Penny Dreadful: Season 1/ Episode 1 "Night Work" [Series Premiere] – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

Overview

Another show feeding off classic literature villains, and characters, in hopes that it can find a way to stand out amongst the rest.

Review (with Spoilers)

The sole reason I had an 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 2^nd 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.