Colin Farrell discusses gut-wrenching finale of The Penguin: 'It was taking the last vestige of innocence'
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In a post-screening Q&A for The Penguin, Colin Farrell discussed the gloomy mood that pervaded the whole cast and crew on the night of their last day of filming for the Max limited series. In the stunning series finale that night, Farrell's character Oswald Cobb kills Rhenzy Feliz's protege, Victor Aguilar.
Vulnerable exchange between Oz and Victor in the finale
In the moments leading up to his death, Feliz said that Oz and Victor had their most vulnerable exchange throughout the series. According to him, the two men are unable to express their feelings for each other openly due to their complex masculinity. Victor conveyed this message to Oz by drawing a comparison between Oz and his only family.
To paraphrase Farrell, the scene truly took away the last semblance of innocence. An individual who had given their life, loyalty, and love to another saw that light extinguished.
When asked about the tight-knit crew and cast of The Penguin, the Irish actor explained that it was because they had worked together for a year. As for the story's conclusion to Victor's arc, he expressed both contempt and admiration for it.
Colin Farrell on the dark energy surrounding the series conclusion
According to Farrell, a dark energy that night was present. The audience has a deep affection for Rhenzy's Vic, and if he manages to make them feel the same way about a character, the crew is bound to follow suit.
According to Deirdre O'Connell, who portrays Francis Cobb, Oz's mother, on the last page of the series finale, she cries out in a daze because her gangster son has finally kept his promise to her and put her in a penthouse.
Deirdre O'Connell’s intense reflection on the role amid strikes
During the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, O'Connell said that she thought about playing the tragic scene practically daily. She claimed that Farrell's strange behaviour prompted her to react, even though she had no particular strategy for delivering her performance in Francis' final moments.
O'Connell stated that the character had broken his love, and he couldn't comprehend how a human being could do such a thing. It was very evident in that room that Oz had abandoned him; he could feel it, and it made his blood turn cold and he cried on his shoulder.
Showrunner Lauren LeFranc discussed her goal of creating an Oz character that is human but imperfect in order to have the audience feel sorry for her. According to her, the goal in presenting this Oswald Cobb was to give Batman fans a look at a villain they may recognise from previous films or comic art.
Colin Farrell on the complex emotional depth of his character's family ties
In discussing his decision to take part, Farrell emphasised the character's complexity and nuanced personality. He went on to say that what really drew him in was LeFranc's analysis of Oz and Francis's connection, particularly the emotional undercurrents of son-mother interactions.
As Farrell stated, despite the pain, it was so human and beautiful that an audience could relate to it.
All episodes of The Penguin are streaming on JioCinema (OTTplay Premium).
