Penny Dreadful

:

Season 1
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 442 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 378 out of 442
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 442
  3. Negative: 25 out of 442
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User Reviews

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  1. HannibalB
    Oct 24, 2018
    2
    This show is a heartbreaker. It looks good but the writing is so bad that it's impossible to like. The casting is generally bad too, especially that of Frankenstein's monster. I like the actor, but he's no monstrous. Nothing in this show really works at all. The characters all behave illogically, constantly do stupid things that don't fit with their character as established.
  2. naveentalari
    Aug 6, 2016
    0
    Hi guys dis is naveen.In penny dreadful s01e05 there has been a racist dialouge by peter refering indians to 'filthy wogs' even though the series is about 1800's it is being directed and produced in 20th century and they are using these kind of racist dialouges this is not cool.British people they might have ruled India and they thieved so much from India but thats in the past.We IndiansHi guys dis is naveen.In penny dreadful s01e05 there has been a racist dialouge by peter refering indians to 'filthy wogs' even though the series is about 1800's it is being directed and produced in 20th century and they are using these kind of racist dialouges this is not cool.British people they might have ruled India and they thieved so much from India but thats in the past.We Indians are very humble people and respectful to others but we will not tolerate these kind of statements and dialouges.… Expand
  3. Gherkin
    Jun 13, 2014
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The first episode was quite interesting until the final line: "My name is Victor Frankenstein." After that, it went downhill. There was a stomach-churning scene when Dorian Gray made love to a consumptive prostitute. How sick is that? The off switch came as a welcome relief.… Expand
  4. Smee
    May 16, 2014
    0
    Extremely boring and not thrilling or terrifying .Show is not scary enough maybe kids get scared ,They could have hire decent writer and an editor with the money they have spent on Art direction.TV fans don't need this sort of show because there's too many successfull horror shows.
  5. deathweeper
    Jan 10, 2015
    1
    Penny Dreadful is a chick flick down to its bone. It provides mysteries, and horrors than are specifically catered towards women but this is harder for most people to realize since it is classified as a horror and not a romantic comedy. Overall the show is boring, yes their are some monsters but you only see them for a few seconds and the rest of the season is about the charactersPenny Dreadful is a chick flick down to its bone. It provides mysteries, and horrors than are specifically catered towards women but this is harder for most people to realize since it is classified as a horror and not a romantic comedy. Overall the show is boring, yes their are some monsters but you only see them for a few seconds and the rest of the season is about the characters fighiting against imaginary personal problems like how they're bored, or crazy or hallucinating. Their are no good guys in this show, instead everyone is just a grey mess. This is one of those shows where you would be very happy if the main characters died.… Expand
  6. Susannah
    Feb 1, 2016
    2
    Dreadful is the operative word here. The series is replete with so much graphic, unnecessary sex scenes and gratuitous violence and gore, and animal cruelty, that the content and storyline is overpowered. It could have otherwise been an engrossing thriller. It is really a shame. Also, the directing could have matched noirish mood better.
  7. Pooba
    Jun 13, 2016
    1
    Others have pointed it out, The show has lost all pretense as horror or drama. Is now a SJW primer for women's studies wannabees. Unless you're into pegging or femdom stuff give this crap a miss. Too bad, first season had some promise, that good will has been squandered.
  8. Lukehat
    Jul 1, 2017
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Watchable background TV while I'm doing something else. Not dreadful but didn't draw me in.
    - The main plot is simplistic and is lacking depth. The main plot for the most part feels unrealistic, haphazard and ingenuine. Lot's of avenues are opened and not explained: Who is ripping around town and why is that not concluded? Surely werewolf saga for series 2. 100% of the recruits just happen to have impossibly unique secrets that get told in backstories, which doesn't help to make the story feel genuine. I did enjoy the Frankenstein backstory more than the main plot though.
    - Every one has sex with Dorian Grey...(including Josh Hartnett, despite not being gay) without explanation. This is the type of Tv show for profit filling time crap, that doesn't immalgamate well with the main plot. It feels like many other TV shows where there isn't an original written storyline, but instead different writer(s) make up episodes off the cuff.
    - The heroes seem to be impenatrable to any damage by multiple vampires (including bites). Especially unrealistic in the case of old geezer Sir Malcom, who wields some normally useless in battle silver pokey stick - he did buy a decent gun for the end battle though. Are vampires as weak as cats? Yet the master/Eva Green have such supreme power together that they manage to poltergeist a whole room in to a mess without touching anything.
    - It's a shame the story is inconsistent and weak because the acting was good quality, which is rare in a TV series. English actors were cast for English roles, which seems a rarity in american TV. Billie Pipers accent seems believable, but maybe a native Irish speaker would disagree. I wonder if she will keep her accent as Mrs Frankenstein: not sure that would make sense.
    I liked Harry Treadaway and Josh Hartnett, and Vanessa Ives does an ok job acting a very difficult part.
    - The screen play is quite literary it seems (the word 'ephemeral' is mentioned at least 3 times), and there are numerous quotes and literary links throughout, including the name of the series. All unimportant to me.    … Expand
  9. Kojomon
    Jun 3, 2018
    0
    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.

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Best TV Season of 2014
26
#26 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
17
#17 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    May 16, 2014
    63
    As the season goes on, the narrative grip will (one hopes) tighten and grow as richly decadent as the surrounding production--or Eva Green. [26 May 2014, p.39]
  2. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    May 12, 2014
    75
    There were moments when I wanted to give up on Penny Dreadful. Then there is the ending of the second episode--a horrific jolt that changes everything you thought you knew about one character--and, well, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
    Read full review
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    May 12, 2014
    80
    The elegance of its production and mostly measured pace, though it may confound those who prefer the supernatural served fast and furious, keeps the drama persuasive.
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