Penny Dreadful

[Marvolo]

Lilly is a bit...full of herself. I'm not sure there is enough room in that house for her, caliban, and her ego.

 

[Lord]

I guess next season is probably going to deal with Lily's plot.

 

[KillerWolf]

This was the best episode of the season for me. Lilly has become the first feminist, and really interesting character. She's been playing dumb this whole time acting as though she didn't know who she use to be. I have a feeling this turn in her story well play out bigger next season.

I've always wanted to see how they'd handle that painting and they delivered on the creepiness of it. I thought it would be this decaying corpse. I only saw it for a second but I'm not entirely sure it's corpse or even human for that matter.

To me, it looked like a ghoul. It reminded me of Lovecraft's short story "Pickman's Model". I hoped for a picture that resembles real-life Dorian more closely, but I like it.

Also, I finally bought Reeve Carney as Dorian. That is, I finally understood and accepted his lack of intensity and darkness I always thought Dorian should have, given the context. Thing is... even when he killed Angelique he still seemed rather harmless, but then the shot turns to the picture and there's his true face and all the ugliness of it. Now I am sure this is what they had in mind when they cast Carney, even as he's doing filthiest deeds, his countenance is that of a charming and harmless young man. It took me a while, but I finally understood that's what they were going for.

Anyway, it was a great episode. Glad to have Sir Malcolm back (hopefully he'll survive the season). Lily is pretty ****ed up, poor Frankenstein doesn't know what is coming to him. I expect that in the end Caliban will protect him from her, as he's not as amoral as Lily and does share many traits and outlooks with his creator. I just don't see Caliban staying with Lily.

And Sembene had a truly great moment. It might be my favorite scene. Does it appear to you as well, by the way, that he holds some sort of power over Malcolm or at least has a connection with him on some magical level? At first I thought that he might be a shaman... but he referred to shamans when talking to Ethan in third person. He's only a part hunter, I wonder what's the other part...?

 

[KillerWolf]

By the way, here's the painting:

I'd prefer if there was blood on his hands, like in the novel, to depict the killings he's done. Or perhaps even better, blood should have appeared after he killed Angelique.

Also, they took the moving aspect of the painting straight from the terrible 2009 film. I knew they'll do this. I should have bet.

Also, I just realized something.... how the hell does Lily know so much about Caliban? At first I thought that she remembered parts of her old life as Brona and Frankenstein creating her, but how did she know that Frankenstein created Caliban as well? Or that he recites poetry? Something seems off with her.
Apart from her being crazy, manipulative and homicidal b***h I mean. t:

 

[DarthSkywalker]

This was the best episode of the season for me. Lilly has become the first feminist, and really interesting character. She's been playing dumb this whole time acting as though she didn't know who she use to be. I have a feeling this turn in her story well play out bigger next season.

I've always wanted to see how they'd handle that painting and they delivered on the creepiness of it. I thought it would be this decaying corpse. I only saw it for a second but I'm not entirely sure it's corpse or even human for that matter.

I don't think she was playing dumb the whole time. This is similar to what happened with Proteus. His memories were beginning to come back over time.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

The last two episodes have been incredible. Really good stuff, and they actually delivered with the painting imo. Also, was weird to see no Vanessa or Ethan. Does this now make Malcolm the only character to appear in every episode?

 

[KillerWolf]

The last two episodes have been incredible. Really good stuff, and they actually delivered with the painting imo. Also, was weird to see no Vanessa or Ethan. Does this now make Malcolm the only character to appear in every episode?

And the pace of the episode was better for it. It just proves that there are too many characters in this show.

Of course, I am not suggesting getting rid of Vanessa or Ethan. Or any of the main characters as a matter of fact.

 

[Specter313]

Really amazing work by Billie Piper last night. I loved all the range she showed in that whole speech, even how she started slipping into Brona's original Irish accent a couple times.

 

[Brother Jack]

Also, I just realized something.... how the hell does Lily know so much about Caliban? At first I thought that she remembered parts of her old life as Brona and Frankenstein creating her, but how did she know that Frankenstein created Caliban as well? Or that he recites poetry? Something seems off with her.
Apart from her being crazy, manipulative and homicidal b***h I mean. t:

It was a great scene but it did come off as abrupt that Lilly would have that much knowledge about her past, what she and the creature are, and what Victor had done to them. There's also the reversal of her outright rejecting the creature at first and then, by the end of the scene, consecrating herself to him to make a new race of immortal monsters or some such.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

She knew about the poetry because he told her about it, didn't he?

 

[chamber-music]

That ending with Sir Malcolm and his corpse family was creepy as hell.

Scotland Yard detective is getting closer to the truth.

I like the mythology being built on the show.

 

[Marvolo]

The plot with the Scotland Yard detective subplot better have a massive payoff. Hate when shows introduce characters like this. They think they've got the world figured out and are so self assured and spend so much time trying to throw wrenches in the protagonist's gears meanwhile the audience is yelling at the tv because the character is such a clueless fool.

 

[KillerWolf]

It was a great scene but it did come off as abrupt that Lilly would have that much knowledge about her past, what she and the creature are, and what Victor had done to them. There's also the reversal of her outright rejecting the creature at first and then, by the end of the scene, consecrating herself to him to make a new race of immortal monsters or some such.

I agree. Though I kinda liked the shift of the atmosphere, and I believe that it has to do with her being manipulative and playing Caliban like a fool he sometimes really is.

She knew about the poetry because he told her about it, didn't he?

Did he? I'll have to rewatch some of previous episodes then.

The plot with the Scotland Yard detective subplot better have a massive payoff. Hate when shows introduce characters like this. They think they've got the world figured out and are so self assured and spend so much time trying to throw wrenches in the protagonist's gears meanwhile the audience is yelling at the tv because the character is such a clueless fool.

I actually like the detective quite a lot for some reason. Sure, he will present a trouble to our protagonists, but I enjoy watching him. And I don't find him to be a clueless fool at all. For someone who has so little physical evidence he is getting very close to the truth. It is not like he is aware of all the supernatural stuff that are behind the killings.

And I expect him to play important role in the last episode, making way for season 3, similarly to introduction of Madam Kali and Rooper in last episode of season 1. Speaking of Rooper, he has yet to play his hand. I'm kinda expecting that everyone will figure out that Ethan is Lupus Dei, as Sembene seemingly already put two and two together in the last episode, but Ethan will get arrested or otherwise incapacitated in the end of season 2.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

When Lily started losing her mind, she started using her original accent a bit. I wonder if she has "lost her soul", or is in a battle for it with something else. Something trying to take over her "empty shell".

 

[BestGirl]

That portrait was majorly creepy. I jumped a bit when it moved. I second the person who wished that blood had appeared on his hands after Angelique's murder.

I feel rather sorry for both Caliban and Angelique, who are so lonely that they're willing to love monsters who are clearly using them.

So was Lily just pretending to be naive and in love with Victor? Her 180 on him was jarring.

I guess Sembene has some powers of his own since he was able to break Sir Malcolm's spell so quickly.

 

[Chesterfield]

This latest episode was incredible and U suppose with Eva absent Billie Piper really stepped up her game and used this opportunity to shine and create a memorable scene. It was scary and hilarious how she did a complete 180 and handled Caliban; he didn't know wtf was happening. That was a role reversal of the highest order. As for Dorian, what a slick git. Glad we got to see the painting but I was expecting something far more sinister. The portrait didn't quite do it for me.

 

[KillerWolf]

When Lily started losing her mind, she started using her original accent a bit. I wonder if she has "lost her soul", or is in a battle for it with something else. Something trying to take over her "empty shell".

Interesting idea. It didn't occur to me that Victor's resurrected creatures would probably be soulless. Though nothing of the kind happened to Caliban, so why would it be the case with Lily?

@Chesterfield
Funny how when you just quit smoking and are trying to fight the urge, you constantly get reminded of your old habit. I am referring to your username. I used to smoke Chesterfield cigarettes. t:

Anyway, yeah, the portrait was a bit of a let down to me as well. One from the terrible 2009 movie was much more creepy. I do like the chains though. And I really wish they added blood to his hands, like it was in the book.

 

[Marvolo]

Ive never felt too sorry for Caliban and even less so when he started acting like Lilly was his property and that he could just make her love him and be his sex doll. Hes an angry needy overly emotional man child.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Ive never felt too sorry for Caliban and even less so when he started acting like Lilly was his property and that he could just make her love him and be his sex doll. Hes an angry needy overly emotional man child.

Completely agree. Every time I feel sorry for him, he does crap like that.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Interesting idea. It didn't occur to me that Victor's resurrected creatures would probably be soulless. Though nothing of the kind happened to Caliban, so why would it be the case with Lily?

@Chesterfield
Funny how when you just quit smoking and are trying to fight the urge, you constantly get reminded of your old habit. I am referring to your username. I used to smoke Chesterfield cigarettes. t:

Anyway, yeah, the portrait was a bit of a let down to me as well. One from the terrible 2009 movie was much more creepy. I do like the chains though. And I really wish they added blood to his hands, like it was in the book.

Caliban seems to be different from Proteus and Lily. It seems like he is a classic creation, who is made up from a bunch of different people. Or that is at least how I take it.

 

[Roose Bolton]

He doesn't seem to have memories of a past life like the other two, and generally seems more ghoulish in appearance. So yeah, I'd say he's probably like the book version: a creature made from the pieces of several different men, which might also explain his strength.

 

[Brother Jack]

I guess Sembene has some powers of his own since he was able to break Sir Malcolm's spell so quickly.

He was probably a shaman or witch doctor back in Africa. They probably don't have time to do it this season but they should really delve into his backstory when they can. Out of the whole ensemble he has been the least represented yet he's one of the most interesting, at least for me. I've always loved the trope of the strong, silent right hand man.

 

[Roose Bolton]

Ive never felt too sorry for Caliban and even less so when he started acting like Lilly was his property and that he could just make her love him and be his sex doll. Hes an angry needy overly emotional man child.

Well, he's what? A year old? Maybe 2? You just have to look at his interactions with people to see that he doesn't have the full emotional comprehension of an adult. He mistook Maude's acts of kindness and friendship as romantic interest in the first season because he had no idea there was a distinction between the two, yet we see in season 2 from his interactions with Vanessa that he's grown in that regard. He is quite literally a child learning and growing as he goes through life.

 

[TheFuture]

Ive never felt too sorry for Caliban and even less so when he started acting like Lilly was his property and that he could just make her love him and be his sex doll. Hes an angry needy overly emotional man child.

Someone made the point that Caliban and Victor actually bring the worst out in each other which is absolutely true. I hated Caliban's OTTness in Season 1 but I've really enjoyed seeing this other side to him this season, away from Victor and in his connection to Vanessa and the waxman's daughter.

 

[Golgo-13]

Just watched the last ep....Billie Piper absolutely killed it this ep; didn't realize she had such range as an actress.

Could someone explain to me the significance of Dorian Grey and the portrait? I have a general idea, mainly due to the LOEG movie, but that's about it....