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Penny Dreadful


Nikki

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Showtime's new series began last night. Created by John Logan and Sam Mendes. 

 

Set in London, 1891  "A frightening psychological thriller that weaves together classic horror origin stories into a new adult drama."

(Frankenstein, Dracula, Dorian Gray)

 

Filled with supernatural beings, the occult and plenty of blood and gore.

 

Hints were made at Jack-the- Ripper, considering all the history and literature of the time, the plot can go anywhere.  I'm interested to see where it leads.

 

The cast includes: Eva Green, Timothy Dalton, Josh Hartnett, Billie Piper and Reeve Carney.

 

I'd provide a link, however, that isn't working for me ATM.  I enjoyed the first episode and recommend it to anyone with Showtime.

 

Did anyone else watch it?

Edited by Nikki
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Sir Malcolm Murray (Dalton) is an African explorer on a deeply personal quest, whose companion,Vanessa Ives, very witchy (Green) hires a gunman, Ethan Chandler (Hartnett) to help find Murray's kidnapped daughter Mina (from Dracula). There's a good vampire battle to be had. 

 

Murray and Ives are somehow bound by some deep guilt they both share... What? We don't know yet. Also, the pair is searching for the meaning of a symbol (from a tattoo) that may of Egyptian origin... some sort of Blood Curse. Who the tattoo belongs /belonged to, also remains to be seen

 

 And, Dr. Frankenstein's creature came to life last night.

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Yes I saw it, what a great start! Right into the thick of things instead of an information dump that starts so many series.

 

Sort of like "The League of Extordinary Gentlemen" but very dark.

 

So many "what the heck" moments. The audience is seeing things through Hartnett's character who definitely has no idea what's going on. We find out as he does. The director does a good job of not projecting upcoming plot developments.

 

So far a very clever presentation of the old classics in a unique way. And the cinematography was excellent more than once I thought it was a movie instead of a television show. Someone is investing a lot money in this I hope it survives.

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Was going to watch last night on YouTube Showtime channel for free but it was too late so am going to watch right after I get ready for bed tonight which happens to be right now. lol 

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Well... Episode 2 --- Who knew homemade porn was possible in those days... lol? 

 

What a Seance scene !!!

 

We meet Brona Croft (Billie Piper's character) and a few others.

 

 

P.S. Penny Dreadful: Suspense/horror stories printed in a series . I guess they cost a penny a piece)

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P.S. Penny Dreadful: Suspense/horror stories printed in a series . I guess they cost a penny a piece)

 

Indeed they did each cost one 'old' penny.

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Well.. fetish seems to be a common theme among witches....

 

You MUST watch Ep.2.

 

Spoiler Alert : At the end, DON'T BLINK..... just Like Dr. Who. 

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I watched the first episode. I like it.

 

And it's great if you have a Frankenstein fetish... lol

Yes! lol I do..  :razz:

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We meet Brona Croft (Billie Piper's character) and a few others.

 

 

Billy Piper is in it? Well I already wanted to see this, but now I am really interested! Loved Rose in Dr. Who, and Secret Diary of a Call girl as well!

 

 

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We meet Brona Croft (Billie Piper's character) and a few others.

 

 

Billy Piper is in it? Well I already wanted to see this, but now I am really interested! Loved Rose in Dr. Who, and Secret Diary of a Call girl as well!

 

 

 

 

Oh, me too !!! She is great in both of those roles.... I'm afraid to get too attached to her character, tho'.... although, Dorian Gray isn't...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Picture_of_Dorian_Gray

Edited by Nikki
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There's such great history behind these stories. For those interested in how Frankenstein and Vampires came to be... please visit the following links.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fragment_of_a_Novel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vampyre

 

Amazing writers.Timeless work. Genre Born. 

 

Mary Shelley was only 18 when she dreamt of story of Frankenstein. One fateful rainy night in Geneva, she, Lord Byron, Percy Shelley and John William Polidori (who invented the Vampire Genre) were discussing the occult and devised a competition to see who could write the best Ghost story. (1814)

 

Note: Bram Stoker's Dracula wasn't written and published for another 83 years (1897)

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I was disappointed that last night was not Episode #3... guess that will air next Sunday at 10... after GoT :)

 

If by chance it shows up this week On Demand, surely, someone will post it. 

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Guest monsnoleedra

There's such great history behind these stories. For those interested in how Frankenstein and Vampires came to be... please visit the following links.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fragment_of_a_Novel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vampyre

 

Amazing writers.Timeless work. Genre Born. 

 

Mary Shelley was only 18 when she dreamt of story of Frankenstein. One fateful rainy night in Geneva, she, Lord Byron, Percy Shelley and John William Polidori (who invented the Vampire Genre) were discussing the occult and devised a competition to see who could write the best Ghost story. (1814)

 

Note: Bram Stoker's Dracula wasn't written and published for another 83 years (1897)

 

 

What's funny is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is not a monster novel but actually about the inhumanity of mankind and nonacceptance of things and Science fiction in general.  Yet its become a base monster movie and concept.

Edited by monsnoleedra
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Frankenstein was my favorite novel in high school. I agree it is not about monsters but inhumanity, Adam continually reaches out to people only to be shot down and treated like a monster. All he ever wanted was someone like him to keep him company and accept him, and people decided to destroy him instead. It is a classic tale of human hatred and bigotry.

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I think Penny Dreadful will put a new spin on old characters. Dr. Victor Frankenstein's work being the focus; playing 'god' and the consequences that take place thereafter. 

Edited by Nikki
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Was going to watch last night on YouTube Showtime channel for free but it was too late so am going to watch right after I get ready for bed tonight which happens to be right now. lol 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Say what?  U can see it on YouTube for free?  I was so disappointed that I couldn't see it (I don't have showtime).  Thanks!

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Say what?  U can see it on YouTube for free?  I was so disappointed that I couldn't see it (I don't have showtime).  Thanks!

 

Yeah, that was news to me :)  Wonder if I can watch Cmax that way, too?

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Guest monsnoleedra

I didn't realize Eva Green was in that series.  Might have to give it a viewing then like her as an actress.

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I didn't realize Eva Green was in that series.  Might have to give it a viewing then like her as an actress.

 

Eva does a great acting job in Episode 2 -- the Seance scene is amazing. I wonder how many Takes it took to get that scene right... 

 

Anyone see her in the 300 sequel? The sex scene? That took guts. She is FEARLESS in the roles she takes on. 

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Guest monsnoleedra

Haven't seen the 300 sequel.  Though she her carried the role in Kingdom of Heaven really well, especially her eyes and how they conveyed that role.

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  • 1 month later...

Is anyone else bothered by the character arc for frankenstein? Spoilers to follow

 

With the introduction of the original monster/creation I suddenly became really disinterested in his storyline, only because to me it doesn't make sense for him to have created a second creature after the trauma of the first. In the show the original monster has said stated that frankenstein already attempted to create his companion but then destroyed it at the last second (just like in the book) so then if we're following the book's trajectory he destroyed it because he realized he could not go through with such ann abominable act a second time, he fully regrets his experiment and then the monster strangles his fiancee as an act of revenge. So my question is how does the show's characterization of him justifiably differ from the books. why would he try to create another creature after he destroyed the companion he was going to make for his first monster. it just really bugs me, i know they aren't following the books religiously and its more them throwing these characters together and their interpretation of how they would react but i feel like there's no justification for him to revert back to the way he was when he tried to create his first monster after he had already been tormented by it.

 

Also the one thing i was struck by in the beginning was how very League of Extraordinary Gentlemen it was. Not in a bad way, since they have the same basic premise (throw a bunch of classic horror/science fiction/adventure stories together)

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