Penny Dreadful

:

Season 3
Season #: 3, 2, 1
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
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User Reviews

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  1. Odin-
    Jun 8, 2016
    1
    Abandon all hope thinking this even comes close to season one.

    There is so much wrong with Penny Dreadful Season 3 it’s difficult to know where to start. The plot is essentially directionless, the characters, once a group are now divided, moping about with no purpose. This runs contrary to such a strong narrative present in season one, however once Mina was out of the picture, there was    Abandon all hope thinking this even comes close to season one.

    There is so much wrong with Penny Dreadful Season 3 it’s difficult to know where to start. The plot is essentially directionless, the characters, once a group are now divided, moping about with no purpose. This runs contrary to such a strong narrative present in season one, however once Mina was out of the picture, there was no purpose to the show. Instead, the script writers filled the void with a home and away style narrative.

    The script writers of the show must have been struck with some form of storyline decision making paralysis compounded by the lure of stretching the series out and the lucrative possibilities that follow with this unethical practice. This is evidenced by the fact that despite two seasons worth of Vanessa being a slut (banging every demonic being and everything in between), getting possessed, chanting gibberish, burning her friendships and repeating these actions to ad nauseum. Seriously, there’s a whole episode of her in a padded cell doing the exact same crap she was doing back in season one. All the while, this oversaturation of Vanessa Ives has:

    • Reduced Sir Malcolm to virtually a featured extra
    • Turned Ethan Chandler into a hormonal teenager
    • Taken Dorian Gray’s libido to the next level by making him a paedophile whilst having a threesome with everyone covered in blood
    • Exited Ferdinand Lyle who as we know was a learned old man replaced with a 25 year old girl who is better than everyone else and knows absolutely everything.

    To add insult to injury, Penny Dreadful Season 3 has fallen victim to modern Feminism and Social Justice Warrior philosophy.

    Words fail to describe how much of a disappointment this season is. You are far better investing what precious time you have in other shows like Game of Thrones. This is definitely worth a miss.    … Expand
  2. 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. A once powerful narrative has fallen pray pointless scenes populated with characters of no substance and depth. What a tragedy.
  3. Kojomon
    Jun 3, 2018
    0
    Absolutely insultingly terrible ending. They even had the audacity to pretend like they planned for the show to end at three seasons. What a waste of my time. AVOID.
  4. 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, 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    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.    … Expand
  5. Charlie-101
    Jun 8, 2016
    0
    Can't believe how low this show has sunk. Season 1 was awesome, season 3 is utter rubbish, don't waste your time. The feminism and social justice warrior bile has ruined it.
  6. marco34la
    Jul 2, 2016
    1
    Seasons one and two were absolutely wonderful! Loved loved loved. Season 3 is beyond bad. Such a huge disappointment. If you haven't seen S3 yet... do yourself a favor and DON'T. Let Penny remain a good memory for you. S3 - RIP
  7. bkristman
    Apr 16, 2017
    2
    They let this show fall apart and obviously had no plan after the first 2 seasons. Then they just ended it.
    Terrible way to treat a show that had so much going for it.
  8. AthanasiosT
    Jun 22, 2020
    0
    Season 3 lost everything that made S01 and S02 exceptional. The dark horror atmosphere. the superb acting, the captivating story. All missing. S03 is just an LA, anti-racist, love story, with some supernatural touches. Not enough for me.

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  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]
  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.
    Read full review
  3. 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.
    Read full review
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