Lauren LeFranc, the creator and showrunner of The Penguin, recently discussed the heart-wrenching and shocking finale of the show with Slate. LeFranc delved into the reasons behind Oz Cobb’s (Colin Farrell) chilling final act and why the story needed to end in such a brutal way. If you thought you understood Oz’s motivations, think again.
The finale saw Oz murdering his second-in-command, Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz), in a moment as sudden as it was horrifying. LeFranc explained that from the very inception of the series, this act was always intended to be the emotional crux of Oz’s character arc. She wanted it to be ugly and unjustifiable, challenging any sympathy viewers may have had for Oz. According to LeFranc, the goal was to show that Oz doesn’t kill Victor out of necessity but out of a twisted sense of vulnerability—a stark departure from the cold, rational moves typical of many crime bosses in film and television. In her words, it was important that Oz’s actions feel “appalling and unnecessary,” making his rise to power that much darker.
LeFranc also revealed that Sofia Falcone’s character (Cristin Milioti) was inspired by a tragic real-life figure: Rosemary Kennedy, the forgotten sister of John F. Kennedy who was lobotomized and largely erased from history. LeFranc wanted to subvert the comic book tropes that often oversimplify characters like Sofia, creating a more nuanced and tragic backstory. As the finale leaves Sofia in Arkham Asylum, her story evokes the injustices faced by women who have been silenced by those in power—adding yet another complex layer to The Penguin‘s narrative.
LeFranc’s vision was to make Oz into a formidable and genuinely terrifying character, beyond just a comic-book villain. His final actions weren’t about Gotham or Batman—they were small, personal, and horribly human, revealing a depth of darkness that makes Oz one of the most unsettling foes in the franchise.
For more of LeFranc’s insights on crafting The Penguin‘s tragic and twisted arcs, check out the full interview on Slate’s website.
