Original Post Date: 12.08.16
All things end. And everyone dies.
My journey with the horror series Penny Dreadful (2014-2016) arrived to a stop today, and to honor this moment I would like to talk about it. *** THERE WILL BE SPOILERS SO IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE SHOW, STOP READING ***
“I die proudly alongside all of you.” – Sir Malcom
I was introduced to Penny Dreadful back when it started in 2014. Correction, I heard of the show when it started but I did not watch it until a few months ago when it ended, in 2016. I read what it was all about and found it fascinating, however, due to it not been played on public television –to my knowledge, that is- I told myself I had to wait until it was out on dvd. Years passed and I forgot about it, until I saw it been streamed on the good almighty Netflix (not a sponsor).
“Leave everything you were outside this door. Everything you are, bring with you.” – Joan Clayton (a.k.a. The Cut Wife)
I savored each one of the three seasons. Watching one or two episodes per week. The story line as well as the visuals were so sophisticated and elegant, so much that it felt vulgar to ‘binge’.
Season 1 and 2 felt very fluid in their progression. Where S1 ended, S2 continued and expanded. This is when I fell in love with all the characters. Each one of them. All their lives were so full and complex. I hurt for them. I cried on the last episode of S2 because all the characters chose to be alone, well, except Miss Ives, she was left alone.
“So we walk alone.” – Vanessa Ives
If you have ever dealt with depression, you will then be impressed as to how well they portrayed it at the beginning of Season 3. She was alone and depressed, Miss Ives. My heart hurt again.
“There is only one defense against isolation. Be with those you love.” – Catriona
I need to be sincere and confess that parts of S3 felt slow and almost dragging, but only because I do not like westerns. When Mr. Chandler went back to America and was kidnapped in the New Mexico desert, well, I was not really invested to be honest. Luckily to me, it all worked out and Mr. Chandler returned to London. Enter the ending.
Oh man, the very last two episodes were so intense. I loved every single minute of them. Even the sad parts. In the back of my head I knew Miss Ives had to die so she would find peace, but I did not want her to die. But she did. She really did.
I had an immense sense of closure when the final credits rolled. As dark, melancholic, intellectual, elegant, sensual, and romantic the story was, Penny Dreadful was also a reminder that we all go thru struggles, but that if we allow each other to surround ourselves with people who understand, accept, and love us for who we truly are (a Werewolf, a Mad Scientist, a Hunter, a Medium, a Whore, an Immortal, a Monster, a Vampire, a Witch, a Transgender, a Survivor) in the end we all are going to be okay. Because we are not alone.
“Please do not fear for me. I have no fear myself. The old monsters are gone. The old curses have echoed to silence. And if my immortal soul is lost to me, something yet remains. I remain.” – Miss Ives
I now end this post with selected images of the very last episode of Penny Dreadful. Thank you for everything, Miss Ives. Goodbye.
