The story of “Penelope” begins with a 16-year-old girl dancing in a silent rave. Each participant is lost in their own world, wearing noise-cancelling headphones as they dance in a secluded camping area. Penelope isn’t like a regular teenager. She sees a wolf or is it just a fragment of her imagination calling her for something? The next day, Penelope, feeling a pull toward something undefined, sets off on her own. She dismisses her mother's cheerful reminders that it's time to return home and instead wanders to a warehouse store in a nearby town. Drawn instinctively to the outdoor gear section, Penelope packs a bag with camping essentials. It’s as though an unseen force is guiding her.
Without a clear destination in mind, she hops aboard an empty railroad car, leaving only a voice note for her parents that expresses more apology than rebellion. She’s not running away out of anger or sadness as she says, instead, she’s searching for something she can’t quite put into words. Before long, Penelope arrives at a national park in the Pacific Northwest. Without a camping permit, she sneaks into the park and decides to live off the land. Her survival skills are almost nonexistent, but she stumbles upon a Wilderness Survival Guide at a quirky bookstore-café just before entering the forest. The guide offers enough practical advice to help her scrape by until she begins to develop a natural tenacity. And Penelope is nothing if not tenacious. Along the way, she encounters an aspiring singer with a flair for pretentiousness (played by Austin Abrams), a passionate older environmentalist (Krisha Fairchild), and a peculiar group of Catholic teenagers. Despite their quirks, all of these characters prove to be harmless as Penelope navigates her newfound life in the wilderness. She learns how to make a fire, sees the seasons change, and learns how to live her life. The scenic beauty of nature is something that you will appreciate through this show.
Megan Scott delivers a standout performance in the series, portraying her character with remarkable depth and maturity. She plays the role of a teenager struggling to find her place in a world where she feels like an outsider. Scott skillfully captures the confusion, vulnerability, and emotional turbulence of adolescence, making her character's journey both relatable and compelling. As the series unfolds, viewers are drawn into her path of self-discovery, where she learns to embrace her individuality and carve out her own identity. Her transformation is not only engaging but also serves as a powerful reflection on personal growth, making it a storyline well worth following.
If you're a fan of films like “Into the Wild”, this series is definitely worth checking out. It captures the same spirit of adventure, self-discovery, and escape into nature, offering a similarly immersive experience. However, while it excels at drawing you into the protagonist's journey, it tends to leave several questions unresolved. The storyline raises intriguing themes and mysteries but doesn't always provide the answers you're hoping for, leaving you with a sense of curiosity that lingers long after the credits roll. If you're someone who enjoys open-ended narratives and the opportunity to reflect on the unknown, this may enhance your viewing experience. But for those seeking clear conclusions, you might find yourself wishing for just a bit more closure.
Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times