Episode Discussions

The dress was made by the amazing costume designer Gabriella Pescucci, using wool, glass pearls and laces from the 1800s, taken from some authentic dresses of that time and reassembled together. It's the only costume for which there were no replicas available to use on set.

Does anyone know what was said in Season 1, Episode 2 of Penny Dreadful. In the Seance, Vanessa speaks a language of Lingala. But I don't know what was said. Can anyone help?

Where can I watch this show in the Uk? I watched and loved this show years ago on Sky Atlantic and fancied re watching and I’ve just seen they have removed it now (they still have city of angels though for some reason) I don’t know why it’s been removed but does anyone know where else I can watch it in the UK? Thanks.

I recently watched the AMC Interview with the Vampire series. I liked it, was good. But I feel it was missing the romantic atmosphere and style laid out in Anne Rice’s novels, captured well in Neil Jordan’s 1994 film. Even the score was lacking that sensual sadness that Penny Dreadful has, even the opening credits. I really wish someone like John Logan would have been given the project, he may have really brought the soul out of the story.

Unknown to why but I was hooked on this show from the first episode. One of those series I wished didn’t end but alas another one had to go. Just wanted to say outstanding in my opinion. Cudos to director and all the actors. I haven’t enjoyed a good series in quite some time, thank you

Kinda war to get the comics to complete the collection and as a completionist, I get very anxious if not being able to collect them all. Seems they are not pricey, so I'd love to go all in for this.

I'd appreciate it if there are fans here who have the data or even made the complete collection themselves. Thanks.

I recently researched the show and am surprised how much it got under my skin like all good shows can, yet maybe more even than with the first viewing. I think I must have been more blissful then.

But I've sometimes identified with the vast landscape of loneliness the shows ill fated friends (Clare and Ives) experienced, having what seems the purest and most burden free exchanges displayed of all the characters. A pure friendship that could have saved them both. And I kept thinking that John may have swept in at the end to save Vanessa, being so strong and immune to vampires basically.

I'm older and wiser but maybe more melancholy than I was almost ten years ago when Penny Dreadful first aired. And I must say, the finale was far more impactful emotionally than I expected. I just can't get over how Vanessa died after all her suffering and struggle. I'm reminded of another show that shall not be named.

Ok, I can't help it! Game of Thrones. It is lazy writing on both final season story arcs. Nothing more, though we might try and justify the show runner's decisions and placate our own offense so as not to demean the memory of a cared for series. We say, "No, I see why they did this."

Also, I'll just interject here that Vanessa was abandoned by Ethan and Sir Malcolm. And if they had not run off, her story would have been different, obviously. That's one thing the writers got right, but doesn't change their lazy choices: isolating Vanessa from her protectors was how they made her vulnerable enough to be seduced by evil, by Dracula. And where was Victor during this whole time? Did he try to contact her? He was so caught up in his own shenanigans that he seemed to basically ignore her.

For me the worst part and seemingly unnecessary, even in the context of the paths the producers took for the ending, wasn't that Vanessa made a choice to accept her faith and Savior again, and be accepted by Him, that was wonderful, but to end her on-screen life so abruptly.

A couple minutes with Ethan wasn't enough, even for this pitiful ending. She could have betrayed Dracula and been killed by him for it. In fact, I half remembered that happening. Mandella Effect, or my rewriting of the end all those years ago? How funny that I also was certain that John Clare bumped into Lily and she finally decided to accept him and took his hand, smiling as they walked the world together.

I still think it must have been some alternate scene. But knowing the fog that has shrouded my memory, like a less hostile version of the pestilent air from the finale, I'm guessing I dreamed it up as well. And now I wonder what else I've rewritten from my historic head space about other shows. Better endings. Better worlds.

Here are my wishes for what could have been. My two pennies worth without any dread. An attempt at some closure for a show that I won't forget.

I wish season three was quite different. And tough I did enjoy parts of the Western plot, it all seemed the dream of writers who didn't know how to flesh out and continue season two appropriately. They had the bones and introduced new characters like Hyde and Clare's family. And they did get good screentime. But the descent of Lily into man-hating zombie mistress was a bit much and was jarring.

The show went off the rails. And I don't see why with a character like Dracula being brought in. As if he doesn't warrant more development. The top draw of all the monsters on display, with more material about him than the others combined.

And where did his brother go? Did they tag team Vanessa and was Dracula soo scary that his siblings ran off to the underworld to read a book? Surely he has more temerity than that, being the Devil. So, another weird and unfortunate choice.

The struggle for Vanessa should have continued, with both brothers being more invested than petulant Dracula who just ran off when he sensed she was dead, and who let Ethan slip by while pimp smacking the Doom Patrol?

No, the struggle for Vanessa was central. And abandoning her for a time, though unnecessary, wasn't a terrible choice. The counselor bit was interesting, and again, I misremembered an expanded role for the doppelganger witch descendant. I thought she somehow developed powers near the end, or when being attacked by Renfield, who himself was disappointing. Some vampire, being easily bosses around by the new girl and even Sir Malcolm, drugs notwithstanding.

Vanessa's extended backstory was good but a smidge overwrought. Being stuck in her memories was unnecessary. Let the poor woman just remember her past. Why torture her. Heck, maybe have Dracula give it all up for her when his brother somehow gets ready to kill her for his purposes or out of spite.

Vanessa could have died long enough for the chain to be broken and the pestilence abated, as it was dependent on not just her, but Dracula somehow. And yes, I know her death was a classic tragic end. But the show needed more hope. The tragedy was overwhelming. Being the point or not, too much loss brings a lack of feeling, a breaking or hardening or malaise and apathy. So you need hope to offset it. And hope should be the point, in the end.

Vanessa needed a little more. And I don't think her surviving would have diminishes the shows power. Give us a crumb of hope. Let her find her faith and live. Let her be with Ethan. Let John and Lily find each other, or maybe, if you're a good enough writer, John and Vanessa somehow, with Lily running into Ethan, the elephant in the room which was totally ignored.

Dr. Frankenstein can find love or just be happy with his work and new family. He and Lord Hyde can have adventures. And someone please destroy Dorian Gray's painting. He's lived and supported debauchery long enough. Or give him a spin off where he tries to redeem himself with the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (and Lady.)

I feel better already. Thank you for allowing me to share my hopes for these characters with you. I'd be very happy to hear yours.

I'll leave you with my version of the final 15 minutes of the show more officially, accepting the straw man season 3 plot.

Sir. Malcolm and crew show up to save Vanessa. The fight ensues. Ethan convinces Vanessa to fight the darkness, reminding her that it's the connection with Dracula and his use of her that allowed this to happen. And that the solution is in breaking that bond. Vanessa prays and asks God for forgiveness and the strength to end this apocalypse.

They confront Dracula and he injures her mortally. But realizing what he's done, and pimp slapping all the defenders away. He kneels over her as she dies. And wripping open his wrist pours blood over her wound, which heals, the ramifications of which aren't explored beyond her being saved.

Dracula then flees. Vanessa says they'll never stop and she must be killed for good. But her defenders refuse, stating that she must leave such things to God.

Following the shows natural epilogue, the Malcolm misfits return to the manor to recoup from their ordeal and discuss Dracula and the ongoing fight. They all resolve to prevent any such future events as they are able.

The friends go their way, all nodding to each other or hugging, shaking hands. "See you tomorrow" is the catchphrase.

John Clare buries his son and when he comes out of the water he sees Lily watching him. She asks about the body and cries when John explains. She hugs him fiercely and touches his cheek. He is confused over her newfound compassion and she takes his hand.

"Come my beautiful monster", she says.

Dr. Frankenstein runs into Catriona Hartdegen on the street. We don't hear their voices. But they're smiling and laughing and walk together. I know it's sappy. But I still like it!

Sir Malcolm visits his wife and daughters grave. He tears up but we can see he finds some measure of peace. Ethan and Vanessa are near him. They walk away.

Vanessa wakes up in the cottage she owns. Ethan is watching her. He kisses her sweetly. She smiles.

The End

Ok, so I've finished up to the penultimate episode of season 1, but I legitimately find this show's plot so meandering. There's this plot thread with Vanessa and this devil inside of her, Mina's absence... but the episodes themselves feel filler-y. It does a great job of maintaining its dark atmospheric vibes and the acting is great, but what exactly is the draw of this show?

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Hi, so I'm on episode 2 and I went into this show knowing literaly nothing of the premise, but I noticed that this show is an amalgam of a bunch of literary characters? There's like Frankenstein and Dorian Gray and Ripper smushed into the same universe. Do you need to know all the literary references to be able to understand the show? I'm worried that without the prior background context I won't be able to appreciate the show as intended.

Managed to get my grubby little paws of 4 scripts from the show! And the lovely companion book which I'm about to dive into. These scripts are SO well written my god, still wishing for more all these years later. I miss this show.

I just listened to the soundtrack from season 1,2 and 3. The first season was most beautiful. I think I will be listening to it many more times. So lovely.

Pick very specific jumping off points for an AU and then get crazy frustrated when the mythology isn’t coherent enough to do so?? (It’s Penny Dreadful I’m talking about Penny Dreadful).

Should I watch penny dreadful even after cancellation? ( I mean I watched 2 episodes and I'm loving it, but I find out that it was cancelled)

I reckon if they had ended the show at the end of SE02 it would have been one of the best stories in TV format ever. Thoughts?

The cast and their acting were just phenomenal. And the story was so intriguing (at least for S1 and 2). I am still loathing about how they ended the series.

I don’t think I ever came across anything like that since. Wonder if anyone can recommend another series that can fill this void? lol

Edit: thanks everyone for the suggestions! The list here will keep me busy for a while.

All of the main characters are amazing IMO, but Eva is just next level amazing. The way she switches between voices and accents (when she is possessed), the way she can be extremely vulnerable then quickly, deftly turn into a terrifying creature, just so, so impressive.

I forgot how good this show is.

Was it actually Peter, Mina, Amunet, and... Lucifer..? Was it all Lucifer pretending to be the others to get a ride out of everyone exorcist-style?

We learned later that Madam Kali was a witch that knew Vanessa from her time with Joan Clayton. Why is it then, that she was so surprised and disturbed by Vanessa during the seance scene?

Who gave the weakest / your least favorite acting performance in Penny Dreadful?

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Who is the hottest / most handsome Boy in Penny Dreadful?

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Hello,

I'm looking for a Penny Dreadful discord server, i saw somebody had created one but the invitation is out of date... So please let me know if there is one and if that's the case perhaps you could invite me :)

I'm eager to be able to say to someone "They will hunt you till the end of days" and be understood... (joking)

Hey all...so I just recently rewatched PD and noticed a scene or scenes missing from the first watch. Namely I DISTINCTLY remember Dr. Jekyll sleeping with a prostitute only to find out it's his mother, who he then strangles. This was not in season three when I rewatched it. Am I from a different timeline? I googled it as well to no avail

My wife and I love Penny Dreadful and have watched it several times.

Such a gorgeous production of such lurid tales!

We have recently begun watching Evil on Paramount+

Although the dialogue is not as rich as PD, the stories are deep and insightful, the casting is superb and the writing is tight and nuanced.

We have found almost no one else who is watching, even though it will soon begin its fourth season.

Any fans of this somewhat similar show here?

My god… I said in my first post here that Eva Green scares me a bit. Her intense eyes and the sharp angles of her facial bone structure.

Having seen what she can do in this series… Specifically the seance, what happened in her past and the ENTIRE of the Possession episode…

Has Eva Green ever won any awards for her acting? I only ask because she needs ALL of them. Oscars, Emmys, whatever else there is… She deserves every single one. I’m in awe. Terrified… But in awe. What a woman! What an actress!

Like the title says, I started watching it a few days ago and just finished season 2. I heard it got canceled back when it aired so the ending might not be very satisfactory.

Okay, I lied. I’m SERIOUSLY late to the party.

I was scrolling through Prime Video and it looked interesting. Watched the teaser clip. I’m on episode three and I’m hooked. It’s not very often that a show or a film can surprise me but DAYUM this has me on the edge of my seat.

I’m not a prude in any way - I’m an aspiring writer and I’ve written many an erotic scene. But Dorian’s words to Brona during the photoshoot had me blushing right up to the tips of my ears. Which is a damn rare occurrence. The quote about fucking a dying creature. “Do you feel it more deeply, I wonder?” Whew.

And as for Proteus and Caliban. Holy hell. I think I had my jaw on the floor for a good few minutes.

After watching Ethan in the zoo with the wolves? He’s gonna be a werewolf, or some kind of variant in the way that the vampires are a little different to popular versions we know of throughout the constant retellings of them.

Anyway, all that aside… Gonna be honest, Eva Green has always scared me a little. I think it’s the angular features and those intense eyes. She’s beautiful, don’t get me wrong. I remember reading another actress’s words about her own face that was similarly angled and sharp. She said something like “with bone structure like this I was born to play witches and bitches!”

Right. I might watch another episode and head to bed. I’ll probably post sporadically over the next week or so, as I watch more of the series!