TV REVIEW: Pennyworth, Season One
There are some projects that rise out of a clear demand for the idea. Then, however, there are shows that make one question why the project even exists. When it comes to the idea of Pennyworth, a show centered around the youthful adventures of Batman“s butler Alfred, my initial impression was very much in the second camp. While there is always demand for Batman, WB seems more interested in mining his past than in giving us new present-day adventures on television. However, I was open to the idea that the execution might make this series worthwhile, whatever my early misgivings.
The reality of Pennyworth is unfortunately quite inconsistent, though this is mainly due to the writing. To the show“s credit, the first few episodes are actually much more enjoyable than I expected, with stories centered around Alfred as a young SAS officer trying to build a career as a private security consultant. This is where the show honestly shines, creating the sense of a 1960“s spy thriller at the best of times. It“s often fun to see Alfred interacting with his two wartime friends, Dave Boy and Bazza, as they work together on their missions on this show. Likewise, his personal life with his girlfriend and parents is equally interesting, which is often not the case on superhero shows. The main villains of the season, the Raven Society, are generally well developed, being sympathetic even though supporting a horrendously evil cause. Indeed, some of these characters, like main antagonists Lord Harwood and Frances Gaunt, are deeply rounded and show real variety in the writing and performances.
However, the show is derailed for quite a few episodes by the murder of a major character, which sends the story spiraling into a nonsensical revenge plot that moves away from what made the show work up until that point. This is compounded by story moments that tarnish some of the more recognizable characters on this show, including a largely pointless subplot involving Martha Wayne and Aleister Crowley (a real person who would have been long dead by the time the show is supposedly set). Although the show does manage to recover towards the finale, which gets back into the more entertaining 60“s spy adventure angle, the second half of the season can be frustrating to watch in places. Some of this might be mitigated if these were original characters, but when thinking of them as Batman“s parents and legal guardian, it raises questions that the show brushes aside. For instance, if Thomas Wayne was a trained and skilled CIA agent, how were the Waynes so easily murdered by thugs in Crime Alley? Though this is a show meant to appeal to hardcore Batman fans, it“s those fans who may end up struggling the most when watching Pennyworth.
On a more positive note, I find absolutely no fault with the casting. Indeed, all the recognizable characters look like younger versions of the DC characters from the comics. Jack Bannon is quite believable as a much younger Alfred, capturing the duty-minded servant, the caring family man, and the highly skilled SAS operative. Likewise, Ben Eldridge is a convincing Thomas Wayne, coming across as a cool, suave businessman with a hidden dark edge. There are even times when Eldridge manages to hint at the man that Bruce Wayne would one day become as Batman. Emma Paetz is quite charming and fiery as Martha Kane, embodying the uncompromising idealism of Bruce. However, the original characters are also good casting choices, especially Ryan Fletcher and Hainsley Lloyd Bennett as Dave Boy and Bazza. The characters all convey the world of 1960“s England well, even if the worldbuilding comes across as slapdash with various anachronisms and logical inconsistencies.
Despite my issues with it, Pennyworth is a show that I want to like, and at times, it can be fun and engaging. It“s also a show that misses the mark at times, especially when it gets away from the security consultant and spy stories, moving away from what it does best. I hope that Season 2 will be able to iron out these first-season wrinkles and give the show better focus and more consistent worldbuilding moving forward, because there is promise in the show that shines through occasionally.
Score: 3.5/5
Pennyworth, Season One
Executive Producers: Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon
Starring: Jack Bannon, Ben Eldridge, Emma Paetz, Hainsley Lloyd Bennet, Ryan Fletcher, Paloma Faith, Jason Flemyng
Author Profile
- Steve Sellers had been a fan of superheroes ever since Superman: The Movie. But it took the JSA, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Dragonlance, Lord of the Rings, Twilight Zone, and Chris Claremont's legendary run on the X-Men to make him a writer and a longtime fan of comics, fantasy, and science fiction. Steve is the co-creator of WHITE DRUID & MICHAEL NERO and GUARDIANS OF ELAYIM for Omen Comics, and he is also the creator of BLITZ and SHOCKWAVE for Revelation Comics (an imprint of Omen Comics).
