Smashing opening episode

(I haven't seen the Batman movie this is spun off from)

This is a street-level, no frills, no superpowers take on Oswald Cobb, aka the Penguin, who's always been the Capone-like figure of the Batman universe.

This iteration of Cobb is an old-school mob grunt (cue Parton's 9 to 5), with just enough smarts to dance of the razor's edge, ie: enough to get himself in trouble, barely enough to get himself out, and with just enough residual humanity to not have risen in the ranks.

The three leads are brilliant (drowned-in-latex Farrell can't rely on his handsome face this time), the production value is through the roof, and the pacing is adequate for once. Here I was, thinking writers who could do exposition and not be boring were extinct.

No obvious woke elements (although, why do every fictional city mayor have to be a black woman?).
Furthermore, the creator (writer) for the show is a woman. And they did not even advertise it. Maybe even decided to let merit stand on its own.
Such a 20th century concept.

Edit: 2nd episode just as good. Can expect a full good season before it's infected?