Random TV Season Review - Pennyworth (Season 1)

While it has been nice to see lots of Batman stories being adapted to all kinds of media, I think its good that some of the supporting characters from his stories get a chance to shine on their own outside of the comics. Gotham was a TV show that focused a lot on the potiental origins of Batman's rogue gallery while telling us the seemingly untold story of Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon between Thomas and Martha getting murdered and the former becoming the dark knight himself. Then we got Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey which both bring some of his villains to the big screen like Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Joker, Killer Croc and Black Mask with very little to no involvement from the world's greatest detective. And then recently I reviewed Joker's own film which gave the clown prince of crime another potiental origin story that ends with the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents and turns Gotham into the crime ridden city that it is. And with some of the many Robins being part of the Teen Titans in various different TV shows and animated films (with some even leading the team), we now finally get a TV series about everyone's favourite butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Although was originally an in-joke in Teen Titans Go! to the Movies, its nice to have his story told at last. So let's see what's in store for us:

Set after his time serving the army in World War II in an alternate London that combines aspects from the 50s and 60s, we meet former SAS solider Alfred Pennyworth (played by Jack Bannon) who forms his own security company to protect those worth protecting and beating up those who dare challenge him. During this time, he finds romance with nightclub dancer and aspiring actress Esme Winikus (played by Emma Corrin) but finds himself to be the target of a group called the Raven Society whose goal is to take over the British government. He also meets and works alongside American agents of the No Name League which include Thomas Wayne (played by Ben Aldridge) and Martha Kane (played by Emma Paetz), the future parents of Bruce Wayne.

While the show doesn't add much to the Batman mythos, it is a pretty good series. Its one that enjoys not having too much restrictions to what is considered canon to all Batman fans and its a pretty good origin story for Alfred who is otherwise there to serve the Bat family and according to comic law is normally always the last one left alive. It does have a bit of gore in it as well as some questionable things like one instance where it is implied that Alfred slept with a younger version of our current Queen of England (though keep in mind this is set in an alternate reality) and Esme being ok with him killing or beating up bad people. But I do give credit not just to the whole cast, but in particular Paloma Faith who plays a very good villain who has a northern accent, but a twisted mind and a sense of humor that makes a great villain. I look forward to seeing the next season if we get another one (unlike a certain other series). 9/10