In the shadowy corners of Victorian London, where gas lamps flicker against cobblestone streets and the supernatural lurks behind every elegant facade, Showtime’s Penny Dreadful weaves a tapestry of horror, romance, and redemption that transcends its source material to become something entirely new.
The Legacy of Penny Dreadfuls
The term “penny dreadful” originally referred to cheap, sensational literature sold for a penny in 19th-century Britain. These publications featured lurid tales of crime, horror, and adventure, often serialized to keep readers coming back for more. They were the pulp fiction of their day, consumed by working-class readers hungry for escapism and thrills.
Showtime’s Penny Dreadful takes this concept and elevates it to high art, drawing from the rich well of Victorian Gothic literature while creating something that feels both timeless and contemporary. The series doesn’t just adapt classic horror stories-it reimagines them as interconnected parts of a larger, more complex narrative.
A Masterful Blend of Classic Horror
Penny Dreadful brings together some of literature’s most iconic monsters and characters:
- Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) - A mysterious woman with supernatural abilities and a dark past
- Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton) - An explorer searching for his missing daughter
- Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) - An American gunslinger with a terrible secret
- Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney) - The immortal aesthete from Oscar Wilde’s novel
- Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) - The ambitious scientist and his Creature
- The Creature (Rory Kinnear) - A more sympathetic take on Frankenstein’s monster
The series doesn’t simply retell these stories-it recontextualizes them, making them part of a shared universe where the supernatural and the human coexist in uneasy harmony.
Eva Green’s Mesmerizing Performance
At the heart of Penny Dreadful is Eva Green’s tour-de-force performance as Vanessa Ives. Green brings an intensity and vulnerability to the role that makes Vanessa one of the most compelling characters in modern television. Her portrayal of a woman caught between the forces of good and evil, struggling with her own nature and the expectations of Victorian society, is nothing short of mesmerizing.
Vanessa’s journey from a seemingly proper Victorian woman to someone who embraces her supernatural abilities and dark nature is the emotional core of the series. Green’s ability to convey both strength and fragility, sensuality and terror, makes every scene she’s in electric.
The Gothic Atmosphere
Penny Dreadful excels at creating an immersive Gothic atmosphere that feels authentic to the Victorian era while remaining accessible to modern audiences. The production design is meticulous, from the elaborate costumes to the detailed sets that bring 19th-century London to life.
The series uses lighting, sound, and cinematography to create a sense of dread and mystery that permeates every episode. The contrast between the elegant drawing rooms of the upper class and the grimy streets where supernatural horrors lurk creates a visual metaphor for the series’ themes of duality and hidden darkness.
Complex Characters and Relationships
What sets Penny Dreadful apart from other horror series is its commitment to character development and complex relationships. The series explores themes of love, loss, redemption, and the nature of evil through the lens of its supernatural premise.
The relationship between Vanessa and Ethan, for example, is both romantic and tragic, complicated by their respective supernatural natures and the secrets they keep from each other. Similarly, Victor Frankenstein’s relationship with his Creature is portrayed with more nuance than in most adaptations, exploring themes of creator and creation, responsibility and abandonment.
The Supernatural as Metaphor
Penny Dreadful uses its supernatural elements to explore deeper themes about human nature, society, and the struggle between good and evil. The monsters in the series are often more sympathetic than the humans, reflecting the series’ exploration of what it means to be truly monstrous.
The series also examines the role of women in Victorian society, using supernatural elements to comment on the restrictions and expectations placed on women during that era. Vanessa’s supernatural abilities give her a power and agency that would have been impossible for a woman of her time and class.
A Satisfying Conclusion
Unlike many series that overstay their welcome or end abruptly, Penny Dreadful concludes its story in a way that feels both inevitable and satisfying. The final season brings the various storylines to a close while remaining true to the series’ themes and characters.
The ending is bittersweet but appropriate, acknowledging that in a world where the supernatural and the human coexist, there can be no easy answers or simple resolutions. The series ends as it began-with Vanessa Ives, a woman who has embraced her true nature and found a kind of peace, even if it’s not the conventional happy ending.
Legacy and Influence
Penny Dreadful has influenced the way horror is portrayed on television, showing that supernatural stories can be both terrifying and emotionally resonant. The series’ success has paved the way for other prestige horror series that take their subject matter seriously while delivering genuine scares and compelling drama.
The series also demonstrated that classic literature can be successfully adapted for modern audiences without losing the essence of what made the original works compelling. By reimagining these stories in a new context, Penny Dreadful made them accessible to viewers who might not be familiar with the source material.
Why You Should Watch
Penny Dreadful is essential viewing for anyone who appreciates quality television, Gothic literature, or horror that goes beyond simple scares. The series offers:
- Stunning performances from a talented cast
- Beautiful production design that brings Victorian London to life
- Complex characters with genuine depth and development
- Supernatural horror that serves the story rather than overwhelming it
- Thematic depth that rewards multiple viewings
- A satisfying conclusion that brings the story to a proper end
The Perfect Gothic Experience
In an era where television often prioritizes quantity over quality, Penny Dreadful stands as a reminder of what the medium can achieve when creators are given the time and resources to tell their story properly. It’s a series that respects its audience’s intelligence while delivering genuine entertainment and emotional impact.
Whether you’re a fan of classic horror literature, period dramas, or simply great television, Penny Dreadful offers something unique and compelling. It’s a series that will stay with you long after the final credits roll, its themes and characters lingering in your mind like the supernatural forces that haunt its Victorian London.
Penny Dreadful is available on Showtime and various streaming platforms, and it’s well worth seeking out for anyone who appreciates television that aspires to be art rather than just entertainment.
