“To save her, I will murder the world.”
We finally have a date for Season 2 of Penny Dreadful on Showtime. The gang is back Sunday, April 26th. If you haven’t caught up with Season 1 yet, I’m going to give you a few reasons (spoiler free!!!) why it needs to be your next binge-watch before it comes back.
It’s a Visual Feast
And, no I’m not (just) talking about when Josh Harnett pushes his over-long hair back under his bowler. This show is gorgeous.
Gahtdamb, sir
But mention gas lamps and taxidermy showrooms, Victorian boudoirs and cobblestone sewers, and you’ll have Nikki twitching that we’re pushing some sort of steam-punk fantasy. (She cannot abide the steampunk).
But Penny Dreadful is at its heart a drama of Victorian Gothic proportions, and it’s steeped in the gas light of that gorgeous era. Add to the macabre settings, the eroticism of Victorian restraint and you have a truly lush show.
mmmm, a cuppa
It’s a Literary Orgy
Take a Dorian Gray, Dr. Frankenstein, a Victorian Buffy, a hot Dr. Moreau, add in a few leftovers from Bram Stoker’s Dracula and random paranormal creatures, put them all in a drawing room and tell them to fight and kiss and kill things. That’s Penny Dreadful. If you aren’t well versed in Vicotorian Gothic literature before now, you will be afterward. Each new reveal has me twitching to pull out a Norton Anthology and get creeped out all over again.
I don’t remember the Dorian Gray on the front of my Barnes and Noble Classic being this hot.
It has an Amazing Cast
Look up any Penny Dreadful clips online and you are going to see one of two things: Eva Green completely KILLing it as the possessed Vanessa Ives or Rory Kinnear postulating on the nature of humanity as Caliban. Their performances are stunning.
Then of course, there’s Josh Hartnett, whom I have to be honest, has flown totally under my radar for years. Then … this role. Ethan Chandler. Josh embodies this American ex-patriot gun slinger with such ease and sex appeal, he’ll be the next guy you pin up on your wall. Especially after a certain scene with Reeve Carney, and his sweet sincerity with his prostisweetheart, Brona, played by Billie Piper. And of course, there’s Timothy Dalton, of The Rocketeer fame. Loved him long time.
It’s Ramping Up
The trailer for season 2 just came out, and all I can say is UNHOLY SHITE. Witches. The Bride. Literal Blood Baths. Narcissa Malfoy blithely singing The Unquiet Grave throughout. I’m already having nightmares.
So, if you haven’t already, put Penny Dreadful on your binge list and get ready for April 26th.
Are you a Dreadful? Tell us in the comments whose storyline you’re most excited to see in season 2 — beware spoilers!
