PENNYWORTH
– THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (Blu-ray Review)
Starring
Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Emma Paetz, Hainsley Lloyd Bennett, Ryan
Fletcher, Jayson Fleming, Emma Corrin, Dorothy Atkinson, Ian
Pileston-Davies, Paloma Faith, Polly Walker. Various directors.
(2019/564 min)
Review
by Cuddles, the Couch Potatođ˝
Pennyworth
is a strange show and probably not intended for fans of the so-called
DC Universe (no matter which universe is your thing). In fact, only
the DC logo and the names of three principal characters link it to
anything we might be familiar with.
While
the titular character is best-known as the Wayne family's loyal and
resourceful butler, the series takes place in the late 1960s, when
young Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon) is an ex-soldier with a
fledgling security company. The setting is an alternate, dystopian
vision of England on the brink of civil war. Two extremist
organizations with their own agendas – the puritanical Raven
Society and the CIA-supported No Name Group – are both trying to
overthrow the current government. Initially hired by American agent
Martha Kane (Emma Paetz), Pennyworth becomes more of a hired-gun and
occasional assassin, though his allegiance remains with the Queen and
he absolutely does not trust Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge), a
CIA agent working undercover.
A
few episodic subplots exist within the overall story arc, such as
Pennyworth helping a gay computer whiz defect to America, ridding his
neighborhood a local gangster's psychotic nephew and falling in love
with dancer Esme (Emma Corrin). Some of these side-quests are
interesting, but a few feel like they belong in a different show,
such as Martha & Thomas' inexplicable confrontation with
legendary satanist Alistair Crowley and Alfred consulting an
incarcerated witch to find a killer.
 |
| Alfred actually prefers Superman comics. |
Though
there isn't a cape, gadget or flamboyant super-villain to be found,
Alfred is a pretty badass anti-hero, re-imagined as a skilled killer
who thinks on his feet. He also has just enough personal integrity
and working class charm to remain likable, even when he's blowing
someone's head off. He's well-played by Bannon, whose reserved
mannerisms remind me of a young Michael Caine (maybe that's why he
got the job). In a sea of antagonists – including some in England's
own government - Raven Society henchwoman Bet Sykes (Paloma Faith) is
the most entertaining and arguably the closest the series has to a
psychotic Batman villain.
But
even though Pennyworth ain't your daddy's DC Universe, it
ain't your kids', either. Several characters – including Alfred –
engage in some serious bumping & grinding. What's really
surprising, however, is the copious amount of bloody
violence...shootings, stabbings, eye-piercings, dismemberments,
suggested cannibalism, disembowelings and even some poor bastard
whose nose is lopped off...all depicted in loving, graphic detail.
Because
of all this, one might cynically assume the sole purpose of making it
Alfred Pennyworth's story is for brand name recognition, and you
wouldn't necessarily be wrong. With just three quick name changes,
the series could be about anybody, especially since it doesn't appear
to take place in any existing DC Universe. Still, the first season
Pennyworth is pretty binge-worthy. Smart, exciting, brutal and
often quite funny, the show offers an intriguingly-shady backstory to
a beloved comic book character.
KITTY CONSENSUS:
PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS.
No comments:
Post a Comment