The Penguin Director Reveals Why Oz Cobb Didn't Kill That One Character in Batman Spin-Off Premiere

[Warning: The following contains spoilers The Penguin Episode 1, "After Hours." Read at your own risk!]

Ahead of The Penguin's premiere, HBO did not reveal much about one particular character in the new series. Rhenzy Feliz's Victor Aguilar has been teased as Oz Cobb's (Colin Farrell) teenage driver, but otherwise, showrunner Lauren LeFranc and the cast and crew have mostly remained tight-lipped about this new addition to Matt Reeves' Batman-verse. The character makes his debut in the series premiere of The Penguin, but his initial meeting with Oz, aka the Penguin, happens in the worst possible fashion: He is caught red handed when trying to steal from Oz's car and begs for his life. And surprisingly, the Penguin — who holds Victor at gunpoint for a brief period — decides not to kill him. 

"It was really important that we explain why this mobster would actually pay attention to this kid," executive producer Craig Zobel, who directed Episode 1, told TV Guide. 

"The reason why is that Oz has a disability, has a clubfoot," Zobel said. "And he meets this kid who he doesn't care about — but then quickly sees the kid is a person who stutters, has a speech disorder." 

The stuttering becomes clear to Oz when Victor struggles to get his words out while imploring the mobster to spare him. "Jesus! Take a breath," Oz responds as he drops his gun. 

Zobel explained, "That is kind of what connects him and makes him see [Victor's] background." Instead of shooting Victor — just as he shot Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen) moments earlier — Oz decides to enlist Victor's help. "It was important for us to show that, and give Oz the humanity to recognize that in Victor," Zobel said. 

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The Penguin airs Sunday nights at 9/8c on HBO.