Penny Dreadful Has Found New Success on Streaming

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The horror drama series finished airing on TV in 2016, but it’s surprisingly found a new audience and become popular on streaming services.

According to FlixPatrol, the horror drama Penny Dreadful is currently number one on the iTunes Top 10 chart in the United States. Created by John Logan, the show is known for its incredibly atmospheric and visually striking style. The title itself references the cheap, sensational storybooks popular in the 1800s, and the series captures that same dark and dramatic spirit through its writing and imagery.

The first season of this series takes place in the dark and mysterious streets of 1890s London. It centers around Vanessa Ives (Eva Green), a troubled woman who possesses supernatural powers. When her friend from childhood, Mina Harker, disappears, Vanessa teams up with the experienced explorer Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton) and the skilled American marksman Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) to investigate the sinister forces threatening the city.

The series features encounters with iconic, tragic characters from Gothic stories, including Victor Frankenstein and his Creature, and the eternally youthful Dorian Gray, alongside various witches, vampires, and demons. Over three seasons, the narrative expands, delving into Vanessa’s struggles against Lucifer and the dark secrets of Ethan’s history.

This series, created by Showtime and primarily filmed in Dublin, Ireland, blended high-quality filmmaking with a dramatic, stage-like style. The first two episodes were directed by Academy Award-winning Juan Antonio Bayona, who set a visually rich and atmospheric tone for the entire show. While initially planned to be filmed in London, production moved to Ireland to benefit from favorable tax breaks for filmmakers.

I recently read an interview with Logan, the main writer for the series, and he really shed light on what they were going for. He described the atmosphere as “realistic and grounded,” which is something I definitely picked up on while watching. Apparently, the creatures weren’t meant to be monsters, but people living in London around the turn of the century. It’s that clever concept that really sets the show apart – it’s not about cheap thrills or jump scares, but a much deeper look at things like moral decay, what people truly want, and the possibility of finding some kind of salvation.

The Success of Penny Dreadful Led To A Spinoff

The show has consistently received excellent reviews throughout its run. The first season currently has an 81% approval rating, while seasons two and three achieved perfect or near-perfect scores of 100% and 94%, respectively. Critics have particularly praised the show’s beautiful writing, memorable music, and stunning visuals, and audiences have also responded very positively.

A spin-off series was greenlit in 2018 and premiered on Showtime in 2020. Created by the same person behind the original, the show followed two detectives solving a murder in Los Angeles. Despite featuring a strong cast including Natalie Dormer, Daniel Zovatto, Kerry Bishé, Adriana Barraza, Rory Kinnear, and Nathan Lane, it was ultimately cancelled.

All three seasons of Penny Dreadful are available to purchase on PVOD.

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2025-10-28 21:07