User reviews

First episode they lay out the background for Penelope to embark on her adventure. Many reviewers are taking a shallow look at the premise and assuming she is just running away for no reason. It is made somewhat clear in episode one and more so in subsequent episodes that she is having a crisis of meaning. She is looking at her life and seeing nothing there or at the very least feeling like she is missing something and, right or wrong, running away and entering nature is her answer to that.

Now the unrealistic... By analyzing her actions from episode two it's pretty clear she would have been dead by day four. That said I'm somewhat familiar with what to do in the woods and I don't believe I'm particularly the target audience. There are multiple more actions in subsequent episodes that definitely would have had her dead or in a very bad way all of which is ignoring the fantastical bits where she makes a forest friend, but like I said, maybe I'm not exactly the target audience.

Even though it for sure does not stand up on realism it has a good message and worth the watch, even if I wasn't particularly happy with the ending.

Bottom line, if you cannot remember which specific Y2K bash you attended -- because technically you did not yet exist in 1999 -- then this series may possibly be your cup of tea. The PR package, and the very short duration of each episode, make it crystal clear that this series is intended for tweens. Adults watch entirely at their own risk. The episodes are highly targeted for the less cynically minded. In E01, a young teen packs a survival bag and heads for the woods. With no proper explanation. She is not kidding. Nor are the writers. With no prior skils or experience, she plans to sort it all out only once she is right in the thick of things. Luckily for her, everything that happens from that point forward would not be out of place in a Disney series from the 1960s. Kindly strangers appear with gifts, and impart know-how. Forest creatures befriend her. A wandering group of boys, who at first appear sinister, turn out to be Bible students. Turns out that living in the wild is as easy as falling off a log. Literally. Any viewer with an ounce of real-life-exerpience will find Penelope's adventures remarkably naive. Younger viewers however may be entranced. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

It is to believe in a world where a young girl lives in the forest alone without terrible things happening. Who meets only wonderful people and manages to survive only on what the forest gives her.

We have become so used to violence that at any given minute we expect something to exhaust her and hurt her. Also the fact that she chose to make the journey not because of escape bad situation or violent parents is difficult. Why would she do that? Her wonderful journey for me is to return to believing in the goodness of man.

And I find it almost magical in the posibility that this world and forest that bring only the good of mankind exist.

I pray it does.

Oh, I'm absolutely loving this show. As I was scrolling through all of my paid channels, all I saw were things dealing with death and war and misery and pain and negativities or someone killing someone else or some type of terrible sex crime. And then I happened upon this... How refreshing that Netflix has put something like this out. Please keep it coming. It's absolutely relaxing and engaging and interesting. It's so refreshing to see something positive. The music is pleasant and I like the theme and the plot, although it is slightly unrealistic, but that's OK, because it's making me feel very nice. The young lady does look slightly under age, maybe 13 or 14, but I think she's doing a really good job. A few things are slightly disjointed and don't make a lot of sense, but that's OK, because I love this show. I could watch season after season. I hope it gets good reviews. And although I don't have a family, this would be an amazing show for young adults and teenagers. Absolutely amazing for families as well. Something for the whole family to watch.

I just watched the first episode, and here's my review:

It starts with a young girl listening to music on her headphones at an outdoor party. She sees a wolf and then a rabbit and feels that nature is calling her. She then goes to a grocery store to buy things for her escape journey, but the cashiers don't use Apple Pay. She thinks they must be from Mars or Jupiter because everyone uses Apple Pay. Even though her parents seem loving, with her mom always chatting and sending kiss emojis, she decides it's time to leave them. She turns off her location, and that's it-she's invisible and can go anywhere. She jumps on a random train, traveling illegally, and she's super happy, screaming because obviously no one will notice. She sends her parents a goodbye recording and starts her journey. She then meets a random adult singer, hangs out with him in his van-because clearly, the world is completely crime-free-and even sleeps in the van, which is obviously safe for girls like her. And this goes on.

Positives: The direction is superb, the background music and locations are good, and the young girl has done a fine job and is likable. The best part is the short duration, less than 30 minutes, as most shows nowadays are over 40 minutes. The first episode was fast-paced and not boring at all.

Negatives: The story doesn't make sense. If her parents were shown as bad or abusive, it would make sense for her to leave. But she's just leaving for fun and to explore, without any money or a place to live, and hangs out with a random guy. It just doesn't send the right message.

Overall, it's a good concept-someone leaving their regular, boring life to explore what's out there, something many have thought about. But I hope the remaining seven episodes portray it more realistically, showing the challenges, since the genre isn't fantasy. For now, I'd give it a 2/5. I'll update the review if I watch the rest of the episodes.

I have so much to say about Penelope, but I don't know where to begin. I can say I cried through so much of it. It felt as if it was written for specific souls scattered amongst the Earth. Not all will truly grasp its depth and beauty nor understand its message. It's something that inherently speaks to a certain heart. It is quiet and tender and loud in the moments it needs to be.

I cried because I was this girl, so long ago...or I wanted to be her. The extremely deep connection to nature, feeling broken/damaged, the story of inherited trauma, the longing to find peace out West amongst the giant redwoods and sprawled ferns and snowcapped mountains. I cried because a few years ago I became disabled, and what used to heal my depression and PTSD, is no longer accessible. The desperate need to get both lost and found in the tunes of the wind and trees...the earth and sun. To heal the shattered pieces of not just me, but the addicted pain of my mother, the abuse of her mother and the suffering that goes back so so far - yet is still so harsh and loud that I can hear the screams of them in my heart and nightmares.

This show is so embedded in my daydreams and hopes and losses that I had to keep pausing it as the sobbing caused my throat to spasm in pain. But even in those moments, I found healing. I had flashbacks of all my moments in the forests and waterfalls and bare feet in cold streams. The moments of sunlit beams and soft moss and the whisper of the leaves. The show captures these things so beautifully.

An understanding of what I need to do now, crept over me as I the show began to end. I need to heal all the pain my mother and her ancestors and my own inner child and adult self have felt. I have to heal it for all of us so that we may all finally find peace. I'll never be a parent, but I hope that with each moment I can render aid to each neuron and atom and speck of stardust - to the point that my life will have been well-lived and the joy of that will scatter to the Universe.

I'll find my way to the trees again. And if I'm lucky, a little more self-love.

This is not your typical teenage actress series/film. I usually pass right by something with teens in the lead, but a closer read of the description intrigued me. This is a beautiful journey of discovery and is filled with so many great moments. I was utterly captivated right from the start, and it kept getting better with each episode.

It takes an amazing talent of any age to be able to carry not only one scene, but an entire series -- that is something special. Penelope is often the only character in an episode. Through her seamless acting style, Megan Stott keeps you engaged, interested and you care about her. The other characters Penelope meets along the way always have something meaningful to contribute and are a significant part of the story. Megan Stott is a name to watch for as this gifted actress is going to be making a huge name for herself. She has a wonderful screen presence and presents herself as a very seasoned actress even at this age.

This is a brilliant piece of work from the creative team and one of the best things Netflix has ever offered. I did not want this to ever end. I just wanted to continue the journey with Penelope!

I thought the sounds and scenery of the movie was great from the wilderness to the small town. Reminds me of a not giving up type of message when giving up is so easy. I thought the ending was good. I really enjoyed and couldn't stop watching; I binged it in one short sitting. The episodes go fast and end well in a great place and the next episode picks right back up. I highly recommend this for teenagers and parents. I hope there is another season planned. The acting by the lead actor steals the show every episode. The supporting cast is great as well. Definitely a nice change of pace. If you want believable maybe this doesn't fill that void but if you want to know your place in the world and thinking what life is supposed to be then this is a great show.

The actress made you feel her connection to nature. The trees and forest were the supporting cast. It is a beautiful portrayal of a young woman trying to find her own mental peace and stability through nature. I loved everything about this show. Her interaction with the forest and learning to live with nature and survive all while trying to figure out her emotional stability was beautifully captured.

This actress was able to make you feel her various levels of emotions throughout this journey. I don't want to get into specifics and give away the details of the end but she made you feel her emotional growth through the season.

I loved it! By ep 4 I was texting everyone it was a must watch. The movie had a quality of pulling you into it and into the character. As the series went along I was relating...reflecting...responsive to it. It pulled you in and took you along for an engaging ride...kind of like Cast Away did. The one character was never boring and being a young female you became impressed with her aptitude and natural skills as she used a book and her own intelligence to brave the wilderness. You felt her wonder and shared her joys and triumphs. Although some of it could be picked apart -easily...it didn't matter, It just had a relaxing fantastical quality to it. The musical score was ethereal and definately adds to all the feelings the viewer might have. Once I started watching it I was hooked and didn't stop until it ended!

In one simple word, wow! Easy to binge on Netflix. The beauty of Cascade National Park is enchanting. You root for Penelope, your heart swells and then breaks. A must see.

In one simple word, wow! Easy to binge on Netflix. The beauty of Cascade National Park is enchanting. You root for Penelope, your heart swells and then breaks. A must see.

In one simple word, wow! Easy to binge on Netflix. The beauty of Cascade National Park is enchanting. You root for Penelope, your heart swells and then breaks. A must see.

In one simple word, wow! Easy to binge on Netflix. The beauty of Cascade National Park is enchanting. You root for Penelope, your heart swells and then breaks. A must see.

We first meet Penelope (Megan Stott), a wide eyed, round faced 16 year old, at a silent Disco in the woods. A bunch of young people dancing to the music in their identical headphones, oblivious to the surroundings. Suddenly Penelope sees a wolf looking at them from the darkness. More astounded than frightened, she glances around to see if anyone else noticed, looks back - the wolf is gone. Was he ever there or was it just her mind playing tricks? The next morning she wakes up in a cabin and acts as if she still has those headphones on. While other people are happily chitchatting with each other, Penelope prefers to be wowed by a bunny rabbit she encounters just outside the cabin. Nobody notices her walk away. Her mother's text finds her. "Where are you? You need to come back and study for the SAT." She promises to be back soon and keeps going, until she reaches a large Walmart like store. She wanders around as if she is looking for something, but has no idea what. Then she finds herself in the camping aisle. That's it! Backpack loaded with camping gear, she turns off location on her phone and hops on a passing freight train.

How many of us have at some point in our lives fantasized about leaving everything behind and disappearing into the woods? Penelope the show is that very fantasy. It teeters on the edge of plausibility, but manages to never slip into ridiculousness. I am a habitual nitpicker, usually easily distracted by plot holes, contrivances, and inconsistencies. But here it was like, I didn't have time to dwell on any of that. Which is quite incredible considering that there's not a whole lot of action. Set in the Pacific Northwest, known for its stunning vistas, the show could have relied on them to compensate for the lack of action, the way some solo survival movies seemed to have done (The Revenant comes to mind). But it doesn't. The beauty is there, to be sure, but it's not overpowering. Besides, Penelope spends almost all her time in the middle of the forest. So, it's just the bewitching greenery, moody music, and an extraordinary young actress, who more than holds her own against... being the only person on the screen for the majority of the show's 4 hour runtime. Somehow she makes mundane interesting and turns silly into endearing. Like when she orders whatever creature might be snapping twigs nearby in the night, "Go away!" On the surface it sounds really stupid. But if you care about Penelope, it's kind of heartbreaking. And care I did, pretty much from the start. So much so that I almost quit watching when she lost her water bottle in the beginning, after her first night in the forest. Not because I was annoyed, but because I didn't want to watch her suffer the consequences of that.

I do wonder what difference it would have made if we actually knew what it really was that was driving Penelope. In the beginning she told a van dwelling musician she briefly befriended that she felt some sort of a calling. In the middle though she admitted to another stranger that she felt like she has a hole in her that can never be filled. That is all we are given. A part of me wished to know more. Yet, I feel it might have changed the dynamic and ruined something.

There's a possibility of Season 2. I'll be on the lookout.