Penny Dreadful

A series that made me overjoyed considering the poor quality of a lot of horror films. No disappointment here. The whole thing is permeated by the grim atmosphere of Victorian London full of fog, rain, and gas lamps among which all the fearful creatures roam. The series has a decent script and cast at its disposal. Eva Green in particular gives a really great performance. At last, an enjoyable horror series without a lot of pointless filler. I can't rate it other than five stars. Edit: I have to say I was slightly underwhelmed by Season 3. The ending wasn’t very convincing, but it wasn’t enough for me to change my final rating. (04/08/2016)

The first season wasn’t disappointing in the least. It gradually introduced familiar characters that used to scare fearful readers. The creators managed to write a meaningful story with an excellent, dark atmosphere. They built up the suspense and offered a great cast, Eva Green being the proverbial jewel in the crown. I liked how they managed to end the first season in style, while casually luring the viewer to watch the next season. (26/05/2018)

It didn’t take long for me to realize that this series isn’t exactly a horror show — or at least not in the traditional sense. But that’s not a bad thing. In the first episode, the creators managed to build a great atmosphere and solid tension. The plot had a very good pace, the cast is stellar, and overall, I was very pleased with this opener. (24/05/2018)

The second episode noticeably lost some of its pace. However, the events at Lyle’s party convinced me that it deserved five stars after all. I love how more legendary characters are gradually emerging, the ones that used to keep people awake at night. (24/05/2018)

This time, the pacing felt off. Other than that, I don't have any major complaints — the atmosphere was still appropriately heavy, and I enjoyed the Monster's story. I'm looking forward to the next episodes. (24/05/2018)

I hesitated for a long time whether to give three or four stars because the plot of the fourth episode was strangely dull. In the end, I decided for a weaker four, but only because I enjoyed the previous three episodes and I hope that the following ones will entertain me as well. 4* (25/05/2018)

The creators took us back into the characters' pasts, and it was actually quite good. I finally learned what connects (and divides) Malcolm and Vanessa and got a vivid look at the cutting-edge methods in the field of medical science. (25/05/2018)

The episode picked up the pace after the last one. Along with the dark atmosphere, it delivered solid action at the docks and Vanessa’s confrontation with darkness, promising intriguing developments in future episodes. Van Helsing’s sudden departure added a touch of humor. (25/05/2018)

The entire episode hinges on Eva Green's stellar performance. Normally, I would hesitate to give five stars when the plot barely advances, but this time, the perfect portrayal of possession compelled me to go all in. (26/05/2018)

After taking a break from the main storyline in the previous exorcism episode, the creators returned to it and wrapped up what they started. Victor Frankenstein’s development under the pressure of the Monster is fascinating, Ethan Chandler revealed his true nature, and there was some solid action. 5* (26/05/2018)

I had quite an issue with Season 2. The pace that I was used to in the first season gradually diminished. It was annoying how the story was slowed down by various side-plots in which hardly anything happened. Some scenes felt like mere filler to stretch out the story. The second half saw a complete turnaround, the story picked up the right pace, the atmosphere full of tension was back and I finally started enjoying myself. Plus, I was very pleased with the well-crafted ending, which made me look forward to season three. (28/05/2018)

Seamless continuation from where the first season left off. I was pleased to find that the creators managed to maintain the fantastic atmosphere and tension I loved from the previous seasons. The new storyline is intriguing, and overall, I had a great time. (26/05/2018)

The story slowed down significantly. I don't mind conversations when they're essential to the plot, but I could've done without the debates about poets. Poetry was ruined for me back in school, and endless analyses of what the poet meant with each verse bored me to death. (27/05/2018)

The flashback, "witch-themed" episode was incredibly well done. Unlike the previous slower-paced episode, this one had great momentum and a fantastically gloomy atmosphere. Instead of pointless philosophizing about poets, I learned a lot of important information about Vanessa's past. (27/05/2018)

This one didn’t do much for me. The story's pace was unnecessarily slow again, with important matters pushed to the side, and I found myself getting bored. The relationship between Dorian Gray and Angelique was particularly irritating to me. I get that the show is trying to appeal to everyone, but I'm not really into watching two guys nibble on each other's faces. (27/05/2018)

This episode was a bit more lively, but I feel like the story is getting diluted with too many relationship dramas compared to the first season. This shift affects the tension and atmosphere, and I could definitely do without the philosophical musings and the steamy ending (especially with those two tragic posers). However, the intricate torture of Mrs. Murray was a highlight. (27/05/2018)

I was going to give this episode three stars, but Gray's ball saved the day. It would've been even better if Eva Green had more screen time to turn it into a total psycho-horror. Besides the ball, Malcolm Murray's reaction to his wife's death was hilariously cynical. I love that kind of dark humor. (27/05/2018)

The story shifted back to the moors, and it's another five-star episode. The countryside air did wonders for the second season, picking up the pace nicely. The two most interesting characters got more screen time, and I have to admit, even Lily, who annoyed me in previous episodes, entertained me by the end. (28/05/2018)

There was a lot happening, so I had no complaints. The atmosphere was strong, the story had a good pace, and none of the storylines were boring. Malcolm Murray's transformation from a puppet to a one-man army was entertaining, the room of nightmares was intriguing, and the confrontation between the Creature and Lily was intense. What pleased me the most was the development around Angelique. (28/05/2018)

While this season had its slow moments, he second half is top-notch. This episode was packed with intriguing events. The opening scene set the mood perfectly, and the witch's mansion adventure was drenched in a horror vibe that contrasted nicely with the Creature's disillusionment with humanity. (28/05/2018)