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I really enjoyed Gotham, at least from Season 2 until the end, and often wondered if it would fit into some other Batman timeline or just be a creature unto itself. It definitely is not part of The CW’s Arrowverse, but many thought it was functioning as a prequel to the classic 1960s Batman TV series (I thought it fit more into the Tim Burton Batman universe but the timelines of the villains do not work with that either). So Gotham is what it is, set in its own timeless world mashing up 1930s film noir with modern conveniences like cell phones.
So when the Epix premium service announced they were launching a new series centered around the character of Alfred, pre-employment at Wayne Manor, I was intrigued. It would have been interesting to see Sean Pertwee get to carry on the role, but this is a younger Alfred and the time period is definitely the Swinging Sixties of London … which makes one still ponder, as the new series comes from the team behind Gotham, if this Alfred is the younger version of that Alfred. I can definitely see him aging into Sean Pertwee but having one show set in a very non-specific time period and another set in a very specific time period, it’s hard to say. And no one seems to be talking.
So let us enjoy Pennyworth on its own terms. The new series launched this week on Epix (and you can now subscribe to the service without the requirement of a cable provider through the stand-alone app) and the pilot episode is a blast. As Austin Powers would say, ‘Yeah, baby!’ Pilots and origin stories can be tough for audience to embrace because there’s usually so much exposition and introduction to characters. Thankfully we know the character of Alfred Pennyworth but the pilot gives us just enough of his backstory to let us know what makes him tick. Alfred is ex-military, he’s seen people die right in front of him, so he’s not shy about getting into some hand-to-hand combat, and that comes in handy with his job as a bouncer at a drag/gay/social club/cabaret where he happens to meet Thomas Wayne, who is there to collect his sister before a fight breaks out. Impressed with Alfred’s fighting skills, Wayne offers him a job as his personal security. It just so happens, that is exactly the line of work Alfred is planning to get into by starting his own security agency. The stars aligned for these two and the rest is history … or at least it will be.
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For now, Wayne is involved in some business in which a group of bad guys is interested. But they need Wayne out of the way, and make a few attempts to take his life. Because he’s exchanged business cards with Alfred, he’s also drawn into the intrigue, as is his unfortunate girlfriend Esmé who is subjected to a bit of interrogation and torture at the hands of Bet Sykes (played by the FABULOUS Paloma Faith). Right before her abduction, Esmé actually ended her relationship with Alfred but he wasn’t about to give up on her that quickly. With the help of Wayne and two of his former army buds, they set up a staged meeting with the bad guys while attempting to free Esmé. I’d like to think Bet is the show’s Big Bad, but I guess she’s just the medium bad as the pilot also introduces the man who is running the entire evil organization, Lord Harwood (Jason Flemyng).
Earlier this year, I felt that the DC Universe series Doom Patrol launched with one of the most perfect pilot episodes I’d ever seen. Pennyworth is pretty perfect as well. The cast is terrific from Jack Bannon’s Alfred to Ben Aldridge’s Thomas Wayne. The supporting cast is also terrific but I can’t say enough great things about Paloma Faith. Her performance combined with the spot-on 60s hair, makeup and wardrobe makes Bet a character you absolutely love … to hate. It takes a lot of skill to make you want to see more from a character who brutalizes another innocent character just for kicks, but you just can’t take your eye off of her. Sadly, these kinds of shows rarely get Emmy Awards consideration in the acting categories but if they did, Paloma Faith would certainly be in the pool of nominees.
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What does get Emmy notice, however, are the technical aspects of these show (as Gotham has), and everything about the production is top notch. I can’t imagine how expensive this show must be. It looks like a million bucks and it’s all up on screen, from the period costumes and makeup, to the sets of 60s London complete with time period appropriate double-decker busses. The cinematography, much like Doom Patrol‘s pilot is quite cinematic, imbuing much of the episode with a golden glow (and makes sense that they screened the first episode in select theaters to advance screening audiences). It really is a sight to behold and feels like a show from the 1960s. I’ve never seen any of Epix’s other original series, so I feared Pennyworth may look and feel a little cheap. It definitely does now! I just loved the whole production with its clever mash-up of The Avengers meets The Saint meets The Man from U.N.C.L.E. They had me hooked right from the beginning (even if some of the British accents are a bit thick) and I am completely on board for the rest of the season.
Let’s just hope Warner Bros. Television does pull another Swamp Thing and pull the plug the day after the series premieres.
What did you think of this episode? Sound off in the comments below!
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