Penelope TV Series : “Penelope” is an upcoming Netflix series created by Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn, featuring Megan Stott and Austin Abrams in lead roles. It is set to premiere in September 2024.
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Introduction Penelope TV Series (A New Coming-of-Age Tale)
“Penelope,” coming soon to Netflix, is a coming-of-age series produced by Duplass Brothers Production (DBP) and created by Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn. The pilot premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and this independently funded eight-episode series will start streaming on Netflix from September 24.
Megan Stott (Little Fires Everywhere, Yes Day, Aftermath) stars in the lead role, telling the story of a 16-year-old girl who leaves her home for the wilderness due to her love for nature and feeling out of place in modern society, where she begins to forge a new life for herself. Alongside Stott, the cast includes Austin Abrams (Euphoria, The Walking Dead) and Krisha Fairchild (Krisha).
Eslyn, who is the president of DBP, co-created the series with Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn, who also serve as the showrunners. It is produced by Duplass Brothers Productions, with Duplass and Shuli Harl as executive producers. Duplass and Eslyn co-wrote the series during the pandemic.
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| TV Series Name | Penelope |
| Writer & Creator | Mel Eslyn, Mark Duplass |
| Dirctor | Mel Eslyn |
| Producer | Mel Eslyn, Shuli Harel, Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Meghan Mowery |
| Rating | 8.4/10 (IMDB) |
| Release Date | 24 September, 2024 |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix |
| Season & Episode | S1 & E8 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Drama |
The series will be available to stream on Netflix in the US from 24 September, 2024.
Penelope Plot Summary
The series is led by Megan Stott (“Little Fires Everywhere”), who stars in the main role. According to the official logline, Penelope is a 16-year-old girl who feels quite different from her contemporary surroundings. She leaves her life and family behind to venture into the wilderness of Washington state. As she establishes an alternative life for herself, themes of survival and coming-of-age converge in this poignant journey of self-discovery.
Penelope Trailer Review
Although the story centers on a teenager fleeing from her family and acquaintances, “Penelope” unfolds without any rush of drama. There’s no significant event that compels this young heroine to venture out alone. The series begins with Penelope happily dancing at a silent disco, where dancers connect through headphones without disturbing the surrounding wildlife. However, Penelope is different; while others are immersed in music and each other, she locks eyes with a wandering wolf, hinting at her readiness to leave her family’s camping trip for the unknown.
Portrayed by Megan Stott, Penelope doesn’t seem troubled by technology or parental pressures; she simply appears bored. Thus, she embarks on a “solo hike” that takes her to a store where she buys camping gear. She turns off the “share location” option on her phone and jumps into a train car like the heroes of Mark Twain, exhilarated by her adventure.
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Parents, or those raised in the era of “Stranger Danger,” might be shocked by her choices, such as asking strangers for rides and trusting them, all while ensuring her parents can’t find her. The strangers she meets in the first episode offer help and warm smiles or small advice, never causing her to fear. Penelope presents us with the dream of wandering through warm forests, never looking back.
Penelope Cast
- Megan Stott as Penelope
- Austin Abrams as Sam
- Cynthia Geary as Penelope’s Mom
- Eden Campbell as Whispering Girl
- Barry O’Neil as Penelope’s Dad
- Eddie Wollrabe as Cashier
- Finley Sackville-West as Finley
- Butch Stevenson as Guard
- Tadd Sackeville-West as Jonathan
- Amber Wolfe as Gale
- Julia Higheagle as Whispering Girl
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Creation and Development of “Penelope”
Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show,” “Togetherness”) co-created this series with showrunner Mel Eslyn (“Biosphere”), who is the president of Duplass Brothers Productions, which independently funded “Penelope” before pitching it to Netflix. This project is a key focus of their new indie television initiative, launched in response to the decline of peak TV.
Mark began writing the show during the pandemic, reflecting on the time he spent alone and considering the experiences that led him to feel disconnected from himself. After developing Penelope’s character as a symbol for this journey, he approached Eslyn to collaborate on the project, ultimately entrusting her with directing all eight episodes and running the show.
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The Unique Narrative of “Penelope” in YA Storytelling
While most YA shows and films feature snarky “mean girls” or emotionally burdened heroines, “Penelope” blossoms through quiet contemplation. As its protagonist sets off on her own path, there are no emotional speeches about her motivations. Instead, Stott’s expressive eyes convey wonder, curiosity, and excitement at every step of her journey.
The seemingly simple cinematography focuses on her hands as she reaches for camping supplies in a store, completely alone. The possibilities of the world are at her fingertips. When she cleverly overcomes a financial obstacle, a genuine smile lights up her cheeks. Through her every gesture, Stott invites us to leap into this journey with Penelope.
Yet, watching this show as an adult, our concerns arise about the dangers of the outside world that we know are looming before Penelope’s dreamy gaze. Perhaps we wonder what could be so wrong that she felt the need to escape. The only concrete hint in the pilot is the message she doesn’t send: “Mom… was I a happy kid?”
The Journey Through Nature and Self-Discovery
Watching a TV show that doesn’t feel the need to explain everything in detail is refreshing. Through her direction, Eslyn allows us to glimpse Penelope’s unspoken concerns and desires while leaving some mystery around her character. One scene, where she walks into the woods and becomes blurred in the shot, reminds us that this journey is hers, and we can only see what she chooses to show us.
When she takes a picture of nature with her phone but appears disappointed with the outcome, there’s no dialogue explaining why. Later, a conversation with a traveling musician (Austin Abrams) offers some clarity.
Penelope lightly asks him why he bothers touring small coffee shops when Spotify exists. Why doesn’t he just “join the 21st century”? It seems her own experiences with online communities feel incomplete. He explains that playing live music and sharing it online is like seeing a river versus just looking at a picture of it. There’s a difference in being present, and this love for reality is incredibly appealing from the perspective of like-minded individuals.
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Concluison (Blending Imagination and Anxiety)
Based on the first episode, it’s hard to say where “Penelope” might go next. Will it unfold like a road trip story, with this girl traveling from one quirky place to another? Will the focus shift away from Penelope to her parents, who are left behind and worried? Could it weave together potential storylines that blend imagination and anxiety? I can’t say for sure, but I’m eager to find out. As a pilot, “Penelope” is certainly captivating.