All your life, I’ve watched you build this nice personality you have. The good son. Good husband, father. Hoping no one will see the angry thing inside. But I see. You’ve come here for revenge. Pure and simple, no shame in admitting it. Not to me.
These five minutes of the latest Pennyworth episode (S03E06) immediately proved to me it’s the literal best comic book-inspired media we’ve gotten in the last decade. After Thomas’ father -- Patrick Wayne -- forces him to commit certain unthinkable deeds against Martha, Thomas ends up confronting him about it and the ensuing conversation quite honestly drove me insane. For those who’ve seen the episode, you know it makes the ending all that more tragic.
I haven't gotten far, but I love that the Pennyworth comics (based on the show) start with Alfred literally dangling someone off the top of the Eiffel Tower by their toes for information.
The Average Alfred Pennyworth Portrayal: *is Bruce Wayne's capable and somewhat cryptic butler*
Gotham!Alfred Pennyworth: *threatens an 11 years old boy to eat his dinner proper because if he doesn't he'll be too light in weight by the morning and the Balloonman will come for him and will tie him to a balloon and send him to the skies to die because he's rich and corrupt and forever guilty*
If the Waynes had a family reality show like the Kardashians, they would use the same tropes.
A crime alert went off and Jason needs to slip off unseen? Tim and Damian are instantly at each other's necks with DIck trying to separate them and Jason walks away with his hands up.
Bruce is constantly "getting lost" in his manor because he's in the Batcave and poor Brucie, he can't keep his house straight.
Dick and Cass avoid the camera like Kanye, except for when Steph comes over and makes Cass do fake drama scenes with her (they're the backup for when Tim or Damian need to go).
There's a running gag to try and catch Alfred when he's not expecting it. The viewers' favorite moment is when the crew "caught" Alfred and Alfred "accidentally" spilled hot soup all over them out of "surprise".
Whoever is off patrol for the week has to keep the cameras the most distracted, which results in Jason reciting poetry or reading classics to the cameras (the fangirls loved that one), Damian making them help volunteer at animal shelters, Dick leading them on wild goose chases around the manor playing find the Bruce, and Tim arguing ethics with Barbara.
(Most) Live-action series from 2000-present (2024)
SUPERMAN MYTHOS: Standalone Superman-related series
Smallville (2001-11)
Krypton (2018-19)
Superman & Lois (2021-) | The series is a spin-off of the 2015 Supergirl series, but it is set in its own continuity, on a different Earth. A different version of the titular characters, as played by the same actors, can be seen in the Arrowverse.
BATMAN MYTHOS: Standalone Batman-related series
Birds of Prey (2002-03)
Gotham (2014-19)
Pennyworth (2019-22)
Gotham Knights (2023)
ARROWVERSE: These series share continuity, each having their own separate storylines but also periodically connecting for a joint one.
Arrow (2012-20)
The Flash (2014-23)
Supergirl (2015-21)
Legends of Tomorrow (2016-22)
Black Lightning (2018-21) | The series joined the Arrowverse mid-season 3, and while it is affected by the events of the crossover of that year, it remained mostly independent.
Batwoman (2019-22)
"TITANSVERSE": These series are independent but Titans features its own version of the Doom Patrol (same cast, different universe) and has a Stargirl cameo.
Titans (2018-23)
Doom Patrol (2019-23)
Stargirl (2020-2022)
THE SUPERNATURAL: Standalone series centered on supernatural characters and events
Swamp Thing (2019)
Constantine (2014-15) | After the series' cancellation, the actor reprised his role as John Constatine in the Arrowverse, eventually joining the main cast of Legends of Tomorrow.
From the pages of DC Vertigo/DC Black Label:
Lucifer (2016-21)
The Sandman (2022-)
OTHER SERIES
Watchmen (2019)
Peacemaker (2022-) | This series is a part of the DC Extended Universe, taking place after the events of The Suicide Squad (2021) movie
I've been watching the TV series Gotham in the background while working on a project, and I'm only like 11 episodes in, but I'm getting the vibe that this show so desperately wants to be a gritty police procedural set in Gotham, but accidentally made whatever the hell is happening with young Bruce Wayne infinitely more entertaining.
His parents die, and he immediately starts uncovering a massive case of corruption in Wayne Enterprises from his parents' files. He gets taken to a charity function and immediately starts interrogating a business woman about corruption. He dives into a pool fully clothed. The kid who plays him has nailed the vibe of nice and somewhat sheltered rich kid and Vaguely Off-putting And Strange.
Not to mention Alfred, who, after a kid school bullies Bruce, drives Bruce to to the kid's house and lets him beat the kid up while watching on with a proud smile.
Julie Newmar was the first actress to protray Catwoman on the Adam West Batman TV show. She made her debute on March 16, 1966. It is said that she designed and made her own costume. ("The Purr-fect Crime", Batman, TV, Event).
Completely unable to think of anything but this scene between Gully & Alfred in Pennyworth S03E08. Last season’s eighth episode also gave us a glimpse of the most compelling dynamic in the world but this one’s on a whole other level!
I'm down the rabbit hole of Pennyworth fan theories on reddit (leave me alone, it's research) and found an absolutely hilarious take about the ending that dropping an atomic bomb on London wouldn't have any major consequences because they "didn't even aim at Parliament, just 10 Downing Street," and it's like, buddy.
I know Pennyworth takes a gruesome loony-toons-esque approach to violence sometimes, but if you drop a nuclear bomb on 10 Downing Street, Parliament is absolutely in the blast radius. That shit's gone.
Also lol, I forgot that in Gotham, Miami gets nuked, which is the explanation for why Florida is like that. Like, yeah. Sure, I'll headcanon that as the origins of Florida Man.
I think we need more fics of the batfam reacting to the Gotham tv show Bruce/the world in general because that show is fun but insane. You got Jim Gordon dating Leslie. The Riddler working at the same police station as Jim. Baby Bruce is friends with Selina, causing all types if havoc. And that's just the beginning!