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Second run worth spending pounds on
Bannon’s Alfred a lovable rogue
Pennyworth Season 2 DVD
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Batman’s future butler’s bombastic back story gets a second season which sees him and his fellow Londoners in even greater peril.
I was a big fan of Pennyworth’s first run and this sophomore outing takes Alfred (Jack Bannon) and Thomas and Martha Wayne (Ben Aldridge and Emma Paetz) in very surprising directions that are a world away from the mean streets of Gotham.
An alternative history sees a war-torn 1960s London split between the fascist Raven Union and the radical left-wing No-name League.
Bannon remains a lovably roguish protagonist – and unlike any previous on-screen take on the Alfred character.
With murky morals, a determination to succeed and unrelenting loyalty to those he holds dear, it’s easy to see influences a certain Caped Crusader will replicate further down the road.
Show runner Bruno Heller has gathered a terrific troupe with a returning Paloma Faith (Bet), Ryan Fletcher (Daveboy) and Jason Flemyng (Lord Harwood) joined by newbies James Purefoy (Gulliver), Edward Hogg (John Salt) and Jessica De Gouw (Melanie).
Faith and Flemyng are devilishly devious and always teetering on the edge of madness, while Purefoy adds gravitas – and uncoiled rage – and Hogg is the definition of a self-centred, manipulative weasel.
Aldridge and Paetz are the heart of the show and the pair’s blossoming romance gives tantalising glimpses of what’s to come when they finally arrive on American shores.
The ongoing war results in covert missions, clandestine meetings, backstabbing, more than a few explosions and even a rousing sing-song.
There’s still time too for Alfred and Daveboy to go on a few fun escapades, although the tone of this season overall is darker than its predecessor.
Meanwhile, a late revelation comes as a big surprise but stretches credibility, and things go a bit off the rails – and, unusually for this show, over-the-top – in the final 10 minutes. It’s these small flaws that drag Pennyworth Season 2 a notch below its first run.
● Have you checked out Pennyworth? If so, is it a worthwhile addition to the Batman universe? Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.