As a dedicated viewer of The Penguin, I must say that the final episode was nothing short of breathtaking, albeit for reasons that left me slightly winded – a pun intended. The series has always been a captivating exploration of Gotham’s criminal underworld, and the rise of Oz Cobb to power was a thrilling journey. However, showrunner Lauren LeFranc’s decision to have Oz kill Victor Aguilar was a shocking twist that perfectly encapsulates the tragedy of Gotham City.
WARNING! The following contains Bane-sized spoilers for The Penguin‘s final episode!
The last installment of “The Penguin” series demonstrated that no character is invulnerable. In the highly popular HBO series, a spin-off from Batman titled “The Batman“, viewers witnessed Oz Cobb’s ascent to power within Gotham City’s criminal network. Shockingly, he manages to gain control by Episode 8, solidifying his status as the malevolent Batman adversary adored by fans. However, showrunner Lauren LeFranc added a twist: this triumph came at a cost.
Experiencing Oz Cobb’s chilling act of strangling Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz) in the climactic episode left me gasping for breath, quite literally. This gripping scene solidified Gotham as a city ruthless and unforgiving, serving as a stark reminder that Oz is far from a hero within the grand narrative. In an exclusive interview with Deadline, showrunner Lauren LeFranc elucidated the motive behind Cobb’s heinous act against his dearest friend and perceived family member. “Oz didn’t act out of any wrongdoing on Victor’s part,” she stated, further explaining, “In that instant, Oz made a choice to extinguish his own humanity and fully embrace the monster lurking within him. It is undeniably a heart-wrenching turn of events, and I’ve always envisioned our series as a tragic tale.
Earlier, Vic observed Oz by his mother’s hospital bed, visibly distressed. As LeFranc put it, Oz couldn’t tolerate anyone perceiving him as weak, and that included Vic. “In many aspects, he is a shattered individual,” LeFranc stated. However, for reasons other than any personal animosity, LeFranc wanted Oz to kill Vic. Despite Victor’s assistance, this was the case. For Oz to transform into The Penguin, he had to remove all traces of weakness from his life, as LeFranc described.
“Victor is like family. Yet Victor saw Oz at his weakest, at his most vulnerable. Oz really feels like he needs a level of power. He can’t have weakness, so he kills Victor.”
Lauren LeFranc Wants Fans to Hate Oz Cobb
In the television series, Oz Cobb was often seen as an outcast among viewers, with many favoring Vic and Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti). However, screenwriter Lauren LeFranc aimed to elicit disgust towards Oz by the finale of “The Penguin”. After all, he is a villain. Essentially, she wanted viewers to be appalled by his actions, as there’s no valid reason provided for him to do what he does, which is crucial in storytelling. As a grim portrayal of Gotham City, “The Penguin” includes some truly disturbing and heart-wrenching deaths. For LeFranc, each death needed to hold significance and fit with the overall narrative of the show. She stated that every character’s demise had to make sense within the context of the series.
I frequently ponder over the individuals who pass away, their timings, and the thoughts others may have regarding those demises. In those instances, who holds the power? Who wrongfully treats another person, concocting sinister excuses to justify such inhumane actions?
From the very beginning, Rhenzy Feliz was aware of Oz’s cruelty being a part of the storyline. With the overall plot in mind, Feliz aimed to craft a satisfying journey for his character, Vic, to make Oz’s eventual betrayal all the more profound when it occurred. He elaborated on this approach by saying:
In an attempt to make the ending poignant and unexpectedly tragic, I aimed to construct a narrative where the climax would reveal the true purpose of what we knew. Oz, being sensitive to pain inflicted upon those he cares about, may choose to eliminate Victor to prevent himself from feeling that vulnerability again, fearing others might exploit it against him.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-11-11 17:01