Lily knocks over a house of cards and Sambene keeps it real.
Here is our review of Penny Dreadful season 2, episode 8.
The episode opens with shaking of the house of Frankenstein.
Thats a turn-on to a lot of the undead.
John Clair (Roy Kinnear) hasnt had the pleasure of cold flesh yet.
He doesnt pine for his creator though.
All the hatred of his doomed creation is balled up into a concentrated mass for the junkie scientist.
Its enough to put you off your food.
Clair barely notices, but Kinnear still gives it a glare of disapproval.
For a dead man, hes got lot of subtlety.
This is important for the creature.
Kinnear is the most relatable character.
A monster among men, he is the best of both.
Except maybe the man who watches over wounded creatures.
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Ferdinand Lyle (Simon Russell Beale) is in moral torment and mortal danger.
He is already torn between his loyalties.
His poker face betrayed because he bats his eyelashes most coquettishly when he lies.
Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney) is a proud art collector.
He will fiercely defend the merits of his unconventional portfolio against less informed critics and the straight-laced public.
Grays collection is nothing if not eclectic.
And some of his more exotic masterpieces are a little too high brow for even the most liberal connoisseurs.
Sure Angelique may profess to love the pieces, but shes too appreciative of the brush strokes.
Angelique does make a marvelous exit.
I was wondering if Penny Dreadful would show the portrait.
They certainly dragged out its unveiling long enough.
Every sin laid bare on the canvass and it comes to life and subtle changes with its latest coating.
Sambene (Danny Sapani) is keeping it real.
Were getting glimpses into the monster inside the magical Sambene.
This week, we not only find that he has more authority over Sir Malcolm than even Vanessa.
Timothy Dalton really came alive in the scene with the Scotland Yard inspector Rusk (Douglas Hodge).
They play a cat and mouse game thats worthy of the classic two-man playSleuth.
It is only a scene but it is very revelatory.
Dalton has been keeping Sir Malcolm tightly wrapped even for a British landed gentry punch in.
His stiff upper lip started at the hip until Poole came along.
Dalton truly uses all his voices tonight, and throws in a couple eye tricks.
Everything is deftly handled on Penny Dreadful.
Tonight was a catharsis.
It was for all the characters, but Dalton goes through hell and doesnt even come back.
Brona, or Lily , or the Bride of Frankenstein, came to cold life tonight.
That speech she gave to her jealous made-to-order lover was completely captivating.
But it was the sentencing that sold me.
When Lily tells John that they will share Dr. Frankensteins death grip, I almost stood up and cheered.
She may be my favorite character.
Until Vanessa comes back from the moors.
You would have thoughtPenny Dreadfulsuffered for the lack of Eva Green, but it flourished.
Every character flourished, and was allowed to do it luxuriously, in the absence of the magnetic actress.
I cant believe I didnt miss Vanessa for a minute.
Tonights episode was the best of the season.
Memento Mori was written by John Logan and directed by Brian Kirk.
Rating:
5 out of 5
