Penny Dreadful Episode 2 Recap: Ancient Egyptian Demon Crashes Dinner Party

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Please Don't Pick Me, Please Don't Pick Me

After a great premiere, "Penny Dreadful" manages to top itself with the second episode entitled "Seance" The scene opens with a woman alone on a dark foggy night. She is frightened by a street lamp lightener. He passes her and then something gets him. It comes towards her. She sees it and screams. The next day, only an arm remains.

Next Ethan wakes up outside a bar. He is disoriented. Could he be the monster? Maybe he's a werewolf. He later reads a telegram from his father. It says come home and his father will help with his legal issues. Ethan meets a sassy woman named Brona Croft. She's a working girl who's trying to make it in the city. I must confess that her accent was so thick I had a hard time understanding most of what she said.

Brona responds to an ad for a model. This is how we encounter Dorian Gray.He likes to take pictures of his sexual exploits (so he's the R Kelly of Victorian England). He is not in the least bit distraught when he finds out Brona has consumption (and is coughing up blood). He's a kinky one for sure.

Sir Malcolm goes to help the police (whether they want help or not). The murderer took an arm, liver, kidney and some reproductive organs. The victim's were not drained of blood. Malcolm tells the police officer that he must change his tactics. "You need to stop hunting for a man and start hunting for a beast."

Victor is teaching Proteus about the world. He takes him out onto the street. Proteus remembers that he was a whaler. He misses his family. They encounter Ethan and Brona. Proteus offers her some chestnuts. He's quite a charmer.

In the main event, Vanessa and Malcolm attend Ferdinand Lyle's dinner party. He keeps mentioning his wife but we never meet her. She likes the gin ya know. Dorian introduces himself to Vanessa. He tries to work his mojo on her. It appears to be working. The Lyles have arranged for a seance as entertainment. Dorian grabs Vanessa's hand and they sit at the seance table. Malcolm is seated opposite them. Madame Kali senses another spirit is amongst them.

Turns out it's not just one spirit (but several). One is Malcolm's son Peter who died of dysentery. Malcolm abandoned him to go on an African adventure. Peter made him promise to name a mountain after him (but Malcolm failed at that too). "Peter loves you father" Next Mina makes an appearance. I'm not sure of the specifics but it involves a lot of cussing and a hint of incest. Amunet also reveals herself. It's best not to mess with her.

Malcolm finds out the next day from Dr Lyle that Amunet (Vanessa's spirit) and Amun-ra (her male counterpart) are hell bent on taking over the world. They will have perpetual life sustained by feeding on the spirits of the innocent. The hieroglyphics on the dead vampire creature are a spell predicting the end of man and the coming of the beast. Ferdinand suggests that Malcolm not tell Ms Ives about this.

And in the final scene, Victor and Proteus are discussing the days events and the difference between acquaintances and friends. Just then something bursts out of Proteus... literally. Proteus is torn apart. The creature emerges and says "Your first born has returned, FATHER." Oh dear. I didnt see that coming. I'm so sad that Proteus is gone. Can Victor stitch him back together?

Favorite Quotes:

"Jesus you're not an actor are you? I dated an actor once, always sucking up the oxygen out of the room"- Brona.

"Ive never f#%ked a dying creature. Do you feel things more deeply I wonder? Do you feel pain?"- Dorian Gray.

"Im not asking her (Vanessa) back...but if one is to engage with the primordial forces of darkness one must deal with a little social awkwardness"- Ferdinand.

"Fairy lights"- Proteus. Rest in peace you kind gentle soul.

Grade: 4 3/4 Monsters (out of 5). An excellent episode. I watched it twice to make sure I didnt miss anything. All the acting awards should go to Eva Green. That was quite a scene.