Penny Dreadful: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 442 Ratings

See All

8.3

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.3	Your Score
8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 442 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Season Details & Credits

SHOWTIME | SYA | Season Premiere Date: May 11, 2014

Starring: Danny Sapani, Billie Piper, Rory Kinnear

Summary: In Victorian London, Vanessa Ives (Eva Green), Sir Malcolm (Timothy Dalton), and American Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) encounter Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney), Dr. Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) and Mina Harker (Olivia Llewellyn) in this psychosexual horror series created by John Logan.

Creator: John Logan (I) and John Logan

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Suspense

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. Grand Guignol
Air Date: June 29, 2014
tbd
S1:E7. Possession
Air Date: June 22, 2014
tbd
S1:E6. What Death Can Join Together
Air Date: June 15, 2014

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Jeff Korbelik

May 12, 2014

What makes Penny click is the chemistry among the characters, especially the psychic and the gunslinger, who end up seducing the viewer with their seductive encounters. They make you forget this is an action show Read full review

Verne Gay

May 7, 2014

This John Logan creation promises an intriguing summer pastime, for an eight-week run anyway. Read full review

Sara Smith

May 9, 2014

Penny Dreadful is a smart, self-referential Dracula vs. the Wolf-Man vs. Frankenstein concept delivering the scares, chills and laughs that summer TV needs. Read full review

Jeff Jensen

May 7, 2014

It's a Frankenstory made with borrowed bits and recycled parts that could evolve into its own vibrant creation. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

May 9, 2014

There’s style, B-movie charm, and a few great performances to be found in the bloody heart of Penny Dreadful. Read full review

David Hiltbrand

May 8, 2014

The production and period values are outstanding, as is the cast, especially Timothy Dalton as famed African explorer Sir Malcolm Murray.... As creator John Logan moves away from the horror by the Thames and more toward the internal demons that haunt his protagonists, Penny veers toward the overwritten and overwrought. But by then, you may well be in for a pound. Read full review

Lily Moayeri

May 9, 2014

Overall, it took Once Upon a Time a season to fall flat; Penny Dreadful does that immediately. Read full review

SEE ALL 37 REVIEWS

User Score

Write a Review

8.3

User Reviews

Rapunzel

Nov 2, 2014

I was sure that better television series "American horror story" nothing and never will be, but "Penny Dreadful" surpassed all my expectations and beat American horror story "! Eva Green and Josh Hartnett is awesome! Well done!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Alexlee

Jun 2, 2015

classic novels and legendary masterpieces mashed up into one fully thrilling and astonishing TV show.
and Eva Green is one big plus for the show. Her acting for the role is as if it's coming deeply from thing inside her. the plot is good. the background musics and SFX placement are good.classic novels and legendary masterpieces mashed up into one fully thrilling and astonishing TV show.
and Eva Green is one big plus for the show. Her acting for the role is as if it's coming deeply from thing inside her. the plot is good. the background musics and SFX placement are good. overall, 'tis a good TV show for fantasy thriller fans or a Victorian London geek.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Spaff

May 12, 2014

I watched both episodes and if you like sex, violence, horror and a nice period series atmosphere you will like this show. I liked all the main characters and it will be fun to watch the various monsters and villains integrate in future episodes. As for the critics, most have it right; yet aI watched both episodes and if you like sex, violence, horror and a nice period series atmosphere you will like this show. I liked all the main characters and it will be fun to watch the various monsters and villains integrate in future episodes. As for the critics, most have it right; yet a few of them want to kill a promising series before it gets up and running. This is a fun TV series, the real horror show is going on in Washington, so if you want to vent negativity you should have more than ample material there if you, or you employer have the guts to cover it.… Expand

11 of 15 users found this helpful114

poetsofswift

Jun 26, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So sad it got cancelled, I wish they gave us a REAL ending instead of killing off Vanessa Ives. Still, it's my favourite tv show and Eva Green is amazing in this.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jordan_ddrchs

May 27, 2014

Beautiful to watch and intelligently written without being haughty. Let's have less Dorian Gray, keep the camp to a minimum (RE: Episode 2, final scene) and pray for a long run. Anyone comparing this to the garbage that is 'Once Upon a Time' needs to take a second look. Similarities existBeautiful to watch and intelligently written without being haughty. Let's have less Dorian Gray, keep the camp to a minimum (RE: Episode 2, final scene) and pray for a long run. Anyone comparing this to the garbage that is 'Once Upon a Time' needs to take a second look. Similarities exist only in the two's most basic premise. That is; 'modern' examination of public domain, literary characters. Rest assured, Penny Dreadful does not pander to the masses or beg for a prime-time spot next to Desperate Housewives. It has no f***s to give about keeping your children up at night.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Dobian

May 30, 2014

So far this show has been all style and no substance. It's like a monsters greatest hits with Frankenstein, Dracula, Jack the Ripper, and Dorian Gray all getting tossed into the pot. There's no compelling story so far, no real reason to root for any of the characters, who are very flat andSo far this show has been all style and no substance. It's like a monsters greatest hits with Frankenstein, Dracula, Jack the Ripper, and Dorian Gray all getting tossed into the pot. There's no compelling story so far, no real reason to root for any of the characters, who are very flat and wooden. For a horror show it's not very scary, it's actually kind of dull. The recently cancelled Dracula on NBC had its issues, but it had some great character development, an interesting plot, and it was way more entertaining than this. I do like Billie Piper, I remember her from Secret Diaries of a Call Girl and she brings life to the show in her scenes. I'll keep watching for now, but they need to develop some decent story arcs.… Expand

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

Kojomon

Jun 3, 2018

Absolutely insultingly terrible ending. What a waste of my time. They even had the audacity to pretend like they planned for the show to end at three seasons. AVOID.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 62 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

74

Series Overview
Season 3

83
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: May 1, 2016
Season 2

77
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: May 3, 2015
Season 1

70
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: May 11, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E8. Grand Guignol
  Air Date: June 29, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E7. Possession
  Air Date: June 22, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E6. What Death Can Join Together
  Air Date: June 15, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E5. Closer Than Sisters
  Air Date: June 8, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E4. Demimonde
  Air Date: June 1, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E3. Resurrection
  Air Date: May 25, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E2. Seance
  Air Date: May 18, 2014
- tbd
  S1:E1. Night Work
  Air Date: May 11, 2014