Colin Farrell dazzles in emotionally charged 'Penguin' finale
Max's "Penguin" series hadn’t stumbled with a single poor episode. The series kept viewers on their toes, consistently surprising at every turn. And the finale? It’s rare for a production to make such a lasting impression by its end.
"Penguin" offered viewers an in-depth look into Oswald Cobblepot's story, which audiences had previously seen in "The Batman" with Robert Pattinson. In this series, with Colin Farrell as the leading star, we delve into the dark underworld of Gotham to witness the rise of the Penguin’s empire. His primary struggle was for control of the drug trade, chiefly battling against the Italian Falcone family. Through several unexpected plot twists, this family's leadership was taken over by Sofia (played marvellously by Cristin Milioti). Naturally, the final episode had to focus on the confrontation between her and Oswald. But were viewers prepared for such intense emotions?
Colin Farrell comments on the final episode of "Penguin" - warning: spoilers ahead
Colin Farrell shared poignant memories from the set of the final episode of the limited HBO series "Penguin," describing the prevailing mood as unusually sombre and emotionally charged.
During a Q&A session following the screening of "Penguin" at the Saban Media Center, Farrell recounted the night of filming the last scene as being enveloped in "dark energy." At a pivotal moment, his character, Oswald Cobblepot, commits a shocking murder. Without giving away spoilers, we can say the victim remains unnamed.
Farrell highlighted the significance of that scene: "It was taking the last vestige of innocence." He also noted that a strong bond had developed among the cast and crew after a year of collaboration, intensifying the emotions during this moment.
Deirdre O’Connell, who portrays Francis Cobblepot, Oz's mother, reflected on her experience filming the closing scene. Her character, who is in a vegetative state, is unable to witness her son's promise being fulfilled. O’Connell shared that she did not have a plan for that moment, but Colin's remarkable performance shifted the dynamic when he pulled back his affection. This unexpected action left her with chills and moved her to tears.
Showrunner Lauren LeFranc explained her intention to portray Oz as a flawed but empathetic character. "I wanted to explore the human inside the antagonist that fans of the Batman universe are familiar with from previous adaptations and comics," she said.
Farrell pointed out that the psychological depth of the character and the relationship with his mother drew him to the role. "It was so human, and it was so relatable. It was painful but there was also beauty there," he admitted. Notably, for the first time, the Penguin is not a character detached from reality, like one from a fantasy or horror film, but rather a real person undergoing multiple tragedies. Will Colin Farrell sweep the award ceremonies for this role? With the awards season on the horizon, time will tell. The final episode of "Penguin" was released on Monday, 11th November, on the Max platform. The creators have already hinted that "Penguin" will return.
