Pennyworth Review - Prequel Adds Dimension, Color, and Tantalizing Evil to Batman Story
- Details
- Category: Streaming, Cable
- Published on Wednesday, 31 July 2019 00:18
- Written by Janet Walker
Pennyworth, a new streaming series from Epix TV, MGM’s premium cable network on Amazon Prime, brings to the screen the story of Alfred Pennyworth and his introduction into the world of espionage in an emerging modern London.
From co-creators and writers Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon, who also directed the premiere episode, Pennyworth, based on the characters published by DC Comics, stars Jack Bannon, Paloma Faith, Emma Corrin, Ben Aldridge, Hainsley Llody Bennett, Ryan Fletcher, Jason Fleming, Dorothy Atkinson, Richard Clothier, Ian Puleston-Davis and Jessica Ellerby.
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Bet Sykes, a member of the Raven Society, played by Paloma Faith, is probably the most understated villain in recent memory. As Pennyworth opens, she is explaining to the owner of a rather large estate hosting a hound hunt, who is chastising her, offering his assumptions of who she is and why she’s is on his land, that she could have had been at home with her feet up. Minutes before she, and the muscle that travels with her, kidnap him.
We met Alfred Pennyworth at the funeral of a friend in London circa 1960. Graveside are Alfred, played by Jack Bannon, Deon ‘Bazza’ Bashford, played by Hainsley Lloyd Bennett, and Wallace ‘Dave Boy’ MacDougal played Ryan Fletcher. The three, who served together in World War II, are alone with their memories.
Alfred, who has a security background has been thinking of how he can use his military training in peacetime London. Security seems to stick. Until he can secure his first client, he is working as a bouncer at a local club.
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On this night Thomas Wayne, played by Ben Aldrige, is at the club where his sister is quite drunk and on instructions from his mother is ensuring she leaves with him, and none of the bloke’s clamoring around at her table. Prying her away proved to be a bit more than Mr. Wayne could handle and our man Pennyworth, shows up and soon the situation is controlled.
On the way out she lands a solid hit and, of course, our security specialist is felled with a nosebleed. Wayne steps in and immediately shows his pedigree, with a few words and a business card and we know he is a man of means. The two exchange cards and Pennyworth retreats to the club where Esme, a dancer in the club, played by Emma Corrin, offers a handkerchief.
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Alfred sees beyond her costume and asks her on a date. After a few dates she explains they just come from too different backgrounds and it would never work. Just as she is breaking up with him, Bet Sykes shows up and kidnaps her. Suddenly, the world is upside down and the Raven Society seems to have crossed paths with Alfred Pennyworth.
What follows begins the relationship between Wayne Industries, Thomas Wayne, the future father of Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth, the trusted Security Specialist and “butler.”
The Pennyworth premiere screening was followed by a Q & A and then all guests were invited to celebrate at the After-party was held at the Sunset Towers on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.
Guest were shuttled to the event where the celebration was in full swing. A grand piano sat center stage on the patio. Guests weren’t kept waiting too long when Paloma Faith, co-star of Pennyworth and recording artist, came to the stage.
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Pennyworth is an engaging, new take on the Batman story introducing characters and history while building out a never written backstory of the beginnings of Wayne Industries and adding layers, an emerging modern London and all the intrigue of the secret society.
Available for streaming on epix TV from Amazon Prime.
