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Early responses to the Penguin have compared the twisted, complex relationship between Oz and his mother to that of Tony Soprano and his mother. And Deirdre O’Connell, who plays Francis, has tons of admiration for the work that Nancy Marchard did in the role. “I love that relationship,” she told press at New York Comic Con 2024.

But O’Connell finds Francis to be a very different kind of mother. “There’s something about the card [Livia] plays that I don’t think Francis would ever be able to play,” she says, “the card of ‘Oh no, pitiful me.’” For O’Connell, Livia is “the strongest person on that show, when you get right down to it.” But despite her own health issues, Francis would never use her needs to get something done, O’Connell says. “Francis hates weakness. She’s revolted by it in herself and in him.”

O’Connell hints that this point of view is going to bring Francis growing hardship as the season continues and she grows sicker.  “It’s very hard for her to be dependent.” She’s excited for audiences to see exactly where it goes. “[Showrunner] Lauren [LeFranc] has written from top to bottom such an incredible arc for her.”

The Penguin continues each Sunday on HBO and streaming on Max.

Popverse is providing wall-to-wall coverage of New York Comic Con 2024, with an all-star crew of writers, editors, and video producers there all four days (and nights). You can follow along to this coverage right here. Or perhaps you're just looking to livestream the biggest panels as they happen; we've got you covered right here!