Network: Showtime
Episodes: 27 (hour)
Seasons: Three
TV show dates: May 11, 2014 — June 19, 2016
Series status: Ended
Performers include: Reeve Carney, Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, Rory Kinnear, Billie Piper, Danny Sapani, Harry Treadaway, and Josh Hartnett.
TV show description:
This horror series is a psychological thriller that weaves together horror origin stories from classic literature into an adult drama. The title of the show refers to the penny dreadfuls, a type of cheap 19th century British fiction publication which featured lurid and often sensational material.
Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) is a charming American who’s very popular with the ladies and who finds himself trapped in the dark corners of Victorian London. Behind Ethan’s bright eyes lurk dark secrets. He is running from something and his troubling past threatens to overtake him at every turn.
A hardened African explorer on a deeply personal quest, Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton) has nonetheless paid a heavy price for his exciting career. Although his stately home is filled with marvelous souvenirs of his travels, it is devoid of family and loved ones. With the help of Vanessa Ives, he is determined to right the wrongs of his past.
Poised, mysterious and utterly composed, Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) is a seductive and formidable beauty who’s full of secrets and danger. She is keenly observant (perhaps even clairvoyant) as well as an expert medium. Her supernatural gifts are powerful and useful to those around her but they are also a heavy burden. Her inner demons are very real to her and threaten to destroy her relationships, her sanity, and her life.
Sembene (Danny Sapani) is an African man with ritual face scarring. He serves as Sir Malcolm’s sentry and confidant. Sembene has an air of mystery about him and his heroic efforts prove invaluable to Sir Malcolm in his personal quest.
Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney) is a fabulously wealthy young gentleman who is almost unnerving in his beauty. His skin seems to radiate a golden glow of intoxicating youth and promise. A recklessly abandoned sensualist, he has a devil-may-care attitude that borders on dangerous. Nothing seems to faze him, nor are any risks too great. He is, in fact, unnaturally drawn to them.
Brona Croft (Billie Piper) is a poor Irish immigrant who is trying to escape a dark and sordid past. The Gaelic meaning of her name is “sadness,” yet she remains lovely, spirited, and erotically alive. She forms a bond with Ethan and he will do anything for her.
More a Romantic poet than a surgeon, Doctor Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) is a tender, gentle soul who is fascinated by the mysteries of life — and death. He has dedicated himself to researching what makes something live, and has sacrificed everything for his scientific pursuit. However, he is playing with fire. His research pays off in shocking ways — with devastating consequences.
Episode #27 — The Blessed Dark
Ethan learns the shocking truth about Kaetenay. Dr. Seward uses hypnosis on Renfield. Meanwhile, The Creature must make a moral decision as Sir Malcolm, Ethan, Kaetenay, Dr. Seward and Catriona battle to save Vanessa.
First aired: June 19, 2016
What do you think? Do you like the Penny Dreadful TV series? Do you think it should have ended or been renewed for a fourth season?
Shouldn’t the spin-off “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” be added here? Or as a separate entry? Thank you.
The series hasn’t been produced yet. Once it is, we’ll add a show page for it. Hope that helps!
Loved the show! PLEASE bring it back…The mystery and dark beauty of it was captivating. I liked that I did not know what was always coming next…
Hands down the most brilliant show ever. The characters were perfect. The actors were amazing!!! This show has made me look at life differently. I thank you to everyone that was involved in making Penny Dreadful happen. Please bring the show back.
Penny Dreadful was one of the best shows. It could have continued for a long time if the creator hadn’t painted the Vanessa character into a corner and had to kill her. The series still could have continued with the remains characters chasing new adventures and possibly adding another female lead or leaving a opening for Eva Green to return. The industry execs. are so out of touch with what the viewing audiences really want!