Pennyworth Review Sandie Shaw (Season 1 Episode 8)
It’s a return to basics on Pennyworth Season 1 Episode 8, “Sandie Shaw,” where Alfred looks to close the loop on his revenge while Lord Harwood looks to do the same on a much larger scale.
Alfred’s revenge becomes a battle of wits from the moment it’s revealed Curzon is an illegitimate son of a lord. His manner of force and slick maneuvers to trick the enemy into a false sense of security has been a little lacking as of late on Pennyworth, and so the scene at the pumping station becomes a great cat and mouse scenario where no one is entirely certain which role of the two they currently have.
Courtesy of Epix
The murder of Curzon and his nanny has a cold-blooded nature to it, and I can’t help but feel like something is not quite there still. Curzon never admits it’s him that did the deed, more that he has a problem and that’s it. It’s a wonder if this is another attempt at instability for the Raven Society and No-Name League, using Alfred as a pawn yet again.
Or perhaps it’s simply Curzon after all, and it’s closed off. This places Alfred and his family in a large amount of danger with Aziz and his upper management, as evidenced by Alfred being taken captive at the end of the episode; Alfred’s recklessness places him on a path of ruin, one where he will need his friends more than ever.
Which makes the return of Bet to the fold a nice change of pace from sitting on the sidelines. Paloma Faith is endlessly entertaining with the role, able to switch from a strange sense of caring to ruthless maniac so fast it makes your head spin. Now that she’s fulfilled her duty to avenge Esme, it’s a wonder if she will return to Harwood’s side, or will she join up with Alfred to save him again?
Lord Harwood’s forceful command of the stage comes as a strong return to form for him, though his removal from the chess board early on makes the grand applause he receives something of a confusing moment. It hasn’t been clear he possessed a large voice of the Raven Society before, only that his power in the organization is large.
But the moment is done in a way that it brings the feeling of their missing leader now back at the head of the table, which works as intended. It’s something that Pennyworth both struggles with but manages to do well: it sells some of its moments even when they can be a little unearned. His need for satisfaction means that no one stands to come out ahead, only pain and suffering looking to be his motive.
The scene shared between Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane turns out to be one of the strongest. It’s done in a simple, quiet way, letting both characters talk around their difficulties over the Crowley home incidents, both avoiding the issue the best they can and bonding in looking to forget the madness of the past by sharing a drink. It may be the start of them growing closer, where their barriers and shields of protection are broken.
Pennyworth Season 1 Episode 8, “Sandie Shaw,” shows that making things right does not always fix things, and may, in fact, make things worse. It’s a temporary band-aid on an emotional wound, one that turns Alfred into the very thing he intended to never become again.
That it comes just as conflict threatens to boil over is opportune for the moment, but it speaks harsher toward his well-being in the long-term, what it means for his soul as he attempts to heal. He can’t trust many outside of those closest now, and now captured, Alfred’s likely in for a hard time ahead.
Some stray thoughts on the episode:
- Alfred leaves Aziz’s office much in the same way Batman used to leave Commissioner Gordon in the lurch, talking to no one at all when turning away for a second. Perhaps Batman owes credit to Alfred potentially teaching him that trick in the future.
- The Queen seems to be playing both sides of the conflict while everyone lower on the totem pole have a certain allegiance. Maybe she will be the deciding factor who wins this big, looming battle ahead between the two factions.
What did you think of this episode of Pennyworth? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Pennyworth airs Sundays at 9/8c on EPIX.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.