Pennyworth Cilla Black Television 

Five Thoughts on Pennyworth‘s “Cilla Black”

By | September 3rd, 2019
Posted in Television | % Comments

Pennyworth returns with another episode exploring our favorite butler’s beginnings. The show continues the naming scheme of singers famous in the 60s with Cilla Black. Cilla Black has a strong association with The Beatles, will we see some mop tops and Beatle Boots? Find out below, dear reader!

Spoilers follow, be warned.

1. Thomas Wayne still sucks

Thomas Wayne is unhappy that the assassination attempt on Raven leader Frances Gaunt not only failed spectacularly, but ended in the assassination of the No Name leader instead. He knows Alfred was involved and they both make some pointed threats to each other. It’s hard to see how these two men will end up admiring each other in time.

Alfred makes it known that Wayne is working for the CIA, but it’s never made clear how he knows this. Just a hunch? Thomas started the show as a forensic accountant that needed protecting and now he’s a CIA agent and possible hitman?

You may be asking yourself at this point: “how is Dave Boy still alive?” Seems pretty unlikely that so soon after being shot in the stomach and getting no actual medical attention he’d be up and about; ready to go on missions.

Thomas then proceeds to belittle his sister who clearly needs help. He’s more concerned with appearances than his sister’s actual wellbeing. He drops her off with Martha for some adult babysitting so he can go on his CIA sponsored mission.

Thomas is so eager to please his CIA boss he agrees to assassinate Gaunt personally if a new proposed truce isn’t agreed to. Luckily for Thomas he doesn’t need to make do on this promise as the Ravens and the No Names agree to stop the fighting.

2. Wayne must be rubbing off on Alfred because he’s being a jerk too

Alfred doesn’t treat anyone particularly well in this episode. Starting with Thomas Wayne himself—although he hasn’t been kind to Thomas since their first encounter. Right after that he’s terrible to the bartender’s daughter by just ignoring her outright. He probably shouldn’t have had sex with her behind the bar while Dave Boy recovered from being shot.

John Ripper sends Alfred to meet a mysterious woman named Baroness Ortsey, who is apparently locked up in an Arkham style institution. He’s told that she’ll have information on who killed Esmé. Alfred is of course terrible to this woman too. She introduces herself as a witch and Alfred has no interest in what she’s selling. Ortsey is unimpressed with Alfred’s bravado and instructs him to bring her the hand of a murderer and a rose.

Later in the episode, after Alfred goes back to work at the strip club, he needs to eject a rowdy patron. The ensuing brawl ends with Alfred cutting the customer’s hand clean off. The hand lands next to a rose in a pretty clear symbol that Baroness Ortsey is to be believed.

When Alfred visits Ortsey again he experiences a dream/trip taking him to many of the locations from the show until he ultimately lands upon the person he believes is responsible for Esmé’s death. Seems a little out of left field for it to be a random character from one of Alfred’s war memories. It’s surprising such an important act would have been committed by a character so far outside the main plot of the show. There are no stakes with this random army guy. We are left wondering why it’s important and why he would randomly kill Esmé.

When Alfred and his crew go to confront him they find a note addressed to Alfred stuck to his door. How would this guy know they were coming if they just got the information from a witch? Are they just pushing off the confrontation until later in the season?

3. Aleister Crowley wasn’t alive in the 60s

The timeline on this show is purposefully vague. On one hand they firmly set the show in the mid 60s, but then on the other bring in things from both well before and after. Aleister Crowley and his party are a great example of this.

Thomas’ sister wants to go to a party at Aleister Crowley’s house. It’s not clear why Martha—her baby sitter now—would even entertain the idea. Aleister is described as a satanist and he makes it clear throughout the episode. The party starts off pretty run of the mill, but quickly descends into a trippy orgy playing “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” released in 1968, 21 years after the real Crowley’s death.

Continued below

Jason Ripper makes an appearance at the party, but there doesn’t seem to be a good reason for it. Previously he seemed to be an annoying rich boy who thought he could get away with anything. After being shamed by Alfred we were told he was leaving town, never to be seen again. Being at this party seems like the furthest thing from that. How he plays into this Aleister Crowley, satanist business remains to be seen.

4. Lord Harwood is back!

After seeing the Prime Minister on television Harwood starts to piece himself back together. He’s able to remember his name and his horrible torture. He ends the episode seemingly back to his old self and very thankful for Bet and her sister’s help. It is a bit too easy for him to just be better. I’m guessing the treatment he endured will come back in a big way down the road.

5. What happened to Martha?

The party ends with Martha walking through the crowd after trying to leave and coming face to face with what the viewer can only assume is Satan. Giant, six eyed, goat headed Satan. She wakes up, presumably the next day, naked in a field. Are we going to end up with a Rosemary’s Baby type situation here? They do like to vaguely reference the 60s classics after all. Is the devil Bruce’s real father? Looks like we’ll need to tune in to the next episode to find out!


//TAGS | Pennyworth

Matthew Vincenty

EMAIL | ARTICLES



  • -->