When it was announced that there was a show being developed on the early life of Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s trusted butler and father-figure, there was a massive amount of skepticism. This was the type of concept that was mocked to perfection in Teen Titans Go! To The Movies. The fact that it was going to be on the little-watched Epix channel was even more of a head scratcher. With a 20-something Alfred, there would be almost no chance of seeing Batman outside of quick glimpse during a series finale set far in the future. Would there be enough of a draw to get people to tune in to yet another comic book inspired show? Those who tuned in looking for plethora of nods to Batman were likely left disappointed in that respect, but what they were provided is a sleek spy thriller full of intrigue and twists.
Pennyworth finds young Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon) fresh out of the British SAS and returning home to an alternate version of 1960s London. Alfred is welcomed home by his parents, Mary (Dorothy Atkinson) and Arthur (Ian Puleston-Davies), and is determined to open up his own security firm and lead a more peaceful life. While he attempts to get that lined up, Alfred takes a gig as a bouncer and doorman at a London club where he meets Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge), a young, brash and wealthy American who needs help out of a sticky situation. Alfred finds himself thrust right into the thick of a brewing government upheaval led by the shadowy Raven Society. Rather than find himself a victim, Alfred must work alongside the No Name League, an equally secretive group represented by American agent Martha Kane (Emma Paetz), to protect the country and those closest to him. What transpires is a season filled with political intrigue, engaging characters, thrilling reveals and ruthless losses.
While Alfred has historically been portrayed as a wise older gentleman, the version we get in Pennyworth is rougher around the edges. Jack Bannon brings a charming youthful energy that is equal parts self-assured and immature depending on the moment. Alfred has similarities to James Bond; he is a skilled solider with no qualms with engaging in a perfectly maintained tussle, careful not to bother any bystanders. He also has a weakness for the ladies that will keep you blushing and quickly remembering that you are watching a show made for cable. Alfred still has a ways to go before becoming the reserved butler for the Wayne family that we know and love. The ladies of the show are not relegated to just being objects that move the story forward. One of the most interesting characters of the season is Bet Sykes (Paloma Faith), a sadistic enforcer for the Raven Society who develops an interesting dynamic with Alfred and those close to him. Martha Kane, future mother of Bruce, also proves she is no damsel throughout the season as she embarks on countless dangerous endeavors.
After successfully creating a Batman story without Batman on Gotham, Bruno Heller (executive producer and writer) and Danny Cannon (executive producer and director) take things a step further with Pennyworth. There are some interesting Easter eggs here and there for Batman fans, but this is not like Gotham where you are consistently seeing the origins of iconic villains. This is just a stunningly shot spy show that happens to focus on Bruce Wayne’s future guardian and parents. There are detours into a heightened reality with some occult activity and villains being saved from the clutches of death, but the show mostly stays grounded. Even without the presence of a superhero, the show remains a thrilling, sexy, violent ride with some breathtaking visuals and top-notch acting all around. For a premise that sounded so silly on paper, Pennyworth has ended up surprising in a major way.
Video Quality
Pennyworth: The Complete First Season comes to Blu-Ray in a gorgeous 1080p transfer. With this being a brand new series, it stands to reason that the presentation should be without flaws, but that does not make the end result any less impressive. 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. 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 digital anomalies to speak of. Warner Archive has done an excellent 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 a foot pursuit 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 public speeches. 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 Jeff E. Russo 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 included on this set. The ten-episode first season is spread across three discs, and the next episode automatically plays when you are finished with one.
Final Thoughts
Pennyworth swats away all skepticism to its mere existence and provides an intrigue-filled spy story with lavish production design and a fantastic cast. You will not be seeing a caped crusader anytime soon, but Alfred proves he can more than hold his own as the focus of a series. Warner Archive has provided a 5-star A/V presentation to one of the most surprisingly great series to come out of 2019. Pennyworth works as a show that can be equally enjoyed by fans of Batman and those who have no idea it is even connected to the character. Highly Recommended
Pennyworth: The Complete First Season can be purchased directly through Warner Archive 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.
