Penny Dreadful – “Predators Far and Near” Review. Danger Is Closer Than You Think.

Season 3, Episode 2

Air Date: Sunday, May 8, 2016, 10PM E/P on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

“Please don’t come here again; you will not like what I am becoming.” – Lily

“Predators Far and Near” certainly ends with a shocking revelation, but before we dive head first into another great episode of Penny Dreadful, let’s dissect what transpires throughout the second episode of season three.

Red lanterns glow brightly above a busy London street. Two characters that didn’t appear in the season premiere, “The Day Tennyson Died,” make their entrance as they emerge from a horse drawn carriage. Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney), looking as dashing as ever, and his consort Lily (Billie Piper) step out for the evening, although not for a typical dinner and show. No, these two have much more morbid tastes this evening than something so ordinary.

Dorian and Lily have decidedly unique ideas of a grand evening out.

I shouldn’t be so shocked by Dorian’s singular interests, but Lily surprises me as she relishes every stab and knife stroke she wields in that dark room. A small circle of men, save Lily, watch as a young naked girl (Jessica Barden) is about to be “butchered.” While I appreciate the pomp and circumstance of this particular scene, the end result could have been achieved with less bloodshed. Then again, where would the fun be in that, especially for a writer? The exhilarated look in Lily’s eyes as she kneels down to the young woman speaks volumes. Before Lily became what she is, she was a prostitute, mistreated by vulgar men most of her life. But do Dorian and Lily truly rescue this poor girl or have they condemned her?

Kaetenay uses primal methods to communicate with Ethan to find out where he is.

Sir Malcolm (Timothy Dalton) and Kaetenay (Wes Studi) make their way across the ocean to the Americas in hopes of finding Ethan (Josh Hartnett). While this particular story line doesn’t get much air time, what it shows in “Predators Far and Near” reveals much about Ethan’s past and his connection to Kaetenay. Studi is a wonderful addition to the cast this season. The way he carries himself and his enchanting performance lend authenticity to the Native American culture. Kaetenay communicates with Ethan from afar but their brief conversation holds much contention. Does Kaetenay truly want to save Ethan or does he want vengeance for his family? The same could be said for Ethan – who knows if he even wants to be saved?

Victor seems impressed with the results of his friend Dr. Jekyll’s experiments

We learn where the good Dr. Henry Jekyll (Shazad Latif) works when he shows his dear friend Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) exactly what he can do for Lily. In his laboratory, Jekyll reveals a new behavioral therapy he’s been experimenting with. His treatment of the patients and the experimentation he conducts is abominable but the results are outstanding. Since we all know the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I wonder how long the so called behavior cure will last. All the testing is done on live human subjects but Lily is neither alive nor dead. Will this behavioral therapy work on her new physiology? In the season two finale, we learned Lily still bleeds when Victor shoots her. Can Lily be tamed? Better still, should she be?

Dr. Seward needed a cigarette after hearing Vanessa divulge some of her sins.

The most intriguing story lines of “Predators Far and Near” revolve around Vanessa (Eva Green), Dr. Seward (guest star Patti LuPone), and Dr. Alexander Sweet (Christian Camargo). I love the way Vanessa’s character is written; she’s bold — not fearless, per se — and unafraid of going outside what society deems normal for how a Victorian woman should behave. Factor in Dr. Sweet. After visiting the museum again, Vanessa decides to take it one step further after hearing Dr. Sweet’s admiration for “Captain Nemo” and his adventures. While a woman asking a man out on a date is not unheard of, it was considered a bit brazen in the late 1800s. I’m still reserving judgment for Dr. Sweet. The chemistry between Green and Camargo seems a bit off. It doesn’t give me the same thrumming vibe I feel when Green and Hartnett are on screen together.

Vanessa continues her unconventional therapy sessions with Dr. Seward, who records them for future reference. After providing Dr. Seward with a confession of some of her past sins, Vanessa’s tear-stained face says it all. Does Dr. Seward believe everything she’s been told? How could she not? And just when I thought Dr. Seward was unmovable or unfeeling, we see a break in her stony façade after Vanessa leaves.

For a man of his intelligence, it seems odd he would continue to forget Vanessa’s name. Of course, I believe he’s simply being coy.

Alas, as we saw in “The Day Tennyson Died,” Dr. Seward shares her keen interest in Vanessa and her past with another. Dr. Seward’s secretary, Mr. Renfield (Samuel Barnett), works for the infamous “Dracula.” Yes, if you didn’t riddle out my clues at the end of my review of “The Day Tennyson Died,” or you didn’t watch the episode, Dracula himself has come to London seeking Vanessa. In season one, we met several vampires, one being Vanessa’s best friend, Mina Murray Harker (Olivia Llewellyn). After Mina’s death in the season one finale, “Grand Guignol,” I thought that was the end of the vampire story line, but apparently series creator and writer John Logan has other ideas.

Dracula’s identity has thus far been cloaked in shadows and deep echoing voices, but at the end of “Predators Far and Near,” he makes a grand appearance. As I stated at the beginning, it was quite a shock to me but it shouldn’t have been; shame on me for not piecing it together. Did you figure it out before the reveal?

Overall

Ethan is more than capable of taking care of himself…especially when the moon is full.

“Predators Far and Near” propels Vanessa’s story line forward while slightly advancing other plot points. What transpires throughout this episode is both riveting and compelling. I’m anxious for Sir Malcolm and Kaetenay to reach the New Mexico Territory because I fear for Ethan’s safety. I don’t trust Hecate (Sarah Greene) despite her assistance to Ethan. Why does she follow him? What is she really after? And who is her master now? Of course, I’m eager to discover more about Dracula and his insatiable interest in Vanessa.

Let me know what you think of “Predators Far and Near.” Were you surprised at the identity of Dracula? Leave me a comment below or tweet me @judybopp. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Tune in to Penny Dreadful, Sundays at 10PM E/P, only on Showtime.

For more on the show, go to the official site http://www.sho.com/sho/penny-dreadful/home.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.