The Penguin (2024) | Appreciation post (completely out of the blue) about how Vic portrayed stuttering throughout the series

I know I'm a bit late and that we've collectively dissected this series from start to finish, showering it with praise for its writing and the performances of Cristin Milioti and Colin Farrell. However, today I found inspiration for this while reading about someone’s experiences on another subreddit. It might seem like a small, insignificant detail, but I want to commend how Vic’s (Rhenzy Feliz) stuttering was portrayed throughout the series.

As someone who stutters, I can say this depiction felt incredibly authentic– one of the most accurate portrayals I've seen in film or television. English isn’t my first language, but I'm confident the essence of stuttering doesn't vary much across languages. I understand that the television is both a visual and auditory medium, so such traits often need to be exaggerated (if a character limps, they must limp three times as dramatically, etc.). But it’s all too easy to overdo it to the point where it veers into comedy, which I don't think is appropriate– even though humor around it is an easy card to play. Personally, I don’t have an issue with stuttering being joked about, but I can’t speak for others or other cultures.

P. S. Regarding the scene with the waiter and ordering, I often get asked about similar situations. Yes, I understand the urgency many people feel, but I also recognize the instinct you may feel to help by finishing someone’s sentences. And no, I don't feel offended when people do that; it’s just frustrating in some moments. It would be great if you could wait for us to finish the thought we've started, even if we're struggling. It's hard to explain– you’re helping when you say the word we’re stuck on, and we repeat it right after. But at the same time, you're not, because we want to say it ourselves.