One of the most enjoyable new shows currently on television is definitely Showtime’s Penny Dreadful. Though the John Logan-created horror series has aired just four episodes so far, it has quickly carved out a sexy, scary niche for itself over on the premium cable network. Now, Showtime has decided to pick it up for a ten-episode second season.
Though the series premiere had so-so ratings (872,000 viewers, or 1.44 million with re-runs), Penny Dreadful has become the most viewed show ever for the network on Showtime on Demand and on Showtime Anytime, with over 3.6 million viewers on the two platforms in its third week. Penny Dreadful has also been met with a positive reception from viewers and critics. Personally, I’ve enjoyed reviewing the show immensely, and I’m excited to see how it continues throughout the second half of its eight-episode first season.
Starring Eva Green, Timothy Dalton, Reeve Carney, Billie Piper, Harry Treadaway and Josh Hartnett, Penny Dreadful inserts famous characters from horror literature into Victorian London, where they work together to prevent forces of evil led by demonic vampires from ending the world. So far, Dorian Gray, Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s monster and Mina Harker have appeared on the series, and an appearance from Count Dracula is widely expected in the coming weeks.
Penny Dreadful is currently airing its first season at 10 p.m. on Sunday nights. The second season will arrive in 2015.