Due to a lack of a summer job, I (like many, many others) found myself engaged in the great American past-time: binge watching television shows. Through my endless TV show perusing, I was fortunate enough to discover a new series gem: Penny Dreadful
Quick summary: Penny Dreadful is a new series on Showtime with a total of eight episodes. The Plot revolves around the mysterious Vanessa Ives and Malcom Murray as they attempt to search for Murray’s daughter, Mina Murray, and, along the way come face-to-face with the most terrifying creatures in the underworld. The show takes place in Victorian era England and if the words “Victorian era England” aren’t enough to get you interested, here are six reasons why Penny Dreadful is THE show to look out for:
1. The show has enough hair-raising horror, suspense, and intensity to give American Horror Story a run for its money.
Due to the horror genre, it was inevitable that I compare this to Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story. Don’t get me wrong, I love them both, but Penny Dreadful has the edge. While they both use intense, blood-curling terror as part of their plot and both have the presence of a strong female lead, that’s where the similarities stop. Penny Dreadful provides deeper chills. The way the producers integrate classic monsters while providing a new twist is impressive.
Penny Dreadful has more of an old world feel to it than AHS and what makes it standout are both the complex moral ambiguity and the way it brings classic Victorian gothic literature to life. If you love supernatural elements and ancient folklore, this is definitely up your alley.
2. Eva Green is superb.
You only need to see her act out a demonic possession to know that this woman deserves a slew of awards. Eva Green’s turn as the morally ambiguous Vanessa Ives provides all the depth and brilliance you could hope for. Vanessa’s (literal) battle with her inner demons and the forces of darkness don’t just make her a superb character, they make her a force of nature.
3. The supporting cast is rock solid!
I can’t stop fangirling about these actors – they are just so incredibly talented! From the arrogant nature of a young Victor Frankenstein to the brash, valiant nature of Ethan Chandler (played by Josh Hartnett) to basically the entire cast, I cannot cease to admire their ability to flesh out these incredibly intricate characters. They are all so beautifully complex and they all have dark, terrifying pasts that come to haunt them throughout the series.
4. For all you Whovians out there, Billie Piper ( Rose Tyler) is back!!!!!!
She plays Irish immigrant Brona Croft, the love interest to Josh Hartnett’s Ethan Chandle and she is every bit as badass as you would expect her to be. No further explanation required.
5. The literary references. All those beautiful literary references…
From Frankenstein’s monster to Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Grey, to vampires (who, thankfully, neither look like Calvin Klein models nor sparkle), to the references to Milton’s “Paradise Lost” and all those other sweet poetic tidbits lying around in the show, Penny Dreadful is English major heaven. And speaking of Dorian Gray….
6. Say hello to your new man crush, Reeve Carney *swoon*
Fun fact: he played the jerky boyfriend in Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” music video. He even has a kind of dark, enigmatic aura to him, and you just have to love his chemistry with Vanessa Ives.
So, start watching! Watch it while working out on the treadmill, after that brutal gen chem test, or as a reward for making it through the first month at Notre Dame (you deserve it)!
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