'Pennyworth' Season 2 Episode 3 Review: Tragedy for Alfred in a gritty chapter that leaves lot to be explained
Spoilers for 'Pennyworth' Season 2 Episode 3 'The Belt and Welt'
Things just seem to be hitting a downward spiral for Alfred (Jack Bannon) in Season 2 of 'Pennyworth' and by the looks of it, it might be a long season for the suave, usually calm whipper-snapper. 'The Belt and Welt' is the penultimate episode of the mid-season finale before the show takes a hiatus and returns in 2021. The focus is on Alfred's plans of heading off to America with his mother, Mrs Pennyworth (Dorothy Atkinson), Dave Boy (Ryan Fletcher) and Bazza (Deon Bashford).
And the plan takes a severe beating. 'The Belt and Welt' is a lot like the season opener, packing in too much in an hour-long episode and perhaps, 'Pennyworth' could have slowed down a tad bit. The breakneck pacing makes it exciting, but also takes the focus away from Alfred, although quite briefly we might add.
Multiple storylines are weaved in and the most underused character in the season so far is Paloma Faith's Bet Sykes. Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge) and Martha Kane (Emma Paetz) share some screentime. But the messier part of the episode comes from Aleister Crowley who manages to tarnish Archbishop Potter's good name by getting a picture of him clicked while having an orgy.
This leads to the English League's Prime Minister committing suicide. The other half of the chapter deals with Alfred, Bazza and Daveboy attempting to find out who stole their money that puts their plan of moving to America in jeopardy. A false trail leads Alfred to Captain Gulliver Troy (James Purefoy) who actually offers him a chance of working with him which Alfie promptly declines.
It is revealed that Vic Dobson (Lee McQueen) has made away with their money and in their attempt to get the money back, things go awry and result in the death of Bazza. That he gets an emotional farewell makes the final minutes gut-wrenching. Coming back to Bet Sykes, there is no doubt that her friendship with James Harwood (Jason Flemyng) is something Frances Gaunt (Anna Chancellor) and Colonel Salt (Edward Hogg) despise.
This may just lead to some unrest in the Raven Union camp as a Bet rescue operation actually becomes a murder attempt. 'The Belt and Welt' leaves a lot unexplained and by the looks of it, a massive cliffhanger awaits us when the fourth episode drops, releasing on the same day as the third episode. The fourth episode will pretty much see Alfred take up Troy on his offer. And while it at, it will hopefully show more of Thomas and Martha.
'Pennyworth' airs Episodes 3 and 4 on December 27, 2020, starting at 9 pm ET on EPIX.