‘Penny Dreadful’ season 3, episode 7 review: Vanessa’s bite; Lily’s capture
Now that Vanessa has submitted herself physically to Dracula in what was one of the weirdest sex scenes (there’s no chemistry between these two) is he closer to making her his bride? We also have Lily’s angry army of women that are looking to destroy every man on the planet and is starting to push Dorian out of the game. We are kind of wondering if Dorian and Victor may end up working together to tame Lily as she grows in power. Let’s see what “Penny Dreadful” has in store for us tonight.
For Lily, let’s just say that not all of her plans ended up as she so hoped. Dorian, apparently, no longer really enjoyed his present arrangement watching Lily gallivant around with her revolutionary prostitute army; therefore, he set her up to be captured, and now Victor and Dr. Jekyll are promising that they will make her “better” … which is really a terrifying proposition, since “better” applies only to their specific viewpoint, and that may be awful for her.
Still, you gotta imagine that this little stunt changes things in a big way for these two moving forward, no?
Speaking of changes, seeing what has happened now with Dracula and Vanessa at the hour’s end has us worried in the worst way for the finale next week. It’s going to take more than just Ethan to save her from the swirling darkness, and the bite he put upon her after insisting that he wanted to effectively be her servant, and not the other way around. We still do think that this character has been executed perfectly, but we’re moving along at a rapid enough pace that we imagine this will be a great jumping-off point now that she has connected that her new lover is a blood-sucking vampire.
Can Ethan get her fast enough?
The most heartwarming part of the hour was probably the Creature’s oddly touching family reunion, mostly because it suggested that redemption is in fact possible … and that’s not often a reminder that we have in this world. Given how depressing the Dracula stuff may be for Vanessa fans, think of this almost as a ray of sunshine.
We’d say as a whole that this episode was a step upward from the one that came before it, largely because of the sole fact that we did away with Lily’s frustrating army and pushed more in the direction of a thrilling finale. There’s still more work to be done to get this season cemented above the others, but we’ll at least say the potential is there. Episode grade: B+.
What did you think of tonight’s episode of “Penny Dreadful”? Leave us a comment and tell us your thoughts on the season so far.
Josiane Ochman
June 14, 2016 @ 5:22 pm
It was a confusing episode in terms of choices being made especially on the part of Vanessa, she succumbed to Dracula’s “charms” using the word loosely here a little too easily suggesting frailty not strength and a bit of desperation when it comes to loneliness and love. Did she forget Ethan that quickly, this non- romance is being forced down our throats but hopefully Vanessa has an ace up her sleeves merely one that we can’t see yet….keep your enemies close and all that. Was feeling bored with the army of whores dead set on vengeance, a bit silly actually, it’s the weakest link in the Penny Dreadful chain. Loved the part with the Monster and possibility of redemption actually brought tears to my eyes and I don’t get tearful that easily. The little child’s hand placed on the big hand of his father more telling than any grand gesture might have been. Still enjoying this season but want a satisfying finale.
Cherie Macenka
June 16, 2016 @ 7:22 pm
If you consider the conversation between Vanessa and Catriona – she told Vanessa that to defeat Dracula, it would take a spy, not a soldier. Since she defeated Lucifer, I have to believe she can defeat Dracula. Perhaps from the inside. Vanessa also knows that Ethan and Sir Malcolm are on their way. Again, keep in mind, a frontal assault won’t kill him – the only way to destroy the seducer, is betrayal from the inside. It’s the foundation of the Dracula story.
Gayle
June 13, 2016 @ 6:11 pm
It pushed through the Dracula romance too quickly. And in Season 2 we have Venessa as a woman strang enough to defeat Satan AND the head witch. Now they paint her as some fickle twit. Not happy about this season at all. The only story I have found worth watching was The Monster! His story brought tears to my eyes more than once. So, brovo on his story. Disappointed that he didn’t remember Venessa from the institution. And what about Ethan? What’s up with that?! Back and forth! Make up your mind!! I feel they are running out of time and just hurrying it along. Mistake!
From ? With ❤️
June 13, 2016 @ 5:32 am
For a show that supposedly has strong female characters, Lily and Vanessa are full of self pity, and it makes them choose abusive relationships. Very disappointed especially with Vanessa just falling for Dracula after he and his brother have tormented her for years. Why introduce Catriona as a character and have the old Apache deliver Ethan’s message?
Cherie Macenka
June 16, 2016 @ 7:25 pm
Look beyond the surface. As a writer, I would use characters such as Catriona to sprinkle knowledge to the reader. She told Vanessa how to defeat Dracula – what if she allowed him to think he won? Remember the lines – ‘You accept me?’ Vanessa replied with ‘I accept… myself’. She never once accepted Dracula. Wording is vital here.
From ? With ❤️
June 16, 2016 @ 7:53 pm
She accepted Dracula by letting him bite her neck instead of shooting him. Actions speak louder than words. Catriona emboldened Vanessa to confront Dracula, but in the end she succumbed to him.
Cherie Macenka
June 17, 2016 @ 12:08 am
Unless she says that she accepts him – then a bite is a bite. She hasn’t given herself to him. The stories hold truer to their literary canon. This is part of his canon. Catriona told her the only way to kill Dracula was as a spy – from the inside. The only way inside, was to allow him to bite her. Much of Penny Dreadful’s story is beneath the surface.
From ? With ❤️
June 17, 2016 @ 5:21 pm
I think you’re rationalizing here. Logan said he wasn’t adhering too much to Bram Stoker, but from Renfield, we see how the transformation works. It starts with a bite which leads to you being in Dracula’s thrall and craving blood. Once you drink his blood, you become a vampire more quickly. Stoker never elaborated on this. In the novel, Lucy only had to be bitten, as far as we know.