Penny Dreadful: City of Angels

I've seen the original and loved it. I agree with those who say don't compare it to the original because it's nothing like it except for one quick scene that appears supernatural. Do not expect the drama and horror of the original, at least two episodes in, because it's nothing like it. If you want to see a drama based on the history of Los Angeles watch Jack Nicholson in Chinatown for a great drama, this isn't living up to it as of yet.

I didn't doubt Nathan Lane was a good actor, and I can't say I remember seeing him in a dramatic role before this, however, he was EXCELLENT in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. A true standout performance, IMHO, made all the more noticeable by the generally uninspiring and muddled overall story. Too many characters that would be the primary or secondary focus of an episode then largely forgotten other than popping up periodically w/o further development. It's set at an interesting time and place in history, but character motivation(s) and clarity of the stakes at hand were generally fuzzy and underdeveloped. Not sure that I'd bother w/ a second season.

What made the original "Penny Dreadful" series excellent was the basis of the "Penny Dreadful" tabloids that were written during that time. Many people are familiar with classic literary characters like Dr. Frankenstein and Dorian Gray. The original "Penny Dreadful" brought those and other characters into a new light by exploring their origin stories in the psychological thriller that took place in the dark corners of Victorian London.

This new series has fell lack luster in comparison. Although it is interesting in also being a period piece, the parallels end there. This series is more comparable with a less well written "American Gods." The characters are connected in a conflict between the Mexican folklore deity, Santa Muerte, the caretaker of the dead and guide to the great beyond, and her spiritual sister, the demoness Magda, who believes mankind is inherently evil and aims to prove her point.

This well-crafted series combines the Victorian penny dreadful storytelling tradition with Southern California's political, industrial, and culturally-rich history to create a unique horror-filled experience. The narratives spun here are decidedly American, and the connection to its British past may seem distant. But Magda's presence is a constant reminder of the relationship, and her presence becomes inextricably linked with Mexican-American traditions and folklore involving the spirit world.

As the murder investigation collides with the supernatural, it creates a clever forum that highlights the disturbing political attitudes and racial tensions of the time. But Magda's demonic exploitation of these social ills serves to magnify the weaknesses of a divided society. The fact that some of the dialogue sounds similar to contemporary rhetoric is equally as disturbing. It may not be as gothic as the original, but Penny Dreadful: City of Angels offers an entertaining and well-produced series that's worth tuning into.

Forget the Penny Dreadful title. This has nothing to do with Gothic Horror, London, or the bleak literary melancholia associated with the Penny Dreadful original 19th century publications.

This shows primary flaw is the naming. Consider it as "City of Angels" as a stand alone show by the same producers as Penny Dreadful, and it holds up.

An extensive list of interconnected characters makes for intricate plot lines and a palpable build of tension.

The casting is solid. Strong performances by Dormer, Bishe, Kinnear, and Lane cover the plot holes and occasionally disingenuous writing.

Take it as a an American period thriller and it holds up. As a Penny Dreadful title; it fails