I'm a big fan of gothic horror such as Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dorian Gray, the list goes on, so I was pretty happy to discover a culmination of those stories for a more mature audience and with it's own characters to bring to the table and I must say when I first watched this a few years ago it really scratched that itch. it gets the visual style of the gothic horror exactly right, better than most if not all other shows and films and it's delightfully violent with interesting and well portrayed characters. Watching it back now that I myself have matured it certainly has it's faults such as some slightly cringeworthy dialogue and useless sexual scenes to cash in on the sex craze that shows like Game of Thrones popularised but it's still a very enjoyable watch and only gets better from here on out
6 Reviews
Penny Dreadful: Night Work
jackDee-5656519 March 2021
The first episode of the series is a great introduction to this very adult Gothic horror series, the cast and acting was fantastic all round, the set pieces are just amazing to look at, I really enjoyed my first outing with the series, the show does not hold back it has plenty of blood gore scares and sex and nudity.
I have two issues...
tasker00721 April 2022
I have two issues with this first episode. ... The use of the word, "peripatetic", and the quartz pocket watch.
The producers go through all the trouble to put together a fascinating first show, even to go so far as to dig up the word "peripatetic", which means: traveling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods. But they use a quartz watch which wouldn't have been around at the time.
Other than that, I thought that It was a pretty good first show. This isn't my kind of show but I'm intrigued and I will watch a few more.
The producers go through all the trouble to put together a fascinating first show, even to go so far as to dig up the word "peripatetic", which means: traveling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods. But they use a quartz watch which wouldn't have been around at the time.
Other than that, I thought that It was a pretty good first show. This isn't my kind of show but I'm intrigued and I will watch a few more.
A Brilliant Start
jetkot4 September 2017
It has got me hooked on instantly. The Characters are very interesting and you start enjoying their acts immediately. Eva Green is mesmerizing, Her Eyes are beautiful. Josh Harnett plays the showman with effortless ease. Timothy Dalton's gaze is supreme. Harry Treadaway as Dr.Frankenstien makes you feel elated and wanting for more. A Fantastic feel of the 18th Century takes over and leaves you spellbound by this show
Another show feeding off classic literature villains, and characters, in hopes that it can find a way to stand out amongst the rest.
Amari-Sali26 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
The sole reason I had interest in this show was Eva Green. She has this weird draw reminiscent of Angelina Jolie before Brad Pitt, and she seems like Kaya Scodelario if she ever honed her appeal and made it possible to transcend it into her art form. But, like with Scodelario, while her appeal maybe strong, and certainly will keep you watching from beginning to end, once the spell is broken you are left with a feeling that you perhaps were more hypnotized than enjoying yourself. A feeling Penny Dreadful I think gave me.
Topic 1: A Violent Crime
What seems to be a side plot for the show is a case which seemingly is to make those of London believe Jack the Ripper is back. For, some likely otherworldly being, has ripped a mother and daughter apart in such a way it looks like a scene from an American horror movie. A cop pukes on sight, and seemingly this story is something which will haunt future episodes, but will only be introduced for now.
Topic 2: A Science Experiment
Which leads us to creeping just a bit more toward the main story by talking about a young man our lead, Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton), has an interest in. Said young man is a scientist of sorts. One fascinated with the boundary between life and death, and he gives one long convoluted speech on the topic. Which, unless you are really into existentialism, assuming that is the right word, said speech may likely bore you to the point of wanting to find something else to watch. But, regardless of that, this young man is very talented and very much needed in Sir Malcolm's pursuit.
Of which he also seeks the help of one Ferdinand Lyle (Simon Russell Beale), an Egyptologist who reminds me of Jim Broadbent's more eccentric roles, in terms of the way Lyle behaves. But, sadly, Lyle is far to enamored with Sir Malcolm's person to have him visit, get what he wants, and go. So he delays the gratification for he wants a sit down meal, among other things.
But while Sir Malcolm waits, the young man finds himself upon an immense discovery. Using a dead body, of someone who seemingly was close to him, he decides to try to revive them. So, with a flash of lighting, said body is gone to a corner and the young man goes up to this thing he reanimated and introduces himself. He says his name is Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway).
Topic 3: The Fool and a Lady
Making the only thing left to talk about being the main story. Sir Malcolm has lost his daughter, partly due to Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) in some manner. So, for an untold amount of time, Sir Malcolm, an adventurer of the African continent, has been going through the underbelly of London to try to find his daughter. Enter Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) who is an American gunslinger seemingly more so into the theatrics than being a killer. Well, at least until Vanessa offers him a job to assist her with Sir Malcolm's quest. A quest which leads them to a den of vampires who seemingly have no interest in messing with Vanessa, but would have no problem killing both Sir Malcolm and Ethan. Alas though, all they find are more and more vampires and not Sir Malcolm's daughter Mina (Olivia Llewellyn).
However, upon the night comes Mina in what seems to be vampire form. Leading us to believe the help of Lyle and the future Dr. Frankenstein are requested to save his daughter. For while being in the underbelly of London, Sir Malcolm, and co., kill a vampire and as it is dissected by Frankenstein, they discover Egyptian carvings underneath their skin, perhaps hints which can lead to something which can help. And I should perhaps note that while I am using the word "vampire," the show itself doesn't name these creatures this at this point in the show.
Considering though that we already have Frankenstein's monster and vampires in our midst though, perhaps this is but the start. For Vanessa surely is something otherworldly, for even a vampire would dare not fight her, and when she prays spiders appear. Making for a strange show which holds a vaguely interesting mystery, but perhaps too much dialog which can easily drown a person's interest. But, being that this is but the first episode, perhaps this show should be given a 2nd chance. But, as of this moment, I really don't find this appealing enough to really be followed for an overview/ review series. Though I may eventual binge watch this when there is nothing else to watch, with the sole reason likely being Eva Green.
Topic 1: A Violent Crime
What seems to be a side plot for the show is a case which seemingly is to make those of London believe Jack the Ripper is back. For, some likely otherworldly being, has ripped a mother and daughter apart in such a way it looks like a scene from an American horror movie. A cop pukes on sight, and seemingly this story is something which will haunt future episodes, but will only be introduced for now.
Topic 2: A Science Experiment
Which leads us to creeping just a bit more toward the main story by talking about a young man our lead, Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton), has an interest in. Said young man is a scientist of sorts. One fascinated with the boundary between life and death, and he gives one long convoluted speech on the topic. Which, unless you are really into existentialism, assuming that is the right word, said speech may likely bore you to the point of wanting to find something else to watch. But, regardless of that, this young man is very talented and very much needed in Sir Malcolm's pursuit.
Of which he also seeks the help of one Ferdinand Lyle (Simon Russell Beale), an Egyptologist who reminds me of Jim Broadbent's more eccentric roles, in terms of the way Lyle behaves. But, sadly, Lyle is far to enamored with Sir Malcolm's person to have him visit, get what he wants, and go. So he delays the gratification for he wants a sit down meal, among other things.
But while Sir Malcolm waits, the young man finds himself upon an immense discovery. Using a dead body, of someone who seemingly was close to him, he decides to try to revive them. So, with a flash of lighting, said body is gone to a corner and the young man goes up to this thing he reanimated and introduces himself. He says his name is Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway).
Topic 3: The Fool and a Lady
Making the only thing left to talk about being the main story. Sir Malcolm has lost his daughter, partly due to Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) in some manner. So, for an untold amount of time, Sir Malcolm, an adventurer of the African continent, has been going through the underbelly of London to try to find his daughter. Enter Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) who is an American gunslinger seemingly more so into the theatrics than being a killer. Well, at least until Vanessa offers him a job to assist her with Sir Malcolm's quest. A quest which leads them to a den of vampires who seemingly have no interest in messing with Vanessa, but would have no problem killing both Sir Malcolm and Ethan. Alas though, all they find are more and more vampires and not Sir Malcolm's daughter Mina (Olivia Llewellyn).
However, upon the night comes Mina in what seems to be vampire form. Leading us to believe the help of Lyle and the future Dr. Frankenstein are requested to save his daughter. For while being in the underbelly of London, Sir Malcolm, and co., kill a vampire and as it is dissected by Frankenstein, they discover Egyptian carvings underneath their skin, perhaps hints which can lead to something which can help. And I should perhaps note that while I am using the word "vampire," the show itself doesn't name these creatures this at this point in the show.
Considering though that we already have Frankenstein's monster and vampires in our midst though, perhaps this is but the start. For Vanessa surely is something otherworldly, for even a vampire would dare not fight her, and when she prays spiders appear. Making for a strange show which holds a vaguely interesting mystery, but perhaps too much dialog which can easily drown a person's interest. But, being that this is but the first episode, perhaps this show should be given a 2nd chance. But, as of this moment, I really don't find this appealing enough to really be followed for an overview/ review series. Though I may eventual binge watch this when there is nothing else to watch, with the sole reason likely being Eva Green.
Quartz watch inexcusable.
trevorrymell12 May 2016
"Goofs 00:8:21.00: Close-up on Ethan Chandler's cheap battery-powered pocket watch, whose brand name "Jean Jacot" was first registered in 2015 and belongs to a German company offering advertising gifts. The watch's quartz movement is obvious even to the layman on account of its jumping seconds hand. This watch could not have existed in 1891."
I noticed the quartz movement too. OK, OK it's a trivial detail but even so I'm shocked that the producers couldn't be bothered to rent or buy a timepiece of the period. This seems inexcusable when you consider the money they spent on period costumes, set design and special effects. How much would it have cost? I can't believe this was just a a mistake when the direction called for a such a tight closeup of it. I know that there are always nerds who can point out historical inaccuracies with costumes, military insignia, weaponry and what have you. Those require a certain amount of study and specialized knowledge. But c'mon, everybody knows what a quartz watch movement looks like even if they don't recognize the modern maker's name. It's insulting in an otherwise quality production to think that the director assumed the audience would be too dumb to notice.
I noticed the quartz movement too. OK, OK it's a trivial detail but even so I'm shocked that the producers couldn't be bothered to rent or buy a timepiece of the period. This seems inexcusable when you consider the money they spent on period costumes, set design and special effects. How much would it have cost? I can't believe this was just a a mistake when the direction called for a such a tight closeup of it. I know that there are always nerds who can point out historical inaccuracies with costumes, military insignia, weaponry and what have you. Those require a certain amount of study and specialized knowledge. But c'mon, everybody knows what a quartz watch movement looks like even if they don't recognize the modern maker's name. It's insulting in an otherwise quality production to think that the director assumed the audience would be too dumb to notice.
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