Penny Dreadful - S01E01 Night Work (2014)

Review

Sir Malcolm has lost his daughter to the clutches of supernatural creatures and is committed to rescuing her. Helping out is the enigmatic Vanessa Ives who seems to be atoning for some past action. Called into action as the duo penetrate a vampire hive is American Wild West sharp shooter Ethan Chandler, and the talented Doctor Victor Frankenstein. The Victorian, the show is set in the London of 1891, Scooby Gang manage to kill the chief vampire, but discover evidence that another might be at large with no doubt Sir Malcolm's daughter in his clutches.

In the aftermath of the vamp night work, Vanessa is praying heavily before a crucifix that seems to have a major spider infestation, Sir Malcom is visited by Nina Harker who is a vampire, and Doc Victor has managed to resurrect his creature. Ethan Chandler decides to join the crusade after coming across a Police investigation into the slaughter of two innocents.

A "Penny Dreadful", and please note it's a term we have used here for years, was a distinctly British publication of the 19th century. Featuring lurid, predominately dark genre, themes the publications were stories often in serial form printed on cheap stock sold for a single penny to the target demographic of working class readers. Think of it as pulp fiction, mass produced for an audience more interested in dark delights and plots and less interested in the human condition. Escapism, vivid imaginations, sensationalism with a bit of subversion, simply what the genre is about really. Showtime finally axed their award winning series Dexter after eight sensational seasons, which left a bit of a hole in their programming, consequently they needed something a bit horror to fill the void. As it happened along came Penny Dreadful, a historic supernatural series that has been described to me as "The Game of Thrones of the horror genre". Sterling stuff I'm sure, and the Critics have been waxing lyrical, so far be it from ScaryMinds not to dip our toes in Victorian London's dark alleys, let's see what the pilot episode delivered via hansom cab.

This could well grow into my favourite television series of all time

Night Work immediately checked off one of the boxes on my period drama requirements, the sets, props, and character interactions all seemed authentic to the time the series is set in. Filmed in the UK the series certainly nails the filth ridden streets of London at the time, not turning a blind eye to the underworld of poverty and grimness Victorian London attempted to keep hidden in its skirts from upper class eyes and noses. Life was cheap and Penny Dreadful isn't in anyway romanticising that, short, harsh, and grim come to mind, the battles promised in season one are going to be conducted across the spectrum of British society of the time without recourse to the ever so pleasant world of inanity that a Jane Austen novel exists in. Mean, lean, and in the trenches first up Director J.A. Bayona is revelling in his sets and characters.

Interestingly the show throws up some nice literately figures already in the form of Victor Frankenstein and his resurrected creature, and Mina Harker, who readers of this site at least should instantly recognise. The apparent central tenet of Penny Dreadful is to mix in a major story arc with a whole bunch of famous characters from the dark genre, I'm more than happy with what was delivered in this episode in this regard. Victor has appeared in numerous horror outings as the quintessential mad scientist, the villain, the hero, etc. but it would appear he is going to fulfil the role of scientist in Penny Dreadful with a secret his fellow Scooby Gang members don't know about. Now that is going to add a whole new dimension to proceedings as far as I'm concerned. Ms Harker, here a vampire, appeared in one scene and remains an elusive character to pin down, no doubt there is going to be further exposé as the season marches onward.

The episode itself does exactly what a pilot should do, introduce the major characters, offer some insight into their personalities, and it definitely gives the viewer a taste of what's to come in the first season. I'm giving Night Work a huge thumbs up on achieving what it set out to do, after one episode I got to say I'm hooked on the show already and am sweating on the next episode, the Producers have promised even more mayhem, excellent!

To the characters, and we'll discuss each in depth as the season unfolds. Sir Malcolm (Timothy Dalton) is an adventurer who has made a number of discoveries. His daughter has been kidnapped by supernatural forces, hence the Scooby Gang. Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) has a sin from her past to atone for, an enigma there, but equally importantly faced down a vampire which could mean she has her very own supernatural angle. Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) is the gun slinger from the West who clearly has his own secrets, none of which are touched on in the pilot episode. And finally Doctor Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) is the intense scientist with a few Roos loose in the top paddock; we already know he has created at least one monster. No doubt the odd other major character will pop up, but that's one heck of a line up to start the game for mine.

Night Work saw Sir Malcolm, Vanessa, and Ethan take on a nest of vampers as they attempted a rescue of Malcolm's daughter, who unfortunately wasn't in residence. While the vampires were all dark Byronest intensity they could be dispatched with relative ease. Sure these dudes aren't sparkling in sun lite meadows, but they succumbed to stabbings and gun shots, just like us mortals. I'm actually cool with this, and slight icing on the cake was the lair head fanger who had an exoskeleton like skin, which hid some cool Egyptian hieroglyphics that an expert could confirm were from the Egyptian book of the dead! Clearly more to be discovered there, though I'm figuring we might be facing Necronomicon light, anyone else thinking resurrection of ancient Egyptian entities? Swirling around the episode was also the dismemberment of a mother and daughter by a creature unseen, the papers are wondering if "Jack is back", while the Police seem perplexed by what is the latest event in a series of murders.

It's probably a bit premature to be excited by a new series, but I can't help it, dig me some authentic period action wrapped in a supernatural enigma. Night Work pushed all my buttons, and hey who doesn't want to watch Eva Green do her thang, the chick is awesome. The season can go in a number of different directions from here, but I'm going to put my street cred on the line and say it's going to be a hoot and a holler, as they say the best is yet to come. If you get a chance, the show hasn't opened in Oz yet, check it out, absolutely huge recommendation on this one. Very much toying with awarding it our vote for top ever dark genre television show, but maybe we'll hold off till the season ends before going down that road.

For those wondering, Penny Dreadful has an eight episode first season, must cost a packet to make each episode, fingers crossed its successful enough to warrant a longer second season.