Penny Dreadful

:

Season 3
Season #: 3, 2, 1
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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Critic Reviews

  1. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    May 9, 2016
    90
    Elegant and erotic in its savage yet sordid beauty, the third season of John Logan's stylishly literate monster mashup never loses focus despite being, quite literally, all over the map. [9-22 May 2016, p.18]
    All this critic's reviews
  2. We Got This Covered
    Reviewed by: Isaac Feldberg
    May 4, 2016
    90
    The best horror show on television returns with a season that feels flush with heightened ambition, visual artistry, dramatic energy, and - of course - fresh blood.
  3. Cleveland Plain Dealer
    Reviewed by: Mark Dawidziak
    Apr 30, 2016
    90
    Already TV's most literate and stylish horror drama, "Penny Dreadful" is adding new and intriguing elements to the ambitious structure as the third season begins.
  5. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Apr 29, 2016
    83
    Season 3's American-set storyline breaks things up nicely with some classic western elements mixed in with the show's established creature horrors, and the aesthetics of the production have never looked better.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Jeff Jensen
    Apr 18, 2016
    83
    Fresh blood and sharp ideas make for delicious, smart-pulp fangoria. [22/29 Apr 2016, p.105]
    All this critic's reviews
  7. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Apr 28, 2016
    80
    Dreadful creator John Logan has firm control over the series’ mordantly witty, dry tone. He has me hooked again.
  8. Collider
    Reviewed by: Allison Keene
    Apr 28, 2016
    80
    Penny Dreadful creates a splendor that’s easy to get lost in, as it drowns itself in the period, in opulence and squalor, in the darkness and the light, and once again seems primed to be one of the year’s most spellbinding tales.
  9. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Alex McCown
    May 2, 2016
    75
    When it gets to the meat of the dark source material that gives the show its name, the action is kinetic and satisfying in a manner previous seasons occasionally struggled to provide.
  10. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    May 2, 2016
    75
    Penny Dreadful’s set work is unparalleled, and this season the bright oranges and yellows of the Old West make for a welcome contrast to the washed-out blues and grays of Old London. Oh, there is action here.

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best TV Season of 2016
83
#83 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 168 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 138 out of 168
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 168
  3. Negative: 22 out of 168
  1. DanielFenton
    Jun 7, 2016
    1
    It pains me to give this a 1 but Penny Dreadful season 3 has been maligned and warped into a social justice warrior political statement. AIt pains me to give this a 1 but Penny Dreadful season 3 has been maligned and warped into a social justice warrior political statement. A once powerful narrative has fallen pray pointless scenes populated with characters of no substance and depth. What a tragedy.… Full Review »
  2. Maxime
    May 1, 2016
    10
    The title says it all, this is a penny dreadful. What does that mean? Well, for one it is sensational, a bit cheesy and over-the-top, but thatThe title says it all, this is a penny dreadful. What does that mean? Well, for one it is sensational, a bit cheesy and over-the-top, but that is part of its DNA. It does not hide it, nor it is ashamed of it, but embraces it fully. By having this in mind you can enjoy the show fully.

    The third season adds Dr. Jekyll to the fold and expands the world of Victorian London to America, where our dashing were-wolf is set to face his terrifying father. Vanessa is sublimely depressed, as well as doctor Frankenstein who has resorted to heroin after the conniving Lily betrayed him. While we are at it, Lilly reigns supreme with Dorian Gray as her immortal mate bound to wreak havoc. Finally, the Creature and Sir Malcolm are at the end of the world, the first in the Arctic and the second in Africa, both of them in search of memories long gone...

    The production remains as aesthetically sublime as ever. The dialogues are woven with divine lyricism and the stories remain dreadfully compelling as ever. The new villain in particular is set to be the most terrifying one yet!

    Enjoy, the fright-fest, my dear dreadfuls!    … Full Review »
  3. Canisrah
    Jun 8, 2016
    1
    It's a tragic thing - watch this show's steady decline into pointless fluff. Season 1 was fantastic - great writing, engaging characters,It's a tragic thing - watch this show's steady decline into pointless fluff. Season 1 was fantastic - great writing, engaging characters, magnificent setting and a premise with almost limitless potential. Season 2 did not measure up to season 1 but it was eminently watchable, even if it did begin to show signs of incoherence creeping in.

    Well. Season 3 has been a train wreck from the get go. The quality of the writing, the dialogue, the plot - has simply nose dived. Its almost as if they got rid of the writing talent who breathed life into brilliant characters in season 1 and replaced them with a team of narcissistic, self indulgent women's studies graduates.

    The show has become a farce - a directionless, boring caricature of the engaged adventure it started out as. Now we have increasing levels of hip and edgy scenes with fluffy dialogue supported by pointless and contradictory plot points. The timeless themes and anchoring touch points with historical realism are gone - replaced with feminist Mary Sue characters and man-hating subtext.

    All class and subtlety has been thrown out, replaced with ham fisted bluntness and cringe worthy character arcs that suggest they were produced by hormonal teenagers filled with sooky angst.

    Viewers know when they stop being entertained and start being preached at. In Season 3 - Penny Dreadful made an unmistakable transition from rip roaring adventure to merely a vehicle for superficial social justice propaganda and feminist dogma. No thanks.

    Penny Dreadful - it was good while it lasted; but I'm one to unplug the life support when the patient is brain dead. A sad demise.    … Full Review »
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