# Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman's Butler (2019)

> A former SAS soldier turned security entrepreneur navigates 1960s London as he becomes the trusted ally of the young Thomas and Martha Wayne, long before Bruce is born.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/68456

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 30
- Episode runtime: 54 min
- Status: Canceled
- Genres: drama, crime, action
- Created by: Bruno Heller
- Network: Epix, HBO Max
- Cast: Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Emma Paetz, Hainsley Lloyd Bennett, Ryan Fletcher, Dorothy Atkinson, Ian Puleston-Davies, Polly Walker
- TMDB rating: 7.8/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8425532/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: gritty, stylized, pulpy, tense, darkly witty

## What critics say

Audience reception is positive, praising the stylish 1960s London setting and the grounded origin story of Alfred Pennyworth.

## Synopsis

Pennyworth (2019-2022) is a British-set crime drama series created by Bruno Heller and produced for Epix and HBO Max, a three-season adaptation of DC comic lore that follows former SAS soldier Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon) as he founds a private security company in 1960s London. His journey is driven by the wish to build a legitimate business out of the ruins of his military past, while rival factions, shadowy power brokers and a mind control conspiracy keep pulling him back into violence. Alongside him are young billionaire Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge) and his wife Martha Kane (Emma Paetz), whose loyalty and private troubles shape much of the drama. Each season builds a larger arc of political intrigue and street-level crime, with episodes mixing espionage set pieces, gangland tension and personal betrayal. Set in a stylized alternate London, the show carries a gritty, pulpy, neon-tinged atmosphere with sharp humor and a steady current of dread. Fans of Gotham, Peaky Blinders and The Man in the High Castle will find a similar blend of period grit and comic mythology, pitched at adults who like their origin stories dark and violent.

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