The DC origin series PENNYWORTH follows Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon — The Imitation Game), a former British SAS soldier in his 20s, who forms a security company in 1960s London and goes to work with young billionaire Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge — Our Girl, Reign, Fleabag), who’s not yet become Bruce Wayne’s father. In addition to Bannon and Aldridge, PENNYWORTH stars Emma Paetz (Gentleman Jack), Hainsley Lloyd Bennett (Eastenders), Ryan Fletcher (Outlander), and Dorothy Atkinson (Hanna, Harlots, Call the Midwife), with Paloma Faith (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus) and Jason Flemyng (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).

For in-depth thoughts on Pennyworth, please check out our Blu-Ray reviews of Season One and Season Two.

For further thoughts on Pennyworth: The Complete Series, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/vkfYdCS3Pqs?si=QmOPoV_fmiiUE21K&t=2760]

Video Quality

Pennyworth 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 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 series, 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. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Reintroducing Pennyworth: A two-and-a-half-minute piece is provided for the third season which allows the cast and creative team to discuss the series and the somewhat new direction for the final season.

Case Files (Season 3): Every episode of season three is given a brief breakdown by the cast and creative team as they discuss some of the major developments, how they impact the narrative and more.

- Episode 1 (1:44)

- Episode 2 (2:24)

- Episode 3 (2:07)

- Episode 4 (2:10)

- Episode 5 (2:00)

- Episode 6 (3:36)

- Episode 7 (2:47)

- Episode 8 (3:15)

- Episode 9 (2:59)

- Episode 10 (4:50)

Final Thoughts

Even with its bevy of inconsistencies, Pennyworth was always a show that earned our respect even when it drove us mad. For a show that seemed destined to be hamstrung by its connection to Batman, the series became something uniquely itself with loony spy antics and geo-political chaos. With only the slightest notion paid to the potential of a Caped Crusader, Batman fans were undoubtedly frustrated by what they may have viewed as a bait-and-switch. Fair, but the series we got was often grand fun and provided plenty of thrills to keep us pressing play episode after episode – plus you got more Batman content if you stuck with it. It was a nice run while it lasted, and we will miss it. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray set that sports an excellent A/V presentation and a few special features for the final season. Whether you have been avoiding this show because of its lack of Batman or because there is even a connection to the superhero in the first place, it is time for you to give this series a fair shake. Recommended

Pennyworth: The Complete Series can be purchased on Blu-Ray directly through MovieZyng 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.