Penny
Dreadful Season 2 is Again a Macabre Good Time
by
Kristin Battestella
Penny
Dreadful's sophomore year opens
with a recap of the the Showtime series' debut before picking up the
Gothic sophistication right where we left off – this time with ten
episodes of scorpions, witches, monsters, and devils.
Vanessa
Ives (Eva Green) is attacked by a group of Nightcomer witches led by
Madame Kali (Helen McCrory), but ex-gunslinger Ethan Chandler (Josh
Hartnett) protects Vanessa along with Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy
Dalton) – whom Madame Kali pursues romantically. Egyptologist
Ferdinand Lyle (Simon Russell Beale) helps translate a mysterious
demonic tale written on a monk's relics alongside Dr. Victor
Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway), but Frankenstein is distracted by his
work on the late Brona Croft (Billie Piper) – now resurrected as
Lily Frankenstein at the request of the Creature Caliban (Rory
Kinnear), himself going by the name John Clare for his new job at a
waxworks museum. Unfortunately, Lily eventually sets her sights on
the decadent Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney) instead.
White
snow, demonic language, and dangerous carriage attacks waste no time
starting “Fresh Hell” alongside excellent tender moments and
graves dug from last season. Where Year One was about meeting the
team and facing a largely unseen evil, now Penny Dreadful puts
a more human face on our company's threats with evil women and
meddling inspectors. It's a delightful step to share the
gruesome aftermath while we get to know this enemy – a little demon
family to mirror our flawed fighters. Monstrosity is just everywhere
in Londontown!These naked witch ladies should be alluring but they
are not, and new biblical threads arise in “Verbis Diablo.” Even
prayers are no longer sacred amid pity projects, cholera ills, and
enchanting deceptions. New character interactions infuse Penny
Dreadful, anchoring the stories
of possessed holy men, titular puzzles, disturbing infant abductions,
and unique voodoo uses. That's one diabolic arts and crafts room!
There's superb war room plotting in both our houses – and a mole
between them – so it is perhaps unusual to have an all Vanessa
flashback episode so soon in “The Nightcomers.” However, the
Victorian meets Baba Yaga magic, symbols, and protection motifs are
excellent thanks to critical past information that will be important
later and sublime guest star Patti LuPone (Life Goes On). This
well paced character drama fills in history from the First Season and
serves it with quaint do no harm and brutal persecution.
The
demonic riddles and unique character confrontations continue in “Evil
Spirits in Heavenly Places.” Deception always wears such a pretty
face yet Penny Dreadful makes
time for our darkly clad band to enjoy some lighthearted
social moments before a creepy chameleon siege upon Sir Malcolm's
house that has the viewer studying each frame for clues. While
padding time and unnecessarily stretched out scenes are apparent in
this longer season, the final moments here are an appropriately
simmering, silent unease. “Above the Vaulted Sky” has some fine
true horror as extensions of our family pay a terrible price, and
recalled Apache atrocities parallel the montages of faith and battle
preparations. Are steel doors, guns, prayers, and totems enough to
face the devil? It's pleasing to have time dedicated to the turmoil
and lying in wait for harm to come as evil and the authorities close
in on our company. Penny Dreadful has
touching poetic moments before major ghosts encounters and
hefty scares. However, the sex scene finale here is very poorly
edited with intercut frightening erroneously mixed with what should
be tender bedroom moments. The morning after in “Glorious Horrors”
is non too peachy either as influences are asserted and bloody
fatalities become as simple as replacing the carpet. Can one be
oblivious to threats when everything is connected and nothing is
happenstance? Funeral talk and awkward balls shape a deliciously off
kilter splendor, and Penny Dreadful puts
all its players together in a twisted little bloodbath with
intriguing character asides, jealous pairs old and new, superb
revelations, and gruesome showdowns.
“Little
Scorpion” is a shorter Penny Dreadful episode
at only 49 minutes, but this Ethan and Vanessa-centric block
has lovely one on one character moments questioning solitude and the
growing distrust among our eponymous team. The tormented have some
small, delightful comforts away from the inescapable monsters and
demons at their backs, making for some dangerous tension and steaming
dancing in the dark storms. Superior hours where not all the cast
appears suggests Penny Dreadful creator
John Logan may be juggling too many storylines or characters, but
“Memento Mori” trades deadly toppers for swift interrogation
filming. Askew up close shots, intercut tension, and lies contrast
softer fireside conversations and waxing regrets. Can you look at
yourself in the mirror when you do what has to be done in the fight
against evil? The ongoing demon incarnate puzzle solving ties
together pieces from Season One as mirrors and dual camera tricks
heighten the character heavies. Although the evil plans seem too
wishy wasy at times with back and forth possessions and reversed
enchantments, this episode allows its three plotlines to play out as
uninterrupted acts, bucking the A, B, C standard television story
structure to elevate its scary revelations.
Monster
does catch monster, and even the authorities consider otherworldly
and superstitious possibilities in “And Hell Itself My Only
Foe.” Upticked violence and hauntings find our team, and the witty
dialogue and intelligent scripting add to the surprises. The subtle
Talbot name drop is worth all the wolf mishandling in the First
Season, and more self-awareness comes in the ugly waxworks
entertainment. Evil is beautiful and seductive with temptations from
Lucifer to display one's inner beast. That internal made manifest
leads to some stunning confrontations, indeed. $%#%(*&! The
excellent multi-layered horrors and battle of wills continue in the
“And They Were Enemies” finale as Penny Dreadful's not so
merry band is tested in enemy territory. Devils on the shoulder
present a most convincing case – be it death, our darkest desires,
or the brightest dream too good to be true. Once you cross the line
toward darkness, what must you do to come back to the light? Can you
save yourself at all? Granted, moments with the effigy puppetry and
lookalike demonic language arguing become hokey quickly, a jarringly
laughable moment amid the utmost heavy. After a hefty but quality
slow build and some unnecessary treading tires and stalling plots,
the final evil confrontation also feels too rushed by comparison.
There are some wild surprises and a character denouement with time
for reflection is a welcome change from an action finale. However,
maybe the pacing should have been tightened to have an all battle
second to last hour and then an entire sigh of relief end instead of
a finale that feels too half and half. Fortunately, Penny Dreadful
concludes with plenty of creepy
nonetheless. Are our players moving forward stronger after these
paranormal events? Their ships may be sailing their separate ways,
but Year Three of Penny Dreadful looks
to promise plenty! %%$%#$@#*@!
Evil
just won't let go of Vanessa Ives so easily, will it? Her strength to
fight against demons inside and out glues the team together as much
as it puts them in peril, and Vanessa needs them as much as they need
her. She talks about what must be done and what she is capable of
doing, and even when some of that is just delayed exposition issues,
we believe her wrath because we've see her pain. For all the good she
does and her ongoing struggles to keep this delicate balance, her
ties to Amunet leave nothing but badness in her wake. How do you
cling to faith when there is so much wicked? Vanessa endeavors to
embrace her power within – but does that mean you abandon your
belief in a higher power? Having religion doesn't necessarily make
you good, and Vanessa admits she and God are on challenging terms.
Can we just be who we are or is that too much responsibility for one
soul? Vanessa's therapy is in her support of the boys about her –
she is a confessor for each of them in different ways. Will solace be
found in like tormented persons? She can soothe others but not
herself, and Vanessa has some deliciously intellectual conversations
with John Clare, adding a new damned soul to her repertoire – which
looks quite cloudy for next season.
Likewise,
Ethan Chandler is beginning to suspect his wolfy connections as more
dastardly carnage comes to light. He's perpetually trying to leave
town thanks to his fear of admitting what he is capable of doing,
which is beautifully foreshadowed in “Verbis Diablo” before the
tenth hour finale. Ethan's charming banter with Lyle deflects his
inner lupus with Latin research, and Hartnett very nearly steals the
show in his witty battles with Douglas Hodge (Red
Cap) as the persistently
not stupid Inspector Rusk. Like Vanessa, Ethan pegs people for who
they really are, and his coy comes in handy as his pursuers mount.
Even
if he can face his affliction and its monthly consequences,
he tries to protect Vanessa from his wild in a wonderfully
unconventional romance – if it can even be called that. We don't
see the wolf outs for flash in the pan cool, but rather as choice
visuals to emphasize the tormented monstrosity now fully realized on
Penny Dreadful as
it should have been all along.
Danny Sapani as manservant Sembene also has more to do now that he
helps Ethan bind his lycanthrope tendencies, adding to the fine
moments he has with Sir Malcolm. This stalwart and strong but humble
workhorse character provides a shaman wisdom while doing the dishes,
baking, and waxing on how Ethan should see his moonlit changes as a
blessing not a curse. Sembene shares his own past sins and guards his
household kin with unwavering duty and respect, but by golly,
audiences will be understandably angry at the treatment of the
character. He still deserves more, #$%D#&*%!
New
bewitching temptations and continued family losses grip Sir Malcolm
once again on Penny Dreadful, but
the in control, noble gentleman on the outside can't use his suave to
hide his pain. Sir Malcolm must face the questions and
consequences regarding his daughter Mina's death from Last Season,
and he's ready to trade his life and accept his punishment to spare
his newfound family further torment. His internal demons provide
ghostly experiences both positive and wicked. Dalton is charming in
his unknowingly deceptive courting with Mrs. Poole, but the shaving
of his beard is a surprising character development. It's just so odd
seeing the ex-007 sans scruff again, but the change is a perfect
reflection of the evil influences at work. Despite some strong advice
from Sir Malcolm and an interesting science versus faith intellectual
pairing with Lyle, young Victor Frankenstein is also blinded by his
wrong doings, chiding John Clare's pressure on Lily while Victor
himself is slowly but surely shaping his perfect woman.
Frankenstein's muddled monster making motives become increasingly
creepy science for fetish alongside his now not secret drug
addictions. He's a little nasty, too, but bonds with Vanessa,
trusting her to help him with his awkward shopping experience. Slowly
Victor becomes aware of his mistakes, even admitting his addiction is
affecting his freaky science, but by time he wants to escape his
creations, it's too late. Ironically, Dr. F. doesn't believe in
witchcraft, but evil knows
what he has spawned and uses his deeds against him in smashing
fashion.
Those
wonderfully macabre waxworks and layered Victorian deceptions elevate
the Caliban aka John Clare plots this season, and his scenes with
Vanessa are refreshingly honest and mature. Clare speaks his mind
without malice instead of his usual mine mine mine childish wants.
Why are these Frankenstein men so pressed and gushing over every
woman they meet? Clare's friendship with Vanessa is his first genuine
and healthy relationship. Kinnear has room to shine in the poetic
recitings and quiet moments with Green, but the well read doesn't do
Clare any good if he won't learn from his to err is human. Once
again, he misuses his chance to do right, can't catch a break, and
ultimately must flee. When Clare finally looks past Lily's beauty and
his desperate need for companionship, he sees a worse ruthlessness
and rightfully realizes that Pandora's Box contains a mirror. Was
Lily's creation worth it? Though the short blonde hair doesn't fit
the period and it is unusual that Vanessa doesn't recognizer her,
Billie Piper is much better this year as Lily Frankenstein compared
to the dead end and bad accent that was Brona Croft. It's perfectly
acceptable on Penny Dreadful when
the resurrection of a character can fix all that was dislikable, and
Lily smartly questions why women wear corsets and are meant to be
controlled and appealing to a man. She seems innocent, but soon
proves the dastardly of her rebirth and wrongfully remodeled by
Victor is not for anything angelic. Lily learns how to lie, finds her
deadly instincts, and grows tempted by Dorian thanks to
elegant white frocks, gruesome blood stains, and a man-made monster
superiority complex. We should like Lily – we don't blame her for
remembering the abuses of her previous oldest prostitution profession
and using her strength for revenge. However, her twisted and wrong
doing companionship with Dorian is anything but empowering to anyone
but herself.
Unfortunately,
I did not miss the absent Dorian Gray in “Fresh Hell,” and his
brothel shenanigans feel more like interfering annoyances during the
first half of Penny Dreadful this
season. I'm all for more penis on television, but compared to the
more serious, self aware, and better developed star roles, the
character seems like an excuse for depravity mixed with would be
modern social commentary. Dorian doesn't even interact with any other
main character until “Glorious Horrors” – or anyone else but
Jonny Beauchamp (Stonewall) as Angelique for that matter.
These scenes become shoehorned in titillation or sensationalism, a
cruel and cliché storyline serving no purpose in the overall season
arc. Angelique's gender struggles in Victorian society and finally
finding a tender relationship should be touching, but by slicing
their aforementioned consummation scene with evil seduction and
paranormal death scenes, are you saying gay sex is as bad as casting
demonic spells on a man and using voodoo to kill his wife?!?!
#$%$^$@*&! We know this tryst is fun and games for Dorian, but
this is no fling to Angelique, and those consequences also unfairly
stereotype Angelique as a nosy, jealous beotch when Dorian moves on
to his next fancy. The about dang time reveal of his eponymous
portrait and his blasé attitude toward it proves how ugly his true
self really is, but we already knew that from his toying with
Angelique. This entire unnecessary and unjust plot further proves
Dorian Gray is a tug and pull supporting player who should only be
recurring as needed – and Angelique should have been the gosh darn
regular joining our dreadful company instead!
Thankfully,
Simon Russell Beale is deliciously good fun as our team's flamboyant
Egyptologist Ferdinand Lyle. Despite the sophistication and heavy
work at hand, Beale provides a covert humor and positive gravitas
with his flirtations:
“American!
I am undone!”
“Well,
I do have a gun belt.”
“Stop!...Will
you bring your gun belt?”
“Both
guns.”
Underneath
this fluttery chemistry, Lyle is unsure where his allegiance lies,
and by admitting his conflicting circumstances and burdens to bear,
he fits right in with the Penny Dreadful gang. The homoerotic
undertones match the main story instead of being uncomfortably apart
from it, adding flair to a character largely saddled with fantastic
exposition. In addition to the already established Catholic
iconography, Lyle adds more conversations on faith, reflection, and
recompense thanks to all he has witnessed from Helen McCrory as that
sometime Madame Kali and always evil Mrs. Evelyn Poole. Her enemy
house not only has a medieval ossuary bent, but Sarah Greene
(Vikings) as the ruthless but cool Hecate is ready to step out
of her mother's much older than she looks shadow. Madame Kali is in a
powerful tit for tat with her demonic master, and she intends to gain
new praise by delivering Vanessa to him – with Sir Malcolm as a
dark bonus for herself. Her ambitions, Hecate's rival desires, and
their evil foil, however, do get stretched thin at times. These are
formidable ladies cutting out hearts and invoking killer puppetry
with more provocative tricks – The Pooles shouldn't have to hurry
up and wait to harm our dreadfuls. Nonetheless, such evil planning
talks make for some juicy scene chewing for McCrory and other
returning guest stars. Just because you're dead doesn't mean you
can't reappear as Madame Kali sees fit!
Iffy
CGI cityscapes, animated scorpions, and more sweeping scene
transitions don't always look right on Penny Dreadful, but
the up close London streets alive with horses, waxworks, and
period mechanization look the ghastly Victorian needed. The below the
British Museum dusty, piles, statues, and maze-like clutter for good
or ill is simply begging for some Mummy plots! More Universal Horror
nods including the one armed inspector and swan style gowns layer the
lush alongside a haunting score. The witch designs look of the past,
with evil sprites coming out of the walls or mirrors and matching a
colorful scheme of orange for evil firesides and gruesome greens for
the dead. Candlelit patinas contrast the all gray and white ghostly
while coffins, shrouds, gargoyles, and dungeon traps keep the macabre
personal rather than today's hollow torture porn gore – often with
55 minutes plus for full morbid effect. Sharp language uses mix old
staples, making for a twisted new tongue where eerie terms like lupus
and Lucifer stand out and force the audience to pay attention upon
first viewing Penny Dreadful. The
fashions are again scrumptious, and it's lame of Hot Topic to go with
scorpion tee shirts when this kind of long skirt and button up lace
is on the runaway and ripe for a comeback. Penny Dreadful
has an excellent
attention to detail, and I'm surprised this uber sophisticated design
isn't receiving more technical awards.
Watching
Penny Dreadful can also be
tough thanks to cumbersome Showtime Anytime and Xfinity
interfaces, loading and log in troubles, and expiring episode rushes
but there are Amazon streaming and DVD options in addition to
Showtime reruns. Ironically, the show's premium channel home allows
it to be top tier scandalous yet also makes Penny Dreadful
difficult for viewers to
find. Nonetheless, the series remains must see for Gothic horror
fans. The sensationally spooky material and often outlandishly wicked
are treated intelligently, and we've been waiting for Penny
Dreadful's kind of sophisticated, top drawer horror for too long.
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