Penny Dreadful 2.06

[selenak]

Seriously, stop with the draggging it out show, stop it, stop it, stop it. On various levels. At least there's the chance that Dorian is just playing a long because why not, and he doesn't care what Brona is up to running around as Lily Frankenstein as long as it's amusing. Also we had textual deja vu acknowledgment from both parties. But I just want this storyline to be over with or rather move to the stage where she knows, I don't care what happens afterwards, I simply can't stand the not knowing on her part anymore, it's not suspenseful, it's just awful.

Not quite so annoying, but also frustrating: Vanessa fainting at the end. I mean, after I calmed down about yet another post poned showdown opportunity, I realised that at least she now knows Hecate's identity (and the Victorian looks of the three younger witches in general), and should be able to put 2 and 2 together after Evelyn, so there's that, but still.

On the other end of the scale between frustration and fulfilment: Ethan finally does something extremly sensible about his condition. Enlisting Sembene in order to be both chained up and witnessed: now that's the spirit, Ethan. It will clarify to him what exactly he becomes during his transformation (to clear up any lingering doubts), it ensures there won't be any additional deaths this full moon, and Sembene is a great choice for confidant.

(Sidenote: I don't approve that in this 'verse werewolves don't transform as soon as the full moon rises but seem to wait until midnight (or is it another hour? This is confusing.)

The Pinkerton agent tries blackmail, as I expected. Look, fellow, I don't care about your bounty hunter/scalping past, but blackmailing a proved killer is just plain dumb.

Lavinia and Dorian both noticing Caliban's and Lily's cold hands: I think I know what this sets up for Caliban, but other than good continuity (the condition should be identical for both), I'm not sure re: Lily.

Speaking of Caliban, Victor's face when Vanessa mentions her new friend John Clare was priceless. (And yet another time the show cruelly raised my hopes for Victor getting busted in this episode. Grarrrhg.) Especially when she went on praising him.

The Malcolm storyline is a mixture between frustrating and not. On the one hand, it reminds me of yet another reason why I don't like a certain type of plot - if someone is under a spell, he or she is not responsible for their actions and that's just not interesting from a character development pov. Otoh, the debate between Ethan, Vanessa and Sembene as to whether Malcolm's blasé reaction to Gladys' death is just Malcolm-style callousness or is something different as great because given the past, I can buy Ethan going for the former and Vanessa not being sure, and that Sembene is the only one who is sure that this isn't Malcolm-style callousness but just plain something wrong. Sembene, you are of course the most competent, and I'm counting on you to begin the de-spelling procedures soon, because if Malcolm stays bewitched until the finale it's just plain waste of an interesting character. (Though given how long they'rere dragging out the Brona/Lily reveal, I have now an unholy fear he might.)

Again on the bright side: Vanessa and Evelyn having their first verbal sparring, and Vanessa correctly deducing Evelyn is Up To No Good, even if she's not yet made the right conclusion.

Evelyn had her first non-gleeful supervillain scene ever with Lyle, interestingly enough, and what she says about the absence of God, her anger about it, makes me wonder whether they'll go for a "Evelyn is what Vanessa might become if she chooses wrongly" characterisation.

State of the Lyle loyalties: still reporting to Eveyln but also trying to keep Vanessa safe. Also spotting a possible witch division, since he deduces Hecate is up to something behind her mother's back.

Dorian's storyline at last intersects with the rest of the cast again, though since he doesn't bust Victor by outing Lily as Brona, this isn't much good. Otoh at least Angelique has a nice evening out, minus some frisson when Dorion is flirting with Lily. (Which offers Victor the opportunity to become possessively jealous - just END this storyline, Logan, please.)

Inspector Rusk tracking down Ethan at the wax work recreation of the massacre gives me the hope that since he won't be able to prove anything against Ethan without the show losing a main character, he might come in handy to deal with the Dickensian wax shop owners soon since they're clearly planning to do SOMETHING villainous. I continue to like the good Inspector.

Comments

[toujours_nigel]

I delightedly anticipate someone recognising Brona-Lily every damned time, but of course no luck. Arguably Vanessa only saw her for a very short time, but Dorian should have had more than a feeling of deja vu. I almost hope it's a long con, but I've been hoping that for Dorian since he was first introduced, and so far no luck.

[selenak]

It's incredibly frustrating. Mind you, I do now hope that Lily may get disillusioned with Victor on her own due to his behavior during the ball, because at this rate they'll drag the Brona reveal out until the finale.

[cybel]

I've an out-there theory (until Jossed) about Ethan and the Pinkerton agent, Roper. What if Roper survived the attack because he, too, is a werewolf or other kind of werebeast? What if Ethan's father knows this and that's why he sent Roper after Ethan, i.e. to fight fire with fire?

Also, what if Roper, not Ethan is the beast responsible for all the atrocities, not Ethan? Ethan doesn't remember what happens when he wolf's out, but maybe Roper has more control of his own changes and plans to use Ethan's guilt against him.

[selenak]

Roper as the alternate killer/werebeast would be a worthy Penny Dreadful twist, but in that case, he went about bringing Ethan back in a stupid way. Any time other than the full moon would have been better for a showdown. Still: will keep this in mind when watching the next episode!