This is an advanced spoiler-free review of the series premiere of Pennyworth, which premiered at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. You can stream the series on Epix on Sunday, July 28, 2019.
Epix’s stylish new Batman prequel series isn’t worried about how many comic book Easter eggs it can cram into its nearly 75-minute premiere, but instead, focuses on developing its titular hero, Alfred Pennyworth, into a dynamic character who’s worth following in his own right. Series creators Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon, both Gotham alums, center their creative attention on making Bruce Wayne’s future butler compelling without emphasizing his attachment to the Caped Crusader.
It all starts with actor Jack Bannon’s engaging interpretation of Alfred, who’s more akin to James Bond than the kindly grandfather figure we’ve come to know from the comic books and recent film adaptations. At this stage in his life, Alfred is a young man struggling to make a life for himself after serving in the military. And funnily enough, Alfred’s dad is a butler, who ridicules his son for working as a bouncer at a local nightclub instead of getting a real job. At its core, Pennyworth is an intriguing coming-of-age story for Alfred as he endeavors to balance work and personal relationships, all while striving to overcome the guilt he feels for surviving a war so many of his friends didn’t come back from.
Source: IGN.com Pennyworth Series Premiere Review