As the clock ticks inexorably towards the deployment of Stormcloud over London, our heroes concoct a last ditch, desperate attempt to infiltrate the Raven headquarters and save the day.

It’s a curious thing that Pennyworth manages to make its characters so deliciously dark while at the same time redeemable, and week after week, it manages it with aplomb.

This time out, despite being seriously injured after his encounter with Gully, Alfie finds himself tapped up by Lucius, Martha and Thomas to help with a real suicide mission – infiltrate the Raven headquarters and retrieve the sole sample of Stormcloud before Salt can use it on London and end the war in a mass murder.

In true Alfred fashion, after an initial reluctance of course he agrees, but before he embarks on this ‘almost certain death’ (wink wink) mission, he wants to get a few things in order. Namely his relationship with Sandra. And I think we can all imagine how that goes, given that the poor girl has been head over heels in love with him forever, despite his telling her repeatedly not to be.

Of course, there’s more than one obstacle to overcome in the mission – Alfie is about to be confronted with his own father, risen from the dead as it were. Ian Puleston-Davies has always been magnetic on screen as Alfred’s complicated father, and never more so than here. The interaction between them conveys a depth and emotional power which seems almost at odds with the cartoonish violence and almost Bond-ian escapades, but somehow they both sell it so well that it absolutely works.

In pleasing symmetry with Alfred and co’s mission, Bet and Peg are also en route to Raven HQ with Salt’s paramour, Vikki. They are still intent on revenge for the departed Harwood (although at this stage in the show, who’d bet against the guy being revived somehow?) and when they cross paths with Alfred and his comrades it’s honestly quite sweet. I’ve long said that Bet is the standout character in a strong ensemble and this scene proves it resoundingly, as she and Alfie reconnect and recall their shared affection for Esme.

As is often the case with the show, it won’t won many awards for straight up originality, but as a feelgood romp through a stylishly noir rendition of an alternate Sixties London in chaos, it’s absolutely worth the price of admission. The final shot as the credits roll promises much fun to be had in the finale, and honestly I can’t wait to see how it all pans out.

Verdict: Stylish and just serious enough in execution that even the silliest bits don’t detract, without being po-faced. 9/10

Greg D. Smith