Customer Ratings & Reviews

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.

If you love Dracula, Van Hellsing, Frankenstein, and basically all of those fabulous classic spooks of literature you are going to love Penny Dreadful. It takes all of these things and more in a magical monster mash of sexy and grit. I mean it this is dark and very adult. The acting is incredible and the writing is superb. The look and feel of the show is lovely, and gory. Most importantly this boxset is fairly priced. Penny Dreadful does not have huge seasons, and I hate having to pay the 24eps price when there isn't that many. If you like individual sets this is a great price for a collection, or to get a taste for the series before jumping all in.

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 TV series was different. It grabs your attention within the first episode but the beginning doesn't explain much. You are quickly filled in as the show progresses. Its a great twist on old literary characters such as vampires, Frankenstein and Dorian Gray. I can't wait for Season 2.

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!

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.

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.

This series is an excellent ensemble of great actors playing a rag tag group of VIctorian era monsters and notable characters like Dracula and vampires, Frakenstein and his monsters, and a witch. The acting is great and the video quality is excellent even compared to other HD titles. At this price it's worth a buy even if you just want to check out the series.

Only with superb acting and writing could this formula work; fortunately, this series has that and more. If one were to explain this series to a friend at the proverbial water cooler (and I have!), it would make no sense at all. Yet it is a powerful and compelling series which leaves you, if you have sufficient macabre in you veins, wanting for more!

Penny Dreadful is the type of television that makes feature length films envious of the small screen. This show has a masterful script, and is presented in a relatable yet haunting tone. It draws you in, makes you think, and keeps you at the edge of your seat. It is by far one of the best film adaptions for all of its corresponding literature roots.

This is a great horror period piece drama and an excellent start to a series. The actors are totally believable in their roles and though some may question their selection, you couldn't see anyone performing those roles afterwards. While some compare this to 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen', it is so much better.

I picked this up when it was on sale for $17.99 and used a $5 certificate, making it an awesome price for this entertaining TV show set on bluray. I don't buy a lot of TV show box sets because of things like Netflix and other streaming services, but this one was worth buying. Penny Dreadful is a creative show and well worth a watch.

A cross between HBO's Carnivale and Supernatural. All the actors and actresses portray the characters very well. Surprisingly enough, Dr. Frankenstein and his creations are among the best. Well directed. I do wish the writing was a touch better but, it's much better than most shows, so I can't really complain. Definite must-see.

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.

I really enjoyed this throw back TV series to universal monster theme sent in late 1800s London. The shows kept you hooked till the end with new twists and surprises in every episode. It was nice to see Josh Hartnett back from a long hiatus. Looking forward to season 2. Blu ray video and audio quality was fantastic.

One of the better shows put out to fill in the gap on Showtime that Dexter left behind. If you like classic horror books and movies, you'll love this series. Dracula, Frankenstein, The Picture of Dorian Gray, ghosts, werewolves, witchcraft, and more. Great production values, great acting, this show has it all.

This definitely started as an impulse buy because it was on sale. Once I started watching I binged the whole thing. It was very interesting, dark, and a good play on familiar literary characters. The plot does seem a little familiar. Like it's "A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen's angry older brother".

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.

This show is about literary classics envisioned in a single location. The actors are all incredible and the subject matter is familiar. However, it is really slow which is baffling. It picks up at the end of the season and could lead to a really good second season. I dont know if i would recommend it but if you like showtime/hbo shows and need something new, give it a try.

The only reason I tuned into Penny Dreadful was because it stars Eva Green and she is spectacular. She is not the only reason to watch, though. It's a perfectly entertaining horror soap, like Dark Shadows was. The pacing is perfect and the storylines are good enough to keep you guessing each week.