Penny Dreadful: The Complete First Season [3 Discs] [Blu-ray]

My initial reaction to a television show called Penny Dreadful was very skeptical. How could it retain that sense of darkness and be entertaining? What characters would the show use? What stories could be stretched out from short form comics/stories into full-length episodes lasting nearly an hour? My reservations were alleviated when a trusted friend told me the show was great and that it made use of its time and setting very carefully without resorting to any modernism and 21st century reference-style humor. The characters are introduced gradually and with care, and their motivations are as twisted as they are clear, undeniable, and often-scarily relate-able. They're not situations we would literally find ourselves in, but hypothetical musings of what it means to be alive, loved, wanted, hated, and forgiven. Mysteries within characters and the plot develop with not quite a slow burn but on a warm simmer, and a joke or unexpected flash of humor keeps the tone from becoming too damp, which is always a pratfall for any show pushing this dark. However, such a show with a smaller episode-count (eight in total) is understandable but a bit disappointing, as are the extras(read: production diaries) which seem directly lifted from the website and without commentaries or much of anything else, particularly with the writers or actors/actresses of the show.

I usually prefer HBO shows like Game of Thrones, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, The Leftovers, etc. They are 1st class. Finally Showtime has given them some competition! Penny Dreadful was much, much more than I could have hoped for. I do not have Showtime, but only saw the 1st episode during a free preview. I bought the entire episode in blu-ray sight unseen. NO gamble here. I watched Eva Green on Star's "Camelot" series. She was fantastic!! Unfortunately "Camelot" was released at the same time as season 1 of "Game of Thrones"...No wonder there wasn't a 2nd season; look at the competition. "Penny Dreadful" has all your old monster favorites with a very different "spin" with lots of surprises. The acting, sets, costumes were all wonderful to watch and absorb. I found many moments to be intoxicating. No Spoilers. This is not your usual tales of horror and gore. In Fact, I wouldn't even use those words to describe the truth of this series. If you like great storytelling, history and great visuals, do mesmerize yourself from today's world and enjoy their's.

Fun, flawed, mysterious series great for fans of late 19th century England through the lens of supernatural, mystical, gothic horror. Incorporations of characters of 19th gothic literature like Dr. Frankenstein and Dorian Grey, put a strain on the audience's suspension of disbelief and is kind of confusing (like when Mary Shelley's brother, the poet Percy Shelley, is quoted by Frankenstein's monster). The coolest parts of the show are the characters and supernatural elements that're NOT from literature. Lots of cool elements like imperialist exploration of Africa and ancient Egyptian magic.

THIS IS THE FIRST SEASON OF THE SHOWTIME BRITISH SERIES "PENNY DREADFUL". A VICTORIAN DRAMA, IT INCORPORATES VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN AND HIS CREATION, DORIAN GRAY, AN AMERICAN WESTERN GUNSLINGER, A VICTORIAN WOMAN NAMED VANESSA AND A BRITISH EXPLORER ALONG WITH VAMPIRES AND WEREWOLVES - ALL VERY ENTERTAINING. THE SETS AND COSTUMES ARE SUPERB. EVA GREEN IS FANTASTIC AS VANESSA, THE MAIN PROTAGONIST AND SHE WAS JUST NOMINATED FOR A GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD FOR HER PERFORMANCE IN "PENNY DREADFUL".

Bought this just because I was in the mood for a series I could binge on in a weekend. No real idea about the concept of the show other than that it takes place in "Victorian" England, and had classic horror literary character's in the plot line. Turns out it's a great blend of Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Occult, all played seriously instead of " Tongue In Cheek ".....this could have been cheesy, but instead was well written , well acted and has me looking forward to season 2.

This is a good show that roles all the good monsters into one show. It has Frankenstein, werewolves, vampires and Dorian Grey. The first season, as most shows, develops all the characters yet still develops the first season story line. The characters are well played and each character plays there part to make a good show. Just enough scare and blood to keep you interested but not to much to make over the top.

This was recommended to me by my cousin and I was skeptical at first, with it being a period piece and all, but I was totally surprised by how good this show was! This show breathes new life into old iconic horror stories with a retelling of familiar characters in new ways. If you are into the horror genre, the supernatural or just plain weird stuff, this is the show for you! You'll love it!

This new series, headed by Timothy Dalton and Eva Green, but also with a number of other good actors, stimulates the imagination while bringing in characters such as Victor Frankenstein, Dracula, Dorian Gray. It examines the dark side of the human soul. It's fascinating how the characters are not there gratuitously but have a direct impact on the plot. I'm looking forward to next season.