List of Penny Dreadful episodes
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:09:35 PM Wikipedia source
Penny Dreadful is a British-American horror drama television series created and written by John Logan, who serves as executive producer alongside Sam Mendes. The title refers to the penny dreadfuls, a type of 19th-century cheap British fiction publication with lurid and sensational subject matter. The series premiered on Showtime on May 11, 2014. After the third-season finale on June 19, 2016, series creator John Logan announced that Penny Dreadful had ended. During the course of the series, 27 episodes of Penny Dreadful aired over three seasons. The series draws upon many public domain characters from 19th-century British and Irish fiction, including Dorian Gray from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray; Mina Harker, Abraham Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, Renfield, and Count Dracula from Bram Stoker's Dracula; Victor Frankenstein and his creature from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; and Dr. Henry Jekyll from Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Tables
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 8 | May 11, 2014 (2014-05-11) | June 29, 2014 (2014-06-29) | |
| 2 | 10 | May 3, 2015 (2015-05-03) | July 5, 2015 (2015-07-05) | |
| 3 | 9 | May 1, 2016 (2016-05-01) | June 19, 2016 (2016-06-19) | |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
| 1 | 1 | "Night Work" | J. A. Bayona | John Logan | May 11, 2014 (2014-05-11) | 0 | |
| In Victorian England on September 22, 1891, a woman and her daughter are brutally abducted and later found mutilated and dismembered. Meanwhile, the enigmatic Vanessa Ives enlists the skilled marksman/showman Ethan Chandler to do some "night work". She introduces him to Sir Malcolm Murray, father of the recently-abducted Mina Harker. The trio infil | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Séance" | J. A. Bayona | John Logan | May 18, 2014 (2014-05-18) | 0 | |
| Sir Malcolm offers his assistance with the "Ripper" case, proclaiming that they should be looking for a beast, not a man. Ethan befriends Brona Croft, a sickly prostitute, who later has an erotic encounter with the seductive and charming Dorian Gray. Vanessa and Sir Malcolm attend Ferdinand Lyle's party. There, Vanessa meets Dorian, and the two are | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Resurrection" | Dearbhla Walsh | John Logan | May 25, 2014 (2014-05-25) | 0 | |
| Victor is forced to listen to the story of his first creation. Caliban was abandoned by Victor after he was created, and wandered the streets until an actor took pity on him and gave him a job in the Grand Guignol theatre. Lonely, the creature demands that Victor make him a mate. Ethan joins Vanessa and Sir Malcolm's company once again. Vanessa's v | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Demimonde" | Dearbhla Walsh | John Logan | June 1, 2014 (2014-06-01) | 0 | |
| Vanessa grows increasingly infatuated with Dorian. Victor and Professor Van Helsing study Fenton's blood, hoping to manufacture a cure. Sir Malcolm and Victor come face to face with a vampire; Fenton is killed in the ensuing conflict. Concluding that Fenton had allowed himself to be captured, Sir Malcolm and Vanessa discuss the probability that Min | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Closer Than Sisters" | Coky Giedroyc | John Logan | June 8, 2014 (2014-06-08) | 0 | |
| Vanessa, through a letter to Mina, relates their backstory. The Ives and Murray families were neighbours and friends, to the point where Vanessa and Mina were considered as close as sisters, and it was accepted as a foregone conclusion that Vanessa would marry Mina's frail brother, Peter. As a young girl, Vanessa caught Sir Malcolm and her mother h | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "What Death Can Join Together" | Coky Giedroyc | John Logan | June 15, 2014 (2014-06-15) | 0 | |
| Sir Malcolm, Ethan and Sembene track the vampires to a quarantined ship and learn that Mina is closer than they thought. Not trusting Vanessa, Sir Malcolm encourages her to spend the evening with Dorian. During sexual intercourse with Dorian, Vanessa hears a dark voice greeting her, causing her to leave in a hurry. Brona reconciles with Ethan, but | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Possession" | James Hawes | John Logan | June 22, 2014 (2014-06-22) | 0 | |
| Vanessa's evening with Dorian allows a demon to possess her. Sir Malcolm engages the help of Ethan, Victor and Sembene to restrain her, but her condition worsens as time passes. Sir Malcolm, having hoped that Vanessa could contact Mina while under the influence of the possession, finally allows a Catholic priest into the house to administer last ri | |||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Grand Guignol" | James Hawes | John Logan | June 29, 2014 (2014-06-29) | 0 | |
| Vanessa rejects Dorian's further advances, noting that he is not good for her. Caliban's first love ends poorly, and he is forced to leave the theatre, returning to Victor's lodgings. Victor initially tries to kill his creation, but takes pity on him instead. Brona's consumption nears its end. Unbeknownst to Ethan, Victor smothers her and uses her | |||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
| 9 | 1 | "Fresh Hell" | James Hawes | John Logan | April 19, 2015 (2015-04-19) (online) May 3, 2015 (2015-05-03) (Showtime) | 0 | |
| Vanessa is barraged by an onslaught of disturbing occult images brought on by the mysterious Evelyn Poole. Following the massacre in the Mariner's Inn, Ethan believes he needs to leave London. Dr. Frankenstein works to bring Brona back to life while under pressure from Caliban, who, in search of work after being let go at the Grand Guignol, applies | |||||||
| 10 | 2 | "Verbis Diablo" | James Hawes | John Logan | May 10, 2015 (2015-05-10) | 0 | |
| A distressed Vanessa looks for comfort from Sir Malcolm, who takes her to an underground care facility for people suffering from cholera. Vanessa begins to work as a volunteer there. Dr. Frankenstein begins his work with Brona, now known as Lily. A Scotland Yard inspector tracks down the sole survivor of the Mariner's Inn Massacre. Evelyn begins he | |||||||
| 11 | 3 | "The Nightcomers" | Brian Kirk | John Logan | May 17, 2015 (2015-05-17) | 0 | |
| A young Vanessa harnesses her fledgling powers as a witch from the Cut-Wife (real name Joan Clayton), a trainer and master of the dark arts, but as she sees the extent of Vanessa's powers, the Cut-Wife warns her of the dangers that lie ahead and the evil that will chase her until the end of her days. | |||||||
| 12 | 4 | "Evil Spirits in Heavenly Places" | Damon Thomas | John Logan | May 24, 2015 (2015-05-24) | 0 | |
| Lyle divulges how the grim and disconcerting history behind the Verbis Diablo relics affects Vanessa; Inspector Bartholomew Rusk speaks with a survivor of the Mariner's Inn Massacre; Hecate does her best to get close to Ethan. However, during their meeting in a cafe, Ethan reveals Hecate's ruse and believes she is an agent of his father's. Vanessa | |||||||
| 13 | 5 | "Above the Vaulted Sky" | Damon Thomas | John Logan | May 31, 2015 (2015-05-31) | 0 | |
| Vanessa, Ethan, Sembene, and Sir Malcolm strive to work together as a team to defend the old mansion from another attack; Caliban becomes increasingly impatient with Frankenstein; Hecate returns from her travels with a gift for her mother. Vanessa meets Lily, and is able to detect the look of love between Frankenstein and Lily. Caliban and Vanessa | |||||||
| 14 | 6 | "Glorious Horrors" | James Hawes | John Logan | June 7, 2015 (2015-06-07) | 0 | |
| Sir Malcolm returns home to learn the fate of his wife, but is seemingly unaffected by the news. Victor realizes that Vanessa has met the Creature and is visibly affected. Dorian throws a ball to introduce Angelique to high society. However, the evening turns into a scarring experience for Vanessa, who is forced to attend without an escort after Et | |||||||
| 15 | 7 | "Little Scorpion" | Brian Kirk | John Logan | June 14, 2015 (2015-06-14) | 0 | |
| The following morning, Vanessa and Ethan retreat to the Cut-Wife's cottage, where a figure from her past resurfaces. On the first night, Ethan leaves as the full moon rises, causing him to change and attack sheep. Vanessa awakens to Ethan cutting down the tree where the Cut-Wife was murdered. The pair spend their time gardening, target practice, co | |||||||
| 16 | 8 | "Memento Mori" | Kari Skogland | John Logan | June 21, 2015 (2015-06-21) | 0 | |
| Malcolm is visited by Inspector Rusk, making the connection between him and Ethan. By remembering the events from the year before, Malcolm's connection to Evelyn begins to falter. Using the voodoo doll, Evelyn attempts to hurt Malcolm; however, Sembene helps break the spell. Malcolm begins to have visions of everyone important to him, and Evelyn fa | |||||||
| 17 | 9 | "And Hell Itself My Only Foe" | Brian Kirk | John Logan | June 28, 2015 (2015-06-28) | 0 | |
| Still hiding in the Cut Wife's cottage, Vanessa and Ethan are discovered by Roper, the bounty hunter that Ethan mauled. Vanessa stabs him to death and they bury the body. Victor arrives to inform them of Malcolm's situation and they return home. Victor's addiction to narcotics worsens. Meanwhile, the Putneys trap Caliban in a cell, planning to disp | |||||||
| 18 | 10 | "And They Were Enemies" | Brian Kirk | John Logan | July 5, 2015 (2015-07-05) | 0 | |
| Vanessa faces the Master/Devil in the form of a puppet of herself, who promises her a normal life with Ethan and a family, if she chooses to give him her soul. Meanwhile, Malcolm and Victor continue to be tormented by the ghosts of their life, who demand their deaths. Vanessa manages to resist the Master's promises, beginning to recite words from t | |||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
| 19 | 1 | "The Day Tennyson Died" | Damon Thomas | John Logan | April 24, 2016 (2016-04-24) (online) May 1, 2016 (2016-05-01) (Showtime) | 0 | |
| As London grieves the death of "the last great poet" Alfred Tennyson, all the characters are scattered around the world. A distraught Vanessa fights a severe depression with the help of an alienist; Victor Frankenstein seeks redemption with the aid of an old classmate, Dr. Henry Jekyll; Sir Malcolm meets a mysterious man in Zanzibar; Ethan Chandler | |||||||
| 20 | 2 | "Predators Far and Near" | Damon Thomas | John Logan | May 8, 2016 (2016-05-08) | 0 | |
| Dorian and Lily rescue a girl named Justine from a torture house. Rusk refuses to hand the matter of Ethan's execution to the Americans due to his snatching. Vanessa begins her regular sessions with Dr. Seward; Renfield begins gathering information for his new master. Jekyll shows Frankenstein his lab. They agree to test on a subject before attempt | |||||||
| 21 | 3 | "Good and Evil Braided Be" | Damon Thomas | John Logan | May 15, 2016 (2016-05-15) | 0 | |
| The Creature returns to London in search of his former family. Sir Malcolm and Kaetenay continue to track Ethan and Hecate, as does Rusk, with the assistance of Franklin Orstow and his deputies. Dorian and Lily continue their tutelage of Justine in the acquisition of power. As Vanessa continually struggles with the mysterious forces tracking her ev | |||||||
| 22 | 4 | "A Blade of Grass" | Toa Fraser | John Logan | May 22, 2016 (2016-05-22) | 0 | |
| In order to better understand the plight that she has been given to deal with, Vanessa convinces Dr. Seward to hypnotise her so that she may relive her time in the clinic and remember her meeting with the master. In doing so, she discovers that the only person she ever saw in her room at the clinic was "John Clare". | |||||||
| 23 | 5 | "This World Is Our Hell" | Paco Cabezas | Andrew Hinderaker | May 29, 2016 (2016-05-29) | 0 | |
| Ethan, Hecate, Sir Malcolm, Kaetenay, Rusk and the rangers continue the trek across the western landscape. Frankenstein and Jekyll test their modified serum on their subject with miraculous results. Hecate encourages Ethan to embrace his dark side, and they become closer. With Ethan's agreement, she summons rattlesnakes to kill the rangers; Rusk an | |||||||
| 24 | 6 | "No Beast So Fierce" | Paco Cabezas | Andrew Hinderaker & Krysty Wilson-Cairns | June 5, 2016 (2016-06-05) | 0 | |
| Rusk and Ostow arrive at the household and place everyone present under arrest. Lyle embarks on an indefinite trip to Cairo. Frankenstein perfects the serum. The Creature comforts his dying son, until the latter opens his eyes and is horrified by the Creature, who leaves, distraught. Catriona Hartdegen agrees to help Vanessa defeat Dracula. Vanessa | |||||||
| 25 | 7 | "Ebb Tide" | Paco Cabezas | John Logan | June 12, 2016 (2016-06-12) | 0 | |
| Kaetenay has visions of Vanessa in danger, which prompts Sir Malcolm and Ethan to travel back to London. The Creature returns to his wife and son, on the advice of Vanessa. Lily sends her assembled army of women out to kill, which disturbs Dorian. Catriona Hartdegen helps Vanessa discover that Dracula's human identity is Dr Sweet and tells her he c | |||||||
| 26 | 8 | "Perpetual Night" | Damon Thomas | Krysty Wilson-Cairns | June 19, 2016 (2016-06-19) | 0 | |
| Sir Malcolm, Ethan and Kaetenay arrive in London to find the streets deserted and falling under the influence of darkness. Catriona helps save them when they are attacked by vampires at Sir Malcolm's home. She tells them that the end of days is coming and that Vanessa is the only one who can stop it. Dorian dismisses Lily's army and then kills Just | |||||||
| 27 | 9 | "The Blessed Dark" | Paco Cabezas | John Logan | June 19, 2016 (2016-06-19) | 0 | |
| Dracula reveals to Vanessa that Ethan is prophesied as his only threat. Dr. Seward discovers from Renfield the location of Dracula's lair. Lily leaves Dorian. The Creature's son dies and his wife urges him to take the boy to Victor so that he may be resurrected, telling him not to return otherwise. Sir Malcolm and the others head to Dracula's lair | |||||||
| Season | Episode number | Average | ||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |||
| 1 | 872 | 722 | 734 | 730 | 797 | 681 | 799 | 856 | – | 770 | ||
| 2 | 575 | 536 | 639 | 640 | 712 | 566 | 572 | 523 | 604 | 746 | ||
| 3 | 540 | 554 | 599 | 482 | 656 | 722 | 651 | 448 | 551 | – | ||
References
- "'Penny Dreadful,' 'Nurse Jackie' and 'Californication' get premiere dates"https://web.archive.org/web/20140117224450/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2014/01/penny-dreadful-nurse-jackie-and-californication-get-premiere-dates.html
- "'Penny Dreadful' Ends After 3 Seasons, Series Creator & Showtime Boss Confirm"https://deadline.com/2016/06/penny-dreadful-ends-after-three-seasons-eva-green-john-logan-showtime-david-nevins-patti-smith-video-1201775483/
- "Sunday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: "Good Wife," "Game of Thrones" Top Viewers, Demos"http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2014/05/13/sundays-cable-ratings-and-broadcast-finals-good-wife-game-of-thrones-top-viewers-demos-269415/cable_20140511/
- TV by the Numbershttps://disqus.com/home/discussion/tvbtn/sunday_cable_ratings_game_of_thrones_wins_night_silicon_valley_real_housewives_of_atlanta_river_mons/
- TV by the Numbershttps://web.archive.org/web/20140529085336/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/05/28/sunday-cable-ratings-nba-playoffs-win-night-mad-men-devious-maids-total-divas-married-to-medicine-turn-more/267900/
- "Sunday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: Another Week, Another "Game of Thrones" Victory"http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2014/06/03/sundays-cable-ratings-and-broadcast-finals-another-week-another-game-of-thrones-victory-494315/cable_20140601/
- TV by the Numbershttps://web.archive.org/web/20140614030809/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/06/10/sunday-cable-ratings-game-of-thrones-wins-night-keeping-up-with-the-kardashians-devious-maids-veep-turn-more/271830/
- "Sunday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: NBA Finals Go Out on Top for ABC"http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2014/06/17/sundays-cable-ratings-and-broadcast-finals-nba-finals-go-out-on-top-for-abc-388412/cable_20140615/
- TV by the Numbershttps://web.archive.org/web/20140627084959/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/06/24/sunday-cable-ratings-world-cup-soccer-wins-night-true-blood-the-last-ship-falling-skiesdevious-maids-penny-dreadful-more/276323/
- TV by the Numbershttps://web.archive.org/web/20140707022950/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/06/30/penny-dreadful-season-finale-draws-856000-total-viewers-second-most-watched-episode-behind-premiere/278220/
- "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 5 "https://web.archive.org/web/20150507173207/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-sunday-cable-originals-5-3-2015.html
- "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 5 "https://web.archive.org/web/20150515002531/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-sunday-cable-originals-5-10-2015.html
- "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 5 "https://web.archive.org/web/20150521044335/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-sunday-cable-originals-5-17-2015.html
- "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 5 "https://web.archive.org/web/20150527193200/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-sunday-cable-originals-5-24-2015.html
- "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 5 "https://web.archive.org/web/20150603210641/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-sunday-cable-originals-5-31-2015.html
- "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 6 "https://web.archive.org/web/20150610105742/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-sunday-cable-originals-6-7-2015.html
- "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 6 "https://web.archive.org/web/20150617153535/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-sunday-cable-originals-6-14-2015.html
- "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 6 "https://web.archive.org/web/20150623191944/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-sunday-cable-originals-6-21-2015.html
- "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 6 "https://web.archive.org/web/20150630210604/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-sunday-cable-originals-6-28-2015.html
- "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Sunday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 7 "https://web.archive.org/web/20150709144833/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-sunday-cable-originals-7-5-2015.html