This most recent episode of Penny Dreadful was again a bit slow, but exposed many interesting facets of our protagonists none the less. Ethan and Vanessa take a sabbatical to the moor and the former home of the Cut Wife in order to lay low as things have been heating up in London. It’s so nice to see the medium and the sharpshooter share so many scenes as they bond over stories and learning new skills. However the bucolic nature of their trip doesn’t last forever as forces, both from outside but mostly from within complicate their relationship.
The episode focuses on Vanessa and Ethan, which I find refreshing since these two and their relationship are what both began and ended the first season. Seeing these two grow from strangers, to allies, to friends amongst and despite of the craziness they have experienced has been a highlight of Penny Dreadful for me. “Little Scorpion” is an exploration of their inner selves, of both their metaphorical and literal claws. We see very little of the goings-on in London, but I can say Brona’s persona of Lily became much more interesting in this episode and I am eager to see more of her in the future.
I do feel like “Little Scorpion” seems to be circling ideas already hinted at enough in this season. I feel the audience will have pieced together enough information by now that the plot should move forward, and yet there is still much discussion between the characters, particularly in regards to Brother Gregory’s writings. I worry that the pace of the season is starting to succumb to that of last year, where there were long stretches of characters ruminating over things, broken up by quick bursts of action. That being said, the character study regarding Ethan and Vanessa is necessary and enjoyable to watch in “Little Scorpion”, so my judgement on the season as a whole will be reserved for now.
Be sure to catch “Little Scorpion” this Sunday on Showtime!
Well that's not giving away much...
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about Brona-Lily. The synopsis also said that the perception we had of the character was going to change. Maybe her resurrection has had consequences in her personality.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing more of Ethanessa. I think they are a couple with a great connection and it's wonderful the fact that this episode focuses on both of them.
It doesn't give much away with regards to their romance. But it won't be easy going obviously lol.
ReplyDeleteThat's clear. They'll have to overcome a lot of obstacles (and I'll be frustrated when that happens) but I'm sure they'll be together by season 3. At least I hope so.
ReplyDeleteI liked your review this time, is deep and reveals a lot of...much more that if you would give a millions of details. The Verbis Diablo is what will bring remembers of past/Future/present, and will reveal the fate of our characters. Over all the Ethanessa´s fate....in God´s plan. Will have fruits, i´m pretty sure. And with Lily...i see how are you going. Yes all we were thinking the same....and will be true..
ReplyDeleteThe thing is ....the Ethanessa´s shippers will can throwing fireworks??? What do you think? lol Poor werewolf....
ReplyDeleteAh yeahh, bro! you mean if they will be BANG BANG! well i just hope that Vanessa can to be a real woman this time and let the male role for Ethan, ironically speaking...you understand me...i ´m pretty sure. ...lol
ReplyDeleteDorian/Lily, Ethanessa 100%....lol
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited about this ep. I want to see how Ethan and Vanessa's relationship will evolve. And also, I guess the Devil is back in this episode, I wonder if it's because of Vanessa using the book, I guess it is, but I wonder in what form he's back? Is he possessing Vanessa? Or Ethan? Or he just, well, appears?
ReplyDeleteI think they will have slept together by 8.
ReplyDelete"However the bucolic nature of their trip doesn’t last forever as forces, both from outside but mostly from within complicate their relationship"
ReplyDeletei really liked this line you wrote, because it's definitely whats inside them that's gonna create a whole lot of problems for them
He is a werewolf and she gets possessed they have their work cut out for them lol. But I imagine they will get through it as trying as it might be.
ReplyDeletewell, let's hope so cuz i really like them together
ReplyDeleteThis show hasn't exactly had the best romances. Vanessa got with Dorian and that didn't end well plus Ethan and Brona ended in tragedy. But John Logan is setting them up as soul mates it seems to me.
ReplyDeleteI think they'll have sex before the season ends though I'm not sure if the next episode will be the EPISODE. Two episodes ago when everyone was having sex with everyone I really felt sorry for Ethan. The tension between him and Vanessa was evident and when she walked away I thought poor Lupus Dei...
ReplyDeleteI think that they will sleep together in this episode, but will be a cut scene, maybe . nothing explicint . but problably not because Showtime has the content as "Adult content" not "Nudity " or neither "Brief Nudity" ....but by other hand will be difficult not have sex for Ethanessa in this episode. Almost all the episode will be for them alone....well maybe they ´ll play the cards...
ReplyDeleteThe Devil is a looser, but maybe Vanessa will read the Joan´s book. Read the books seems die. I think she will regret in the last minute.
ReplyDeleteThey will be not present in episode 8 maybe, just Ethan going to London? Josh has shout some fight with Caliban am i right? i think.. Just the Company in London and the rest of characters will be showed and Ethan in Malcolm´s house for back with Vanessa again.
ReplyDeleteBut Ethanessa will spend a a sabbatical together and they won´t have SEX? impossible, even for normal people. haha less for people with superpowers like them.
ReplyDeleteWell Ethan & Brona were together like two eggs cooked....she was sick and had Zero chemistry with him: Zzzz so bored. Logan is a great writer but he can not make MIRACLES HAHA.
ReplyDeleteNah Eva is the show people watch the show for her :)
ReplyDeleteWe do, but i would like see between Eva´s legs to Josh...you know... in some moment...hahaha. lol Eva has a great legs...
ReplyDeleteOh great, a Vanessa/ Ethan episode. -.-'' Not here for that!
ReplyDeleteWhat? It's showtime I'm expecting graphic sex but yes Eva is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI completely disagree with you. Ethan and Brona were interesting and really complex, he loved her and I can't wait for him to find out about what Victor did. Though I do enjoy Victor/Lily A LOT. I want to see more of them.
ReplyDeleteComplex? Ethan and Brona complex? Ethan when saw Vanessa just started to drooling, yeah pretty complex. i´m disagree with you 100% respect that. But i´m agree in Victor/Lily and in their great interaction. I´m even pretty interested in Dorian/Lily what he will want...
ReplyDeleteI think they might pull an Eve from Dark Shadows. In Dark Shadows Adam (Frankenstein monster) wanted a mate so the protagonists created Eve. What they didn't know was that Eve was inhabited by the soul of an evil woman, placed there by Nicholas Blare.
ReplyDeletehttp://film-book.com/tv-review-penny-dreadful-season-2-episode-7-little-scorpion-showtime/ WTF is this?!?! She reads the book and all of a sudden her soul is lost blah blah. I was expecting more from John Logan instead of the evil dead book of doom trick >:( she will get her soul back...leave it to a writer to go as dark as he can before the light...also ringing out the sexual tension won't improve fan moods...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sho.com/sho/penny-dreadful/season/2/episode/10#/index never mind in typical writer fashion the soul issue will be delt with in the finale. Although she isn't the first person to read a forbidden book....
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the line and thanks for reading!
ReplyDeleteAlmost Confirmed; nothing between Ethanessa. For me= Show dead.
ReplyDeleteThe Review was in insightful and in no way diminishes my excitement for this episode. I also found all the comments prior to mine made excellent points and If I may I would like to add a few observations.
ReplyDeleteThere has been a lot of talk of Ethan and Vanessa finally becoming intimate but I must say I love the slow burn, this is a show when people have sex without compunction, so the pull, tug and tension of this evolving relationship really entertains me.They have several problems between them, hes a werewolf, she is a possesed witch , they are afraid to cross the slim line between friendship and love because they value each others place in each others' lives. I think John Logan is saving that eventual succumbing for a particular moment for a reason, it is clearly going to be a special event and I think fans should not be so desperate for the culmination, enjoy the journey between the characters. Ethan and Vanessa are clearly going to be an epic love story.
Another point I find interesting are those individuals who based on their charcater preferences prefer specific 'ships' over others. That is fine everyone has thier own personal opinion, but Vanessa is the Lead of Penny D and Ethan is the Male Lead and the very first episode began with their meeting so its safe to say in some way it is the "Vanessa and Ethan show' from the beginning so I am curious why their continued interaction and strong bond which was illustrated from the very first season should not be cultivated in an episode about their growing relationship which had been established as complicated and full of underlying chemistry and more than platonic attraction from day 1.
I mean no disrespect just making observations.
Great read I agree after some thought about it :)
ReplyDeleteI just have to comment since I've read this in several of the previews now. I think calling the episodes 'slow' or 'a bit slow' shows a lack of understanding (or appreciation) of the genre. This show is not going to appeal to everyone and that's ok. However, these episodes have been exactly what the show is intentionally supposed to be... dark gothic horror. This show is not going to be action packed or full of colorful lively scenes... and that is exactly what makes it so special and unique.
ReplyDeleteI agree. There is no need to race to the finish line. If ever there was a show about the journey, it is this one. Personally I find the dialogue and complexity of all the relationships much more interesting than fake sex scenes between a couple of actors. If I wanted to watch that, I could just re-watch True Blood.
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