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Penny Dreadful (2014 - 16)

124

Comments

  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    I didnt find the series too bad but i do feel it could have been more than it was,and it is very forgetable.
    It will need to improve for the 2nd series if it is to keep my attention.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited July 2014 Posts: 11,189
    barryt007 wrote: »
    I didnt find the series too bad but i do feel it could have been more than it was,and it is very forgetable.
    It will need to improve for the 2nd series if it is to keep my attention.

    I've only seen the first two episodes and to be honest it's alright but its not really grabbed me. I'm not compelled to see the rest.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    I wont say anything about and ruin it for anyone,but imo it starts off ok,dips in the middle episodes and ends on a high,so it depends how patient you are with it.

    But it doesnt come up to the standards of Ripper Street,Hannibal or 24 though.
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    The acting his great, no the writing isn't amazing but visually it looks great and Dalton and Green make worth the time.

    I'm hoping season 2 is an improvement it certainly looks like it has the potential to be.
  • Pierce2DanielPierce2Daniel
    Posts: 4,409
    I'm surprised that Logan turned in something quite so risible. I mean this guy has worked with cinematic greats like Martin Scorsese and the likes of Ridley Scott and Sam Mendes.

    The scripts are far from subtle and often I felt like the themes and ideas of the show were being sledge-hammered home. The final moment where Sir Malcolm has to pick between his daughter and Vanessa was painstakingly force-fed to the audience and when you have actors the caliber of Dalton and Green they can do that sort of stuff with a single look. Logan's writing really sunk the show for me.

    I think Harry Treadaway was good though and Kinnear seemed to be the only one who could really sell Logan's OTT writing. Kinnear has a certain skill for delivering Shakespearian dialogue with such ease that it sounds so organic and far from mechanical. Look at this clip of his Hamlet:

  • SharkBaitSharkBait
    edited July 2014 Posts: 2,107
    Not sure about this show. The first episode was good, the second one was a bit---meh, until Kinnear's creature appeared during the last minute. Watched less than a half hour of the third episode and the story of that particular episode seemed interesting. I was just too tired to watch it through in one sitting.

    Love all the Bond cast in the show ; Dalton, Green, Kinnear, McCrory and the obvious nods in the first episode.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited July 2014 Posts: 12,480
    It was not great, mainly due to the writing. I'll watch some of season 2 simply for the actors. Hope they have a different writer, or more writers.

    @Pierce2Daniel, would you mind putting your 2nd paragraph in a spoiler tag please? Thanks. :)
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    I may check this out in the future for Eva and Tim, and the idea of using numerous literary characters in one adventure sounds compelling. I'm sorry to hear that so many of you have been disappointed by it.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    Watching Eva and Timothy is worthwhile, Brady.
    It just could have been so very much better. Maybe season 2 will be.

    Now I'm rather relieved we have other writers taking part on finalizing the Bond 24 script.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    4EverBonded wrote: »
    Watching Eva and Timothy is worthwhile, Brady.
    It just could have been so very much better. Maybe season 2 will be.

    Now I'm rather relieved we have other writers taking part on finalizing the Bond 24 script.

    What was lacking about its writing?
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited July 2014 Posts: 12,480
    @0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 , It was overly melodramatic/cliched at times, very uneven in quality, and threw in shocks for shock's shake (which then became predictable), did not continue storylines in a developing way that was interesting for me, telegraphed some big reveals (at least one), and basically I felt that each episode could be something unrelated or not coherent with what story I was trying to follow. Granted, there were several characters to follow - I just did not like the experience. I felt pulled in different directions unwillingly and found it not to be smoothly, or intriguingly written.

    To be blunt, it felt like he was throwing anything up on the screen to see what would stick. Messy and not good storytelling. Many people are happy with this show, mind you; that is just my opinion.

  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    It's no Hannibal but it's far from the worst thing on T.V

    I'll give the second season a go, yes uneven is fair and the shock value seems to be par the course with these cable show, be it gore sex or profanity but Dalton and Eva made it worth my time and Kinnear does a good job of the monster.

    The reveal of the Hartnett character obviously to be developed in the next season does have me intrigued.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    In spite of the annoying writing, I really liked watching Eva, Timothy, and Josh - those three in particular.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    Yes,i will definately watch the 2nd series for sure...it was still entertaining and atmospheric.
    But it needed the excellent cast to haul it through.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    John Logan teases season two at Comic-Con, including the new villain. Potential spoilers ahead:

    http://www.deadline.com/2014/07/penny-dreadful-showtime-john-logan-comic-con-season-2-gothic-horror-villain/
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    I read it; thanks. With all the time and effort and years of thinking this through, it seems to me that Logan made rather a messy hash of the show. I'll watch season 2 for the actors. Hope it is an improvement.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    Also, they stated at Comic-Con that Season One will be released on blu-ray on October 7th:

    http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=14574
  • GerardGerard
    Posts: 5,994
    The second season will start in April. Here's the trailer :

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    I'm looking forward to it, I really enjoyed the first series. :)
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    I will watch it, but only because I like the lead actors so very much. I do hope it is a lot better written this time around. Thanks for the trailer, @Gerard. :)
  • OHMSS69OHMSS69
    Posts: 2,341
    I will have to renew my Showtime subscription. It will be running about the same time the Third Season of Orphan Black starts.

    Kinnear as the Monster... did anyone happen to catch him in that BBC anthology series, "Black Mirror"? ;)
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    I must say that after three episodes now, I have fallen in love with this series.

    Okay, I have fallen in love with it after the first five minutes of the first episode. ;-) And being the Dalton fan that I am, I'm so pleased to see my favourite Bond still looking exceptionally well.

    Penny-Dreadful-cast20145161347705.jpg
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    in a hurry, but found this and wanted to get it posted for everyone:

    http://www.cultbox.co.uk/news/clips/penny-dreadful-season-2-preview-behind-the-scenes-video
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    Just caught up with the first 2 episodes of season 2.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    I have not seen any yet but I'd love to hear from those of you watching it, just general opinion of story, writing, etc. and DO use SPOILER TAGS please!
    I'll try to see if I can watch it ... it's convoluted and complicated for me to do so, but I'll try soon. Maybe this weekend. :)
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,718
    I just watched the first season of this show, in one sitting. After barely 3 minutes of the very first episode, I could not move, I could not pause to go to the bathroom or to the kitchen to get a drink. I watched all 8 episodes without hardly moving a muscle due to being in absolute shock of this series - Dalton is magnificient, Green is fantastic... the whole show is just pure epicness.
  • timmertimmer
    edited January 2016 Posts: 4,622
    JennyFlex wrote: »
    zebrafish wrote:
    I completely agree, the Green/Hartnett scene is a replay of Casino Royale, especially since Eva Green plays it exactly as in CR and does not take her eyes off Hartnett throughout her sharp analysis.

    And regarding the "Lovers" card: I have the impression that elements out of LALD are currently being elevated to cult-status by Mendes and his team. First the Komodo dragon/alligator parallel in SF, now the Tarot set with the Lovers card. Not that I would mind, I always enjoyed LALD on every re-watching.

    Glad I'm not the only one who saw it.
    I noticed it right away too.Scene was clearly designed with Green's CR train scene in mind.

    Burned through the whole first season.
    I liked it. Green and Dalts were excellent.
    Kinnears Frankenstein monster stuff bored me, although the actual Dr. Frankenstein character was interesting.
    Green's possession stuff was really well done. She really got put through the ringer.
    I didn't think the vampires were very well realized.
    Since when can vamps be killed by shooting them
    Maybe we'll get a proper Dracula for next season.
    Dalts and Green carried this thing I thought.
    The Dorian Gray sidebar I found rather dull too.
    Hartnett's character will clearly have a whole new vibe next season.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    edited June 2016 Posts: 40,976
    I never got around to checking this out, but apparently, last night's season three finale was actually the series finale. Major spoilers follow (thankfully, as I tried to link this, I had a big plot point spoiled for me):

    http://deadline.com/2016/06/penny-dreadful-spoiler-season-3-finale-eva-green-josh-hartnett-john-logan-showtime-1201774656/
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited June 2016 Posts: 23,883
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    I never got around to checking this out, but apparently, last night's season three finale was actually the series finale.
    Noooooooooo!
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,718
    @bondjames they are ending the show because Dalton will be busy playing James Bond in 'Bond 25'. ;)
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