Penny Dreadful [Showtime/Sky Atlantic] [** Spoilers **]

Jon Stark

Really enjoyable finale.

I hated Caliban in season 1 for 2 reasons; the character itself and the OTT (and not in the good Eva Green way) performance of the actor. But they've really turned the character around this season and is possibly now one of the more interesting players for me now.

Speaking of Eva Green's brilliant OTTness, out devil tongue-ing the devil was so weirdly amazing. I was both loving and laughing at the scene.

Criticisms would be how disposable the witches were given the previous chaos they had brought. Plot convenience at its worst.

Dorian still does absolutely nowt for me as well. Lily has potential, and it would interest me to see a Lily/Hectate alliance, but your man is still bereft of any threat for me.

Dyr

I've thought that the dorian fella has been absolutely irrelevant throughout both series but his sudden turn into something very nasty at the end with lily was fairly chilling, I don't think the actor will carry it off next series though

It's all totally daft plot wise but good fun

kellso81

Bambi wrote: »

It's all totally daft plot wise but good fun

Agree with this, it really is ridiculous but I somehow still enjoy it. One thing that did annoy me though was Vanessa's conviction in her faith helping defeat the devil, after all he promised her and then to completely abandon her faith after that, just doesn't make any sense

Skerries

yeah! so she now believes in a fallen angel from heaven but not in the big fella himself?

Dyr

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Though there would be more of a battle with the witches but they didn't put up much of a fight after all the lead up to it.

I like how in the last episode the director seemed to go "**** there was another witch in the first episode that we've completely forgotten about"


timmy dalton: bish bosh BANG!


Director: sorted, next scene.

mafaa

season 2 finale pretty enjoyable, some thoughts

Ethan seems to be a previous lover of Vanessa who is a condemn while Vanessa seems to blame herself for what happens between Ethan & the master as seen from her furious reaction to sex - she will self torture herself physically & emotionally & spiritually through her dark nature - her master once appeared as Malcolm with black eyes in vision to console her ; while Ethan as a wolfman is able to magically recognise her

as seen from season 1 to 2 the master is playing with Vanessa & Ethan ; madam kali plan A to use doll as a conduit failed badly, i suppose Hecate is going to execute plan B as she might make use of Ethan. Ethan might or might not reach American or might be for a short period

Caliban can kill Proteus who is also Victor creation, this prove that his creations can be kill & they should not be immortal. Lily only started to be reactive & cruel after she being with Dorian, the finale evident she just like Dorian ie, cannot be kill also her chest stitches suddenly heal without any scars. It might mean she & Dorian are committed to the same master. Both of them invoke no supernational abilities beside being cannot be kill & self-healing as evident by Dorian poisioned Angelique & Lily used her super strength to kill the man she bedded. Lily & Dorian could be just a puppet to keep Vanessa busy

Malcolm trip to African hopefully can introduce some interesting new characters, or else Malcolm role in the show can be expendable & less interesting

Lyle didn't die in season 2 which means he will continue to connect the viewers to the characters & the story , as he mentioned it was not just Lucifer banished from heaven, his brother and also followers

Caliban might be back to join Vanessa ; Victor might find himself useful again

Jon Stark

As with most immortals, a quick separation of head and shoulders should be enough to keep Lily and even Dorian down.

mafaa

Jon Stark wrote: »

As with most immortals, a quick separation of head and shoulders should be enough to keep Lily and even Dorian down.

Lily bit off part of Dorian ear & it grew back to shape in no time in the finale ; it could imply whatever parts cut off it will grow or attach back magically

Dan_Solo

The real question is why witches don't just buy some guns.

Dan_Solo

Jon Stark wrote: »

As with most immortals, a quick separation of head and shoulders should be enough to keep Lily and even Dorian down.

Victor should get some of those double-tap lessons from Malcolm.

Oneiric 3

Really enjoyed seasons 1 and 2 of this show. Great they way it mingled infamous characters from the classic gothic horror genre. Anticipating S3 already with rumour having it that it will be centered around a Jekyll and Hyde character.

Brief_Lives

I have just seen season 1 and half way season 2. Very impressive stuff. Doesn´t go over the top with gore.
Incredible acting from Dalton, Eva and Hartnett.
Season 2 episode 2 just blew me away, the episode where Eva is on the moors with another witch learning .... things..!

Timothy Dalton, you can see why he was the best James Bond...

JP Liz V1

Season 3 castings

Spon Farmer

I'm only just watching Season 1 at the moment. I love the show but I have criticisms.

It is far too obvious that Chandler is a werewolf and it is pointless to be keeping it as a surprise to be "revealed" later. I'm hoping that he is a proper werewolf though, as in wolf man, and not just a big dog.

And killing the vampires is too easy - bullets and knives. I'm guessing that the wanted to try something more fast paced liked in The Walking Dead (and there is nothing with putting a new spin on something) but I can't help but think that the fight scenes would be even better if they used the traditional methods of decapitation, wooden stakes and crucifixes. Van Helsing mentioned them as a way of killing vampires and the "master/Dracula" vampire also reacted to the cross in Vannessa room, so these are clearly weapons in the world of Penny Dreadful. Or am I showing a lack of knowledge of vampires here - is there a history on the mythology/fiction of ordinary weapons slaying vampires?

EoinMcLovin

Returning on May 1st

EoinMcLovin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCFABhWtqVc

schizo1014

The first episode of Season 3 has leaked online for anyone who wants to watch it before May 1st, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ben Gadot

Really solid opener that did the mandatory recap episode without being tedious.

That ending.....all I can say is that it's about time.

JP Liz V1

EoinMcLovin wrote: »

Returning on May 1st

Two days later on Sky Atlantic Tuesday the 3rd of May

Ally Dick

schizo1014 wrote: »

The first episode of Season 3 has leaked online for anyone who wants to watch it before May 1st, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Yes. Didn't disappoint. The script was AMAZING. Same goes for most of last season. The episode about The Cut Wife was the finest hour of television I have seen in many a year

googled eyes

Really enjoyed the start of the new season.

JakeArmitage

What actor is playing Dracula ?

Waitsian

I love me some Wes Studi. Great to see him join the show. Solid start to the season.

Dyr

So dracula is

pete postelwhaites bastard son?

Mmmkkay

They really do like juggling a lot of balls on this show

Thundercats Ho

Surprised at the lack of chatter in this thread. I'm really enjoying S03.
Eva Green is a very good actress.

Dyr

Its all good mad fun, the writers seem to be making it up as they go along

Ben Gadot

This episode was up there with the cutwife, with Kinnear giving a stunning turn, playing 3 characters when you think about it.

Green has always been amazing to me, and it's always been evident in this show. An actress who can go from serene beauty to deranged hag in the blink of an eye.

Only thing I'm trying to recall is if the show covered how Vanessa managed to escape the asylum? And I would have liked to have seen how Caliban/John Clare actually died.

Interesting dynamic established also between Lucifer and Dracula through Kinnear's performance, with the former giving a desperate and almost fearful vibe as opposed to Dracula's despicably calm and sinister nature.

Peregrine

I haven't got around to watching this season yet but it's great to know that it's good so far!

Dyr

Ben Gadot wrote: »

This episode was up there with the cutwife, with Kinnear giving a stunning turn, playing 3 characters when you think about it.

Green has always been amazing to me, and it's always been evident in this show. An actress who can go from serene beauty to deranged hag in the blink of an eye.

Only thing I'm trying to recall is if the show covered how Vanessa managed to escape the asylum? And I would have liked to have seen how Caliban/John Clare actually died.

Interesting dynamic established also between Lucifer and Dracula through Kinnear's performance, with the former giving a desperate and almost fearful vibe as opposed to Dracula's despicably calm and sinister nature.

From what I remember Timmy Dalton's character rescued her, but I could be mixingvthat up with a similar story in ripper street. Caliban has been retrofitted into the whole scenario

Ben Gadot

Bambi wrote: »

From what I remember Timmy Dalton's character rescued her, but I could be mixingvthat up with a similar story in ripper street. Caliban has been retrofitted into the whole scenario

Ah ok, I think they went through with the lobotomy and all though. Woman has serious skills to get through that. :pac:

Thundercats Ho

Bambi wrote: »

From what I remember Timmy Dalton's character rescued her, but I could be mixing that up with a similar story in ripper street. Caliban has been retrofitted into the whole scenario

As in, it wasn't him working in the asylum, but that's who Ms Ives sees in her flashbacks?

Dyr

Thundercats Ho wrote: »

As in, it wasn't him working in the asylum, but that's who Ms Ives sees in her flashbacks?

I'm pretty sure Caliban had no part whatsoever in the original asylum storyline, Seems they decided to retrofit him into it this season, using amnesia as the excuse for his absence

Ben Gadot

Looks like it's game over unfortunately. Last night was a double episode in case anyone is unaware.

So many shows linger on far beyond their welcome but Penny Dreadful ended the way it began: by vanquishing the antagonist that was in the shadows from the very first episode. The team's being was because of Dracula so I'm very happy the show begun and ended with him and Vanessa's inner struggle coming to a climax.

I think this show will go on to be appreciated more upon 2nd viewing so I look forward to doing that at some point.

Mr E

Not sure if it was always known, but it looks like last night was the series finale too. There will be no season 4.

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/penny-dreadful-ending-season-3-series-finale-creator-interview-john-logan-david-nevins-1201798946/

Peregrine

Mr E wrote: »

Not sure if it was always known, but it looks like last night was the series finale too. There will be no season 4.

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/penny-dreadful-ending-season-3-series-finale-creator-interview-john-logan-david-nevins-1201798946/

No, I was waiting for a renewal

TheDoc

Like I guess many had no idea this was the end.

But what a tremendous, tragic and beautiful ending to the show.

A real masterclass of television that ended before it ever got a whiff of a downward trend.

Watching since it first aired and me and the misses were stunned seeing it wrap up.

Easily into my top 5 TV shows ever and that's a tall order. Will constantly recommend it. Brilliant.

googled eyes

Hadn't a clue that the series was finishing up.

Ended beautifully. Loved watching Penny Dreadful and will miss most of the characters.

Kind of glad they didn't drag it on longer than they should have

Wibbs

Ben Gadot wrote: »

So many shows linger on far beyond their welcome but Penny Dreadful ended the way it began: by vanquishing the antagonist that was in the shadows from the very first episode. The team's being was because of Dracula so I'm very happy the show begun and ended with him and Vanessa's inner struggle coming to a climax.

I thought the production qualities fantastic and the acting top notch which gave it a a great sheen overall, but I personally the writing too variable, from very good to pretty lame. I strongly suspect the ending was decided late enough and had less to do with "creative reasons" and far more to do with ratings and he studio pulling the plug. The end was an all too obvious hasty wrap up IMHO. Pity as I did enjoy the series more than I didn't, but it probably didn't have another series in it.

Dyr

Seemed like this season was all over the place, half arsed wild west story that just randomly ended, half arsed jekyl and hyde story that never went anywhere. Don't they usually have the whole thing filmed before they know the ratings? It screams of a series being pulled halfway through a season for me

It was all about the sets, fx and acting for me, plot was often paper thin.

Ben Gadot

Aye Vanessa switched and switched back far too quickly.

Ditto Ethan's relationships Hecate and his father, it felt like they're was a lot cut.

There's also the conundrum of why they introduced so many new characters in the final season. John Clare's family, Seward, Dracula to a certain extent, Renfield, Ethan's father, Jekyll and Lily's protege just to name a few.

So while I do believe that the ultimate ending was tbe one envisioned, it did feel like they got the news of cancellation abruptly.

Logan said he only mapped out 3 seasons but I definitely don't think he would have said no to another season or a longer 3rd

conorhal

I feel deflated now. The show has been a bit all over the place, but generally it's been enjoyably bonkers if you view it as a highly polished 60's Hammer Horror series.

I've yet to watch the final few episodes, is there at least a satisfying enough conclusion to make doing so worth my while?

Dyr

conorhal wrote: »

I feel deflated now. The show has been a bit all over the place, but generally it's been enjoyably bonkers if you view it as a highly polished 60's Hammer Horror series.

I've yet to watch the final few episodes, is there at least a satisfying enough conclusion to make doing so worth my while?

umm...the big dramatic finale has a few shots where I thought the cast was going to break into a boy band ballad

griffin100

The first two series were excellent, the first perhaps shading it over the second. This series has been relatively poor. Introducing new characters suggest that the writers were planning future series (why else introduce Hyde, the whole subplot involving him brought nothing to the series), but the somewhat abrupt ending and the few jumping the shark moments hints at a surprise cancellation and some hasty rewrites. Pity, as it was a great show.

Nody

The feeling I'm getting is that the season was cut short; I'd guess they planned for 12/16/20/24 episodes and was told to cut it down to 9 which forced the arcs to be (and feel) rushed.

Ben Gadot

I thought though that each season was only 10 episodes long anyway? I don't think he planned on having a longer season, just one more

nix

Nody wrote: »

The feeling I'm getting is that the season was cut short; I'd guess they planned for 12/16/20/24 episodes and was told to cut it down to 9 which forced the arcs to be (and feel) rushed.

They were always shortish seasons, season 1 only 8 episodes and season 2 only 10 so not cut short episode wise. I do feel the last 2 episodes may have been doctored to wrap it up permanently, they did a good job of it if ya ask me but it did seem like it was cut short. Could have at least got another season or two out of it without going off the rails.

JP Liz V1

https://tvline.com/2018/11/01/penny-dreadful-city-of-angels-series-order-showtime-2019/

Showtime has handed a series order to Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, a 1930s-set follow-up described as the “next chapter” in the franchise

StringerBell

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

https://tvline.com/2018/11/01/penny-dreadful-city-of-angels-series-order-showtime-2019/

Showtime has handed a series order to Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, a 1930s-set follow-up described as the “next chapter” in the franchise

Ugh

They're gonna ruin it aren't they, I thought it was an amazing show that ended as well as could be expected at the best time. Before it got stale.

nix

StringerBell wrote: »

Ugh

They're gonna ruin it aren't they, I thought it was an amazing show that ended as well as could be expected at the best time. Before it got stale.

I dont know, its not gonna touch off the original in any way. It will be a whole new cast/characters. So will only share the name really, plus showtime behind it, ill expect at least a strong first season

kerplun k

This was an amazing show, so great news that it will continue in some form. If John Logan is involved my expectations will remain high. There’s some big witch boots to fill if Eva Green doesn’t return.