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Penny Dreadful is a deeply gothic drama set in 19th – century Victorian London. What sets it apart from other period dramas, like Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice?

Well you won’t see Downton’s Violet Crawley making sweet, sweet, love to the deeply mysterious and immortal, Dorian Grey...

Taking classic fictional characters from the pages of 19th – century British and Irish literature might sound like an odd choice but here, it works effortlessly. With oodles of sex, demonic possession and blood shed, this is one to avoid viewing with your whole family.

Spoiler alert – graphic sex between the sexually ambiguous Dorian Grey and a transsexual will be broadcasting in a living room near you. Awkward.

The shocks don’t stop there. Watch in awe as the poor man’s James Bond, a goatee rocking Timothy Dalton, kicks ass and takes names. The first season revolves around the former 007 building a team of open minded adventurers, ready to join him on a quest into the unknown, in search of his missing daughter.

In typical Penny Dreadful style, it turns out that vampires and the Devil himself are at the centre of it all. Watch on as Miss Vanessa Ives, played by Eva Green, takes part in demonic sex and witch craft for some light entertainment.

The season ends with Josh Hartnett’s suitably cagey character going full werewolf, unleashing bloody carnage on people from his past.

To be honest, season 2 hasn’t decided to let up! Witches are taking centre stage this time around, along with a very naked Billie Piper.

Did I forget to mention the inclusion of Dr Victor Frankenstein and his obsession with creating life after death? What good is Frankenstein’s monster without his bride? Insert a mental image of Billie Piper’s unmentionables here...

To recap, we have: vampires, witches, werewolves, immortals, reanimated corpses and Timothy Dalton. With more shocks and surprises to come, the cast of eccentric characters is bound to continue its expansion into the weird and wonderful history of myth and legend.

My money is on a zombie Jack ‘The Ripper’ to make an appearance in season 3!

Fun Fact: A Penny Dreadful was a popular serial literature on sale, during the nineteenth century. They cost a penny (no kidding) and were based on fictional tales of the supernatural. The title is more than fitting within the show, featuring werewolves, vampires, witches and Frankenstein’s monster.

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