Warning: The following feature contains SPOILERS for the Batwoman season 2 premiere.

The premiere episode of Batwoman season 2 revealed the status of the Arrowverse version of Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's butler and foster father. While reference had been made to Alfred in earlier episodes, this marked the first confirmation that he was still alive in the Arrowverse.

Named Alfred Beagle in his first appearance in April 1943, Alfred the Butler has been a part of the Batman mythos since Batman #16. Originally an overweight comic servant character who Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson had to work around to hide their activities as Batman and Robin, Alfred was reworked into a more serious and helpful character with a slim figure and dapper mustache. Later stories established Alfred as a longtime servant of the Wayne family, who spent his youth serving in MI6. He was also said to have given up a promising career on the West End stage to honor his dying father's wish that he continue the family tradition of service, managing the estates of the upper class as a butler. These details have informed Alfred's background in various Batman stories and adaptations like the series Pennyworth, with Alfred having often lived a life of adventure to rival James Bond before teaching Bruce Wayne everything he knew and aiding in his war on crime.

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Batwoman has made passing references to Alfred Pennyworth's existence, but said previous little about the gentleman's gentlemen behind the Bat. His first name was revealed to be the WIFI password for Wayne Tower in Kate Kane's first appearance in the Elseworlds crossover event. His daughter, Julia Pennyworth, was a reoccurring character throughout Batwoman season 1, who was said to have followed in his footsteps to become a spy for the British government. Julia confirmed that her father was the first person to learn Bruce Wayne was Batman and the first to assist him in protecting Gotham City. It was also hinted that Alfred was still alive when Alice, recognizing Julia after taking her and Luke Fox hostage, told Luke that "Alfie Pennyworth" would have to go casket shopping if he didn't obey her commands and decrypt Lucius Fox's journal.

Batwoman Bruce Wayne and Julia Pennyworth

"What Happened To Kate Kane," the first episode of Batwoman season 2, revealed Alfred's fate and current whereabouts following a fateful encounter between Julia Pennyworth and the villain Hush, who had begun masquerading as Bruce Wayne following a face transplant arranged by Alice. After speaking with Jacob Kane as part of a plan to double-cross Alice and turn her in to the authorities, Hush ran into Julia outside Kane's office. Stunned to see Bruce, Julia asked him if he'd "rung the Eagle" to let him know he was alive. When Hush looked confused, Julia clarified who she was referring to, saying "Daddy practically raised you." When Hush said he'd call him as soon as possible and clear that up, Julia added that her father was "at home in Glasgow" and that he was still living in the "same little cottage in the woods."

This was later revealed to be a clever ruse on Julia's part, when she contacted Luke Fox and Mary Hamilton to tell them that Hush was pretending to be Bruce Wayne: a fact she confirmed after running the fingerprints Hush had left behind on a glass in Jacob Kane's office. Julia said that "Bruce" not recognizing Alfred's old codename, "the Eagle," had made her suspicious, but the fact that he didn't blink when she said Alfred was from Glasgow and living in the woods confirmed that something was up. Luke confirmed that Alfred was currently living in a flat in London.

While this confirms that the Arrowverse version of Alfred Pennyworth is still alive, this information raises further questions. It seems horribly out of character for any version Alfred to abandon Wayne Manor to move to London, particularly if he was worried about Bruce Wayne's fate. It seems more likely that Alfred would make a show of retiring but honestly be searching the globe for some sign of the man he loved like a son. Hopefully a future episode of Batwoman will tell us something of Alfred's adventures, even if they aren't shown on-screen.

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