Penelope Christian Review

“Penelope” sounds like a show that doesn’t quite play by the rules, and I can’t help but feel intrigued by that. We don’t get a lot of TV like this. Immersive, impressionistic, and brimming with nuance. Shows today often hit you with fast-paced narratives, action-packed sequences, or predictable formulas that are easy to digest. But Penelope? It feels like something different. With only eight half-hour episodes, it’s already promising something deeper and slower. You can feel the emotional undercurrents from the get-go.

And that complexity? Well, as a Christian viewer, I’m always on the lookout for stories that give more than they take. Ones that resonate with faith, hope, and love, even if they aren’t overtly religious. “Penelope” seems like it could be that kind of story — a girl’s inner journey, maybe, but more than that, it’s a reflection of our own spiritual wandering.

But the real question is: Does it connect with faith in a meaningful way?

A Journey into the Unknown

From what we can gather, Penelope’s story is about exploring — whether that’s the natural world around her or something inside herself. Megan Stott, who stars as Penelope, carries much of the weight of the show on her shoulders. Her character is, for all intents and purposes, alone, yet somehow that solitude becomes the very essence of the show’s charm.

For Christian viewers, there’s something familiar about this kind of personal exploration. It echoes those quiet moments of prayer or contemplation, where we find ourselves alone with God. Scripture often highlights how nature itself can become a backdrop for spiritual encounters. Think of Jesus retreating to the wilderness for 40 days (Luke 4:1-2) or the Psalms proclaiming the glory of God through creation (Psalm 19:1).

Now, the show doesn’t directly call on these images, but it doesn’t have to. We can feel the echoes of them when we watch Penelope move through her world. There’s something sacred in her desire to connect with nature, something that resonates with the Christian belief in the beauty and order of creation. That’s not to say “Penelope” is a theological work, but it leaves room for us to bring our own worldview into the narrative.

The Pain of Isolation

But let’s not romanticize the show too much. “Penelope” isn’t just a story of peaceful solitude; there’s an unmistakable sense of isolation. And, as Christians, we know that loneliness can be a painful reality. The Bible speaks to this—right at the beginning, God declares, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We’re created for community, for relationship, with one another and with God.

So what happens when Penelope is left to navigate the world on her own? Is her isolation a burden she must overcome, or is it a necessary stage in her development? There’s something bittersweet here. On one hand, we feel for her; on the other, we see the value in these moments of aloneness.

In Christian thought, solitude isn’t always a bad thing. It can be a time for growth and self-discovery, a chance to turn inward and connect with God. But there’s a fine line between fruitful solitude and harmful isolation. Penelope walks that line, and as we watch her journey, we’re left wondering which side she’ll land on. Will her isolation deepen into despair, or will it push her toward something greater, something transcendent?

Complexity in Simplicity

What strikes me about the show is its ability to hide complexity in simplicity. The review hints at this, and I think it’s worth unpacking. “Penelope” isn’t the kind of show that gives you all the answers upfront. It’s not going to beat you over the head with philosophical discussions or neatly wrapped moral lessons. Instead, it deals with “basic, elemental questions about the human condition.”

In many ways, this mirrors our own faith journey. Christianity isn’t a simple walk in the park. It’s full of complexities and paradoxes—how can we be both sinful and saved? How can a God of justice also be a God of mercy? These aren’t easy questions, but they’re essential to understanding the deeper truths of our faith.

Similarly, Penelope’s journey seems to wrestle with the basics: Who am I? What am I searching for? Where is this all leading? These are the kinds of questions we find ourselves asking, not just in moments of spiritual crisis but throughout life. And even though the show might not frame these questions in explicitly Christian terms, there’s value in contemplating them through the lens of our faith.

The Element of Surprise

Now, about that ending. The review says it will “bring one up short,” which tells me it’s not going to be a simple, feel-good resolution. This kind of storytelling can be risky. But it can also reflect the unpredictability of life, something Christians understand all too well.

In the Bible, we see this over and over—life takes unexpected turns, and we’re left to trust God even when the way forward seems unclear. Joseph is sold into slavery, yet he becomes the second most powerful man in Egypt (Genesis 37, 41). Paul is imprisoned, but his letters from jail become the backbone of Christian doctrine (Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians). The surprises in our lives aren’t always good, but we know that God is working through them.

If “Penelope” ends in a way that shocks or unsettles, maybe it’s a chance to reflect on the unpredictability of our own journeys. As Christians, we’re called to trust that God is sovereign over it all, even when the story doesn’t go the way we expect. We don’t know what’s ahead for Penelope, but we can walk alongside her, just as we walk through our own uncertain paths with faith.

Final Thoughts

Is “Penelope” a Christian show? No, not explicitly. But that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of value for Christian audiences. In fact, it might be the kind of story that invites deeper reflection precisely because it doesn’t spoon-feed us answers. It’s a slow burn, a show that asks us to sit with our questions and uncertainties. In a world that craves instant gratification, there’s something counter-cultural about that.

As Christians, we’re used to living in the tension between the “already” and the “not yet”—the Kingdom is here, but it’s also still coming. We’re saved, but we’re still being sanctified. We know the ending of the story, but we’re still in the middle of it. Maybe “Penelope,” with its quiet moments and unanswered questions, can help us sit with that tension a little longer.

So, while I can’t give it a perfect score without seeing how it handles all the details (like content that might clash with Christian values), I’d say it’s worth watching with a discerning heart. The beauty of storytelling is that, even in secular narratives, we can find glimpses of the divine.

Rating: 7/10