his guitar, creating music.
