Penny Dreadful

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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. jazzythechef
    Jul 8, 2014
    4
    i really wanted to like this show, but it seems a real chore to get through. filled with unnecessary scenes that i quickly forget about. some great acting and attractive sets tied together by, well nothing really. another reviewer said the show gets bogged down by it's own greatness, i believe that to be a very apt observation.
  2. Dobian
    May 30, 2014
    5
    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 and wooden. For a horror show it's not very scary, it's actually kind of dull. The recently cancelledSo 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
  3. Ixoziel
    Jun 4, 2014
    5
    I really wanted to like this show. The theme and style are fantastic, I love the vibe and atmosphere that the show gives off. However, the direction of the show leaves a lot to be desired. A lot of things simply don't make sense. For example, I went for three episodes without realizing that the lead female character (Vanessa Ives) actually wasn't named Penny Dreadful (it's theI really wanted to like this show. The theme and style are fantastic, I love the vibe and atmosphere that the show gives off. However, the direction of the show leaves a lot to be desired. A lot of things simply don't make sense. For example, I went for three episodes without realizing that the lead female character (Vanessa Ives) actually wasn't named Penny Dreadful (it's the stereotypical name of a horror tabloid).

    There are a lot of scenes that just don't make a lot of sense. There's multiple scenes that jump to Ives praying, where we see spiders coming out of the walls (likely a hallucination). The fact that Ives and Malcolm trust random strangers off the streets to protect them seems a little dubious, as well. I don't mind suspending disbelief for fantasy elements, but suspending disbelief for how some of these characters behave is just a little too much for me.

    It seems like the show is trying to focus on too many different characters at once. The parts with Dr. Frankenstein are brilliant. The actors that play his creations are great as well. However, when it starts dealing with Dorian Grey, the show kind of loses its voice. He doesn't really seem to belong in the type of sci-fi dealings that are going on.

    The show can't really figure out whether it wants to be a drama, a horror show, a sci-fi show (Frankenstein and his science), or a soft porn flick (Dorian). True Blood worked because it never took itself too seriously, but I"m not sure where this series will go.    … Expand
  4. Bgrod
    Jun 1, 2015
    4
    It looks awesome and the acting is top notch but there is something severely lacking in Penny Dreadful such as a coherent story or characters which compel me to care about them or stay interested. Sadly, I don't find it the least bit scary or spooky, either. The beautifully spoken Shakespearean-like dialogue does makes Penny at least a little less dreadful of a series to endure.
  5. Jraptor59
    Jun 16, 2014
    6
    This series is difficult to watch. It has a great title, but is so pretentious that it becomes bogged down in it's own "greatness". The lead female actor is terrible, overacting to the point that she become laughable. The colors are all dark browns, blacks, and reds, almost rendering it black and white. It has the now inescapable gay romance/straight romance that detracts and distractsThis series is difficult to watch. It has a great title, but is so pretentious that it becomes bogged down in it's own "greatness". The lead female actor is terrible, overacting to the point that she become laughable. The colors are all dark browns, blacks, and reds, almost rendering it black and white. It has the now inescapable gay romance/straight romance that detracts and distracts from the story. I was excited when I heard about this series, esp. with the actors and fantasy characters, I thought it couldn't miss being a hit.; they showed me the error in my thinking.… Expand
  6. steddye
    Jul 20, 2014
    4
    I would have liked to watch this show but the scenes are too dark, an effort to my eyes.
    My tv is well calibrated but this series is really really dark; disappointed.
  7. TokyoParisLondo
    Apr 2, 2015
    6
    I truly wanted to love this show, and although it starts off as hugely compelling, it quickly gets sickly and irritating. The absolutely non existent lighting is a huge bone of contention. It's like the producers are so keen to point out "hey this is a DARK and EDGY show about SHADOWY things" that they just go completely over the top.

    That's probably true of many aspects - things which    I truly wanted to love this show, and although it starts off as hugely compelling, it quickly gets sickly and irritating. The absolutely non existent lighting is a huge bone of contention. It's like the producers are so keen to point out "hey this is a DARK and EDGY show about SHADOWY things" that they just go completely over the top.

    That's probably true of many aspects - things which start off as really appealing, quickly become a constant source of irritation. Why can't Eva Green clear her throat and speak without that gravelly, hoarse voice for once? (She's meant to be seductive. WE GET IT). Why can't the writers actually get around to advancing the plot rather than shoving more and more characters into the mix?

    Dorian Gray's character is so over the top that I spend all his screen time wanting to punch him in the face for being such a simpering ****

    There are a few saving graces. The costumes are exquisite. Billie Piper seems to be the only character with any comic wit, and she plays it well. Her accent is not the worst I have ever heard. Frankenstein's monster is wonderful. Truly wonderful. In fact, the Frankenstein side story is the most well done - even though everyone knows the final traditional outcome, I suspect many hope the story will deviate from the original, and he will FINALLY get his bride (note: the book has been out for nearly 200 years. This is NOT a spoiler!)

    In summary I'd say it's a show with more atmosphere than any real substance, but you'll probably watch the whole thing just to check whether the writers ever bothered getting back to the plot at all. Or, you know, get the plot to make any sense.    … Expand
  8. Pdfortune
    Jun 29, 2014
    5
    The lead lady is truly dreadful I wish she would die on the show but I doubt it. It is often a slow show without much of a payoff. It is a little too random with its story. The ads make the show look exciting, but it isn't very exciting.
  9. manofthemoon
    Mar 10, 2015
    5
    A mess with only the writer to blame, "Penny Dreadful" throws everything already seen in Victorian horror stories into the mix in the hope that we'll buy old cliches warmed up as new ideas for your attention. High style fails to paper over the cracks of a weak series undeserving of a second season. The real pity is that Eva Green and Timothy Dalton, amongst others, are excellent. One ofA mess with only the writer to blame, "Penny Dreadful" throws everything already seen in Victorian horror stories into the mix in the hope that we'll buy old cliches warmed up as new ideas for your attention. High style fails to paper over the cracks of a weak series undeserving of a second season. The real pity is that Eva Green and Timothy Dalton, amongst others, are excellent. One of the biggest disappointments on TV.… Expand
  10. TLohan
    Jul 1, 2014
    4
    The season starts off very well but deteriorates quite quickly. Production values are consistently very good but style overcomes substance as the plot gets mired in attempting to tick as many Victorian-horror-cliché boxes as possible.
  11. Soulshocker
    Jun 15, 2015
    6
    I love the show, especially as the story centres around Vanessa Yves and the characters in her orbit. This season is already better than the last. Eva Green and Josh Hartnett are really great in the show. But I must say that the Dr. Frankenstein story arc is not working, especially when 'the creature - john clare' part. I just cannot care about this character, he is neither likeable,I love the show, especially as the story centres around Vanessa Yves and the characters in her orbit. This season is already better than the last. Eva Green and Josh Hartnett are really great in the show. But I must say that the Dr. Frankenstein story arc is not working, especially when 'the creature - john clare' part. I just cannot care about this character, he is neither likeable, interesting nor a threat, but the show insists on pitting him against Frankenstein. I skip any scene concerning Dr. Frankenstein and him. Brona Croft was an interesting character that added to the story, but now that she has been sucked into the Frankenstein-Creature story I don't care about her anymore.… Expand

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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