The Screen Scribe

It is a rare series that feels like it was designed to be savoured in candlelight. Penny Dreadful is one of those shows, a gothic fever dream that takes familiar characters from classic literature and twists them into something unnervingly new. It is lush, theatrical, and unapologetically melodramatic, yet never without an emotional core. For anyone with a taste for the macabre and the poetic, this is television that does not just entertain, it seduces.

Set in Victorian London, the series weaves together the stories of characters drawn from the pages of Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, and Oscar Wilde, among others. At its centre is Vanessa Ives, a woman of fierce intelligence and deep faith whose life is touched by supernatural forces she does not fully understand. She joins forces with seasoned explorer Sir Malcolm Murray, who is searching for his missing daughter, and American gunslinger Ethan Chandler, a man hiding his own dangerous secrets. As their paths intersect with Dr Victor Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and other figures of gothic legend, the group becomes embroiled in battles against vampires, witches, and demons. Across three seasons, the show explores themes of faith, sin, love, and damnation while building toward an operatic conclusion.

First and foremost, Penny Dreadful boasts one of the finest lead performances in modern television. Eva Green’s portrayal of Vanessa Ives is nothing short of astonishing, a blend of vulnerability, defiance, and unflinching darkness. She commands the screen in every scene, whether whispering a prayer or spitting a curse. Timothy Dalton gives one of his most commanding roles as Sir Malcolm, while Josh Hartnett delivers a quietly powerful turn as Ethan Chandler.

The writing is rich and lyrical, often resembling stage dialogue more than conventional television scripts. John Logan, the creator, infuses every episode with a sense of literary weight without losing sight of character or pace. The series also benefits from its limited run. With only three seasons, there is no sag in the middle and no meandering subplots that go nowhere. It tells its story with purpose and ends when it needs to.

Visually, the show is a marvel. The production design captures the grime and grandeur of Victorian London with an almost painterly eye for detail. Costumes, lighting, and set design work in concert to create a world that feels authentic yet heightened, perfectly suiting the blend of history and horror. The score by Abel Korzeniowski adds to the atmosphere, sweeping between tenderness and menace with elegance.

Another strength is its willingness to embrace horror without relying on cheap shocks. The violence is often brutal, but it serves the story rather than existing for its own sake. The supernatural elements feel earned, rooted in character and theme rather than simply appearing for spectacle. The result is a show that can be both unsettling and strangely beautiful.

Penny Dreadful is a love letter to gothic fiction, but it is not merely pastiche. It reinvents its familiar characters and makes them feel startlingly real, grounding their supernatural struggles in deeply human pain and desire. With a tight narrative, unforgettable performances, and an atmosphere thick enough to taste, it stands as one of the most distinctive dramas of the last decade. For fans of horror, literature, or simply television that dares to be bold, it is essential viewing.

(All images owned by and courtesy of Youtube)