Penny Dreadful “Fresh Hell” 

“You can’t change who you are no matter who you save.” Mina’s dead. The vampire is dead. But as Vanessa tries to remind Ethan, the war is not over. Something else is coming, something they can’t hunt because it’s Sir Malcolm, and Dr. Frankenstein, and Ethan Chandler, and Vanessa Ives and Sembene who are now the prey.

Dr. Frankenstein and His Creature

Brona’s body is ready for reanimation. All they have to do is wait for a storm. It remains to be seen if she’ll even like the Creature or her creator. She’s, of course, meant to be the Creature’s eternal companion but the good doctor was getting a little handsy with her when she was still just a corpse. There’s also the possibility that she won’t have anything to do with either one of them. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of monster she’ll be. Will she retain any of Brona’s personality? Is there a chance she’ll have any memories? Like Frankenstein, I hope she doesn’t remember her former life. Ethan might have been the one bright spot in an otherwise tragic existence. And speak of Ethan, if he ever realizes what Dr. Frankenstein has done to his beloved Brona, there will be hell to pay.

The Creature Gets a Job

I wonder if The Creature will ever feel confident enough in his appearance to show his face in public. Now he tries to hide, tries to stay in the shadows, tries to cover his scarring with his hair. So when he sees an opening at a wax museum, he thinks this might be the perfect fit. The shop’s proprietor, Mr. Putney, seems benevolent enough — until we discover he hired The Creature specifically for the way he looks; he plans to make a fortune off him. Their daughter, Levenia, is interesting though. Since she can’t see his face, she has nothing to fear. Is it strange that I already feel like she’s a better match for him than Brona?

Ethan Wants to Leave Town

After the massacre at the Mariner’s Inn, Ethan feels that it might be best to leave. He’s so afraid of hurting his friends that he thinks they’ll be better off without him. But after he and Vanessa are set upon by those witches, he seems to reconsider. I, personally, want to understand more about his condition. He turned when he was threatened at the Inn, but he remained a man when the witches set upon him and Vanessa. Why didn’t he turn? What triggers the wolf man? Either way, I’m glad he’s staying for now. Vanessa needs him and everyone else to help ward off the devil, who still wants to claim his prize.

Questions

I think we have seen Vanessa Ives scared before, despite what Ethan says. She’s scared of losing her mind to the creature inside her. She’s afraid of losing herself. This new threat should scare them all, though. Evelyn Poole seems like a worthy and competent adversary, although she’s already underestimate Miss Ives. What will she send after her next and will the rest of the group become targets as well?

I literally cannot imagine Sir Malcolm trying to live in the country with his wife, so I’m glad she turned down his suggestion. She is understandably upset — as she said, they have no more children for him to kill. So I’m assuming that’s the last we’ll see of her. Will Sir Malcolm look for comfort elsewhere (again) or will he try to remain true to his marriage vows?

Inspector Rusk is gonna be trouble, isn’t he? But I’m so curious to know his story. From the very brief introduction we got, we can tell he’s a man of tradition, the history of things is important to him. And he’s disabled. Did that happen on the job or elsewhere?

Where is Dorian Gray? Part of me wonders if he and Vanessa can be friends and how he’ll fit into the story this season.

Penny Dreadful airs Sundays at 10/9c on Showtime.