Penny Dreadful

I saw it coming from the second she was introduced as 'dying of consumption' and Caliban claimed he wanted a Bride. Though, actually, I was really starting to think that they were going to suicide the Bride plot by having Frankenstien kill Caliban; I really thought he'd do it.

And, sure, Brona may not fall for Caliban, but you face that risk with ANYONE you resurrect for him. Though, I'm not sure how Mr. Chandler might take it. In fact, I was surprised Mr. Chandler didn't walk in on him smothering her. I don't hold it against him either; She was clearly in pain and going to face a very long and very slow death and has already repeatedly said her good byes.

Not sure how I feel about him resurrecting her for Caliban and not Mr. Chandler, but there's so little dialogue on the matter that I'll wait for next Season to explain his rational. But, I'm happy we have Billie for another season.

I think the biggest flaw this season, besides the really awkward pacing, was how out of focus Dorian is. He almost completely revolves around her and has nothing else really to do so I want to see him join the... What are we calling them? The League? The Scoobies ? I want him to join them so he's not such a distraction from the A Plot.

I also get the impression that they want to hook Miss Ives with Mr. Chandler (Ship Name?), but I don't know where that leaves Dorian unless he's made a Big Bad... Which I may not mind as long as Miss Ives rejecting him ISN'T his motivation.

BTW, Where did the massive Exorcism Powers of Mr. Chandler comes from??? I was confused by that but I get the impression I might have just missed something.

Man. My recollection of history is way off.

His huge belief in Vanessa.

Yeah, I was going with raw faith. Faith in Vanessa and, let's face it, the man knows a little something about having a monster inside.

Speaking of which, any idea how many people got killed when Ethan killed those bounty hunters ? I didn't see how many other people were around. I got the feeling that being a werewolf must feel pretty good, given how happy Ethan looked beforehand, though that could have been the opportunity to cut loose after everything that happened.

And, linking on from Evil Feels Good, the priest that Vanessa went to, I don't think he was meant to be but dude creeped me out, worse than the vampires did.

But, the Latin Chanting??? Belief in a character is one thing, Suddenly knowing how to save them through shere force of will is another and speaking in a dead language. It has a taste of Deus Ex Machina.

Sure, the Priest was creepy. He's an old London Gothic-Victorian-Industrial Revoltion (I say all three not for historial in-universe accuracy, but for the overlap between the stereotypes) Priest. When they aren't wise all knowing Big Goods who can do no wrong, they're somewhat creepy and grim.

"Dead" does not mean "No one knows how to speak it" it means that it's not conversationally used. Anyone can learn the incantations or the prayers.

Additional: I was half expecting his eyes to go black and it be revealed that he was the demon.

edited 30th Jun '14 9:49:45 PM by GethKnight

Depending on where he was educated, he could have been taught Latin in school. It wouldn't be that uncommon in the timeframe. My mother can still quote part of Caesar's Literature.Commentarii De Bello Gallico in Latin. For Catholic religious Latin, he'd definitely have learned some. Mass was in Latin until the 1960's.

Now if he was reciting the Rite of Exorcism, that would be worth noting. If he was just praying forcefully then the only surprise is that he's Roman Catholic.

I think the priest weirded me out cos he was so banal about what he was taking about, especially the stuff in Wales. If an entire village gets damned to hell, it should leave an impression

edited 1st Jul '14 2:27:14 AM by Anteres

But, if it was just praying, then why didn't they do that earlier? And he seemed so sure of what he needed to do, but I don't know where he suddenly realized that, but maybe I just need to watch the scene again.

The reason the Latin Praying comes off as odd to me is that Mr. Chandler comes across as not stupid, but not the most educated member of the team. We know he's from America. He was once accustomed to wealth in his youth. And now he's literally joined a traveling circus. I suppose his past IS the focus of next season based off the Sequel Hook, but him knowing Latin Prayer just seems... odd for him to know and do compared to Frankenstein, Sir Malcom, or even Sembene. idk... Next Subject?

The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.

The definition of suicidal insanity is doing so with Mr. Chandler, apparently.

To be fair, they were not expecting a fucking werewolf! They'd have handled him just fine.

I dunno. The guy's a sharpshooter and handy in a brawl. Reckon club him first, talk later.

"So, this guy really got the drop on us when we were up close and talking big. So this next time, let's take about one step back, and talk big. Yeah, a whole step back. That's a great plan."

edit to add:

"You wanna, I dunno, get more guys, or maybe have our guns out?"

"Did you not hear me? A *whole step back*.

edited 3rd Jul '14 1:13:23 PM by Adjamemnon

They did keep away from any glasses to the face.

I think it's safe to assume that we weren't witnessing the cream of the Pinkerton Agency at work.

So the Master Vampire... think he'll look human-y ?

That would be my guess.

I have no evidence beyond vampiric lore presented outside of the series, and therefore all this must be taken with a grain of salt.

1. With the death of the bald mid-boss, we see an example of Keystone Army or maybe just an Instant-Win Condition, but either way, we see the connection in vampires. Kill the boss, the minions fall down.

2. Along with the living-dying connectivity, we may also see a similarity in appearance. The mid-boss and the shrieking women all seem to be albino in coloration, while Mina, who survives the death of mid-boss, has a bit of coloration to her. That makes her unique in the vampires we've seen thus far.

The conclusion I draw from this is that when vampires turn a human into one of their own, their appearance becomes like their own. So if we go backwards from Mina, I think a more human-like Master is likely.

edited 3rd Jul '14 2:54:24 PM by Adjamemnon

That's impressive in-universe logic.

I was just thinking it'd save their make-up budget and allow him to have more of a speaking part

Thanks!

Meta-thinking about the series, it would be weird to have Dracula appear and not have him be pretty. Nosferatu, yes, but not Dracula.

In the book, didn't he start older and get younger ?

Doran Gray Vs. Pretty Dracula would be fun

So, Season 2 premieres in a week from Sunday, but the first episode has been released online. Its on You Tube.

I'm curious where we're going this Season. And I do hope three things are addressed; Who Sembene actually is, What was with Ethan and Dorian's Hook Up, and then Will Dorian Gray actually tie into the core plot???

So, half way through the season now. Thought I might bump this up to try and start conversation.

It seems like the writers have VASTLY improved since last season.

I like our villains this season. They're maneuvering perfectly into place around our protags and exploiting them without it feeling contrived. The 'Unquiet Grave' touch in the first episode was rather well done.

Additionally, Dorian is factoring into the plot a bit more, or so it feels like. They actually very well developed his romance with Angelique to the point that, well, damn it. I really ship it. I'm afraid that they'll be fridged though come season's end.

Ives and Caliban scenes have been adorable. Not in a shippy way but its nice to see the characters interact after having been in different circles last season,

I feel like, last season, they didn't know who their characters were just yet and the Season wound up a beta test. Now they know who everyone is and are moving forward. And, to display this, they have their villains exploiting who they are. Rather clever.

Wasn't "Big D" unnervingly creepy looking in the novel, even when de-aged?

edited 19th Jul '15 3:31:44 PM by nervmeister

So, the Season ended. I REALLY think they're finally hitting their stride in developing their characters and plots this time around. A few bumps and hitches here and there, but I think they have a goal or direction in mind this time.

LOVED Season 2.

Plus, god the end of Dorian's plot was creepy as fuck.

Dorian's plot at the first half of the season was a little... pointless ? I assume it was to build up what a bastard he actually is but it didn't work quite as well as the rest. Especially because I really enjoyed all the rest of it !

Vanessa Ives is so frickin awesome. I'm surprised people don't spontaneously combust from that Death Glare of hers.

And does anyone else think that Ethan's problem hair might be genetic ? I'm thinking that's why he's running from dear old Dad.

How can one not swoon at that stony gaze of hers?

God I love her. She's such a freaking great actress.

Yeah, I think Dorian's plotline with Angelique was kind of pointless... He just kills her off and she's never mentioned again.

Though, I think its still up to interpretation how that scene went. My perspective was that he didn't think she'd say yes, but it was too late and he was just trying to rationalize him killing her. My friend just interpreted it as he was just a heartless bastard.

No saving him if he goes Aryan Race on everyone with Brona.

Kind of want him to be killed by the man in his painting though as a nice bit of poetic justice.

I kind of felt the Waxwork Family Plot was a bit pointless too? All that build up only for it to be ended with a simple neck snap and that's it???