Epix
When I first heard that the team behind Gotham was going to produce a new series focusing on the life of a much younger Alfred Pennyworth than we’d seen before, I was curious and concerned that they would not be able to pull it off. Also, I wasn’t all that interested since my extent of comic book lore is basically what I see in movies and TV shows. I’m a bit of a blank slate when it comes to these things and the history that comes with them, and that, I think, is a good thing as I have no real preconceived notions of what a character should be, therefore I’m not disappointed when those expectations are not met. I have no idea if there is a comic history of Alfred Pennyworth pre-Batman, and if there isn’t then this new series certainly lays down some interesting groundwork.
But can it be considered canon?
That’s hard to say. I guess it depends on which Batman timeline you’re working with. Gotham had a purposely timeless quality to it, mixing the look and style of many different eras into one so this decidedly 1960s version of Alfred could age quite nicely into the Alfred of Gotham. But the two series are not supposed to be interconnected, and the London of Pennyworth is a decidedly alternate universe version of the land (blimps still fly over the city — as they did in Gotham — there are televised executions, and the Queen is single). But let me tell you, whereas I gave up on Gotham midway through the first season (and came back as a huge fan in Season 2), Pennyworth had me hooked without question from the first frame of the first episode. And as the season progressed, I became more and more invested, eager to see each new episode.
Now, was this season finale as perfect as the nine episodes that preceded it? I’d have to say no. Not that it wasn’t good, but it felt a bit rushed to get us to the shocking and explosive cliffhanger (and please please please let there be a second season). Looking back, they probably didn’t need the Aleister Crowley stuff. Yes, it gave us a little insight into Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane, but did we need any of that? The show should have stayed more focused on Lord Harwood and the Raven Society because that’s where the finale fell a bit short.
Epix
In very quick time after having Bet and Peg abduct the Queen (I did love the scene where they were playing the card game Happy Families), Harwood had marched into the war room and demanded the dissolution of the government. Five minutes later, it seemed, Alfie and company had figured out where the Queen was (and I’m still not entirely sure how they found Peg’s house) and Harwood and company were arrested. With all the lead up to the Ravens taking down the monarchy over the past ten episodes, it was a bit unsatisfying that Harwood wasn’t in power all that long. Aside from putting martial law in place, and executing Undine Thwaite, her body gruesomely left to hang for all to see, he really had time to do nothing to affect the country. Before we knew it, the Queen was returned to power (and Alfie got a royal shag for coming to her rescue).
The other benefit of saving the Queen meant that Alfred also got a royal pardon so he didn’t have to leave the country … although the notion that he was going to sail to the US would have been an interesting way to move the series’ second season to a new location, though sadly that would have meant losing a cast of wonderful characters in Harwood, Gaunt and the Sykes sisters who are now back in prison. But maybe not for long.
After Alfred returns home and his pop leaves for work, both he and his mum have a bad feeling that may be from watching what appears to be The Horror of Frankenstein on the telly … a film released in 1970. So … was there a time jump or Hammer produced the film earlier in this alt universe? But turning the TV off, they still have that feeling and that’s when Mrs. P reveals her husband’s ‘hobby’ with the Raven Society. Earlier in the episode we saw him leading a meeting of The Old Guard, and Harwood makes reference to the group while assuring his fellow co-conspirators that their time is not quite up.
Epix
And sure enough at a state dinner to celebrate the restoration of the government, Mr. Pennyworth is planning the blow the place to Kingdom Come, including the Queen, the Prime Minister and himself. Alfie knows is dad is going to do something terrible and attempts to stop him, forced at that point to shoot his own father but it was too late — he’d tripped the timer on the bomb (or it was tripped when Alfie shot him and he dropped the trigger) and within seconds the entire place was ripped apart by the explosion. It appears Alfred was able to save the Queen (again) and they are the only survivors. But how will the rest of the Old Guard get Harwood and company out of stir?
And we have two other main characters to worry about as well. Thomas let slip that he cares about Martha and Martha put two-and-two together that he cared about her in a romantic way. She decided she felt the same way and marched herself to his flat to suggest they give it a shot. Except while they were in the beginnings of their make-out session, she could not stop giggling. They were about to try again when suddenly a shot rang out and Thomas hit the floor, hit on his right side. Martha sprung into action and applied pressure to the wound and administered CPR, getting Thomas conscious again, but now we’re left to wonder who took that shot at Thomas Wayne.
So while the finale felt a bit rushed, it still managed to build to a shocking and unexpected conclusion that puts our main characters — as well as Mrs. P, Bazza and Dave Boy — in some precarious situations while anticipating what Harwood and company have up their sleeves. Pennyworth ended up being so much more than I had ever imagined, from the stunning, cinematic production value (and perhaps Epix could air the show in 4K if there is a second season to show off that obviously very expensive production to its fullest) to the excellent casting choices from Jack Bannon (and his amazing widow’s peak) to Jason Flemyng and the magnificent Paloma Faith, who could turn Bet’s emotions on a dime without effort. And I can’t forget to mention the excellent 60s-inspired score by David E. Russo (who also did the score for Gotham) that really helped set the tone. All in all this was a terrific start to what I hope will be many more seasons to come.
Okay, Epix, the ball is in your court now. Don’t disappoint!
What did you think of the finale and the first season? Sound off in the comments below!
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