The first season of Pennyworth was burdened with audiences getting over the disbelief that Batman’s butler was getting his own show and accepting that it was not a joke. Well, that and the fact that it aired on EPIX, which we are still not entirely sure actually exists. Those who managed to find the show through that channel or on Blu-Ray were greeted with a surprisingly thrilling throwback spy show that did not use its ties to one of the most iconic characters ever created as a crutch. Star Jack Bannon turned Alfred Pennyworth into a suave James Bond type who wanted to leave his days of violence behind with the war but continually found himself pulled into conflict by evil forces in the world. The first season brought about a great deal of loss for Alfred culminating in the shocking revelation that his father Arthur (Ian Puleston-Davies) was a key member of the forces he was fighting against in the Raven’s Society. In order to save the day, he had to put down his own father by lethal force, and the ramifications of this action reverberate throughout the season.
This season of Pennyworth picks up several months after the events of the first season with many of the characters inhabiting different spaces than we last saw them. The entirety of the United Kingdom are living in fear of the ever-expanding Raven’s Union who are backed by the British Army. We will learn that there is a proper reason to be afraid of this group thanks in large part to a secret weapon with the codename of “Stormcloud” that lingers throughout the sophomore narrative. After a dalliance with our titular hero last season, Queen Elizabeth II (Jessica Ellerby) is back in London trying to put up a defense with her own English League. Aiding her in this are our standout characters, newly-promoted Lieutenant Martha Kane (Emma Paetz) and CIA Section Leader Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge), whose swirling attraction energized the latter half of the first season and only continues to be more complicated. By virtue of the role they play in Bruce’s life, it is rare that we have gotten to know the parental Wayne’s, so getting to fall in love with them here makes your heart ache for what has to come later.
While this section of the story is quite thrilling, it is our action with Alfred himself that puts this season in a slight slump. There was a devilish charm that came with the character the first go around, but with the loss of his fiancee and then his father, Alfred is in a really dark place. Even his relationship with his mother, Mary (Dorothy Atkinson), is strained due to the fact that her son had to kill her husband. The goal for Alfred and his friends is to raise enough money to get on a plane to America and leave all the madness behind. In order to accomplish this, he and his mates have to take on more odd jobs that once again get them mixed up with the larger plot involving the Raven’s Union. There was always a sense that any mission could go sideways, but no matter the outcome the show always presented it as a fun bit of business. The trajectory of Alfred does not have to be without obstacles to be entertaining, the show itself just seems weighing down the story with a morose main character when all of the other storylines have some sense of pulpy goodness accompanying them.
If ever a scene gets too bogged down in self-seriousness, you can usually count on Bet Sykes (Paloma Faith) to turn up and crank things to eleven. This is a character who I could easily see people being annoyed by, but her over-the-top sadistic streak really tickles me and she gets much more fleshed out throughout the season. One of the best things this show does is expertly weave all of these stories together in an extremely satisfying tapestry. While not quite as good as the latter half of the first season, this sophomore effort mostly keeps things entertaining, especially when not specifically wrapped up in Alfred’s storyline. I am willing to concede that some of the missteps could be attributed to the COVID disruption, but even with that this show has built up a world that is a joy to journey through. The last five minute of the season set up new developments that have me more excited for a third season than ever, so let’s hold out hope that HBO Max decides to pick this up and make it the best version it can be.
Video Quality
Pennyworth: The Complete Second Season comes to Blu-Ray in a stunning 1080p transfer. With this being a modern series, it stands to reason that the presentation should be without flaws, but you can still marvel at what a nice job Warner Archive did with this release. The series looked great on EPIX streaming, but the Blu-Ray presentation has more consistent black levels and less compression by a mile. Fine detail is present in the production design and ornate costumes. The vegetation of the countryside also gives the disc a chance to shine in the detail department. Skin tones look natural throughout the season, and there are no major digital anomalies to speak of. The cinematography is truly top notch for this series with many stunning locales. The color palette is a bit muted, but there are some brilliant moments of gold and green that pop off the screen. Warner Archive has done a top-notch job with this presentation.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is quite lively. The series is primarily dialogue driven, but there are also fairly frequent action-packed sequences such as shootouts or driving scenes that kick this track into overdrive. There is some nice ambient activity in the rear channels, especially during crowded sequences at the bar or during a military siege. The dialogue primarily stays in front center channels and is reproduced clearly. The track does a good job of making sure neither sound effects nor the score ever overpowers dialogue. The score from Lorne Balfe brings a richness to the series that fills up the room on this track. When the action kicks in, there is some heft to the low end that is appreciated in a series such as this one. This track has a substantial dynamic range that should please fans of the series.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on these discs.
Final Thoughts
The second outing of Pennyworth is the slightest step down due to some questionable tonal decisions, but for the most part the series continues to be an unexpected delight that is way better than it has any right to be. At the very least, it is worth it to see the endearing exchanges between Martha Kane and Thomas Wayne. If you enjoyed discovering the first season, you should not be let down by this follow-up. Warner Archive has once again released a Blu-Ray that sports an excellent A/V presentation but no special features. You know you are going to forget to ever subscribe to EPIX, so you might as well pick up this series on disc. It is far from a soulless cash grab only intended to capitalize on the Batman connection. Recommended
Pennyworth: The Complete Second Season can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
