Streaming Sci Fi TV: Penny Dreadful Is Available on Amazon’s Prime Video

Streaming Sci Fi TV: Tracking down sci fi and fantasy shows of interest available on the streaming services.

What Is It?

This gothic horror drama intertwines classic literary characters such as Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and figures from Dracula into a dark, original story. Set in Victorian London, the series follows explorer Sir Malcolm Murray, psychic Vanessa Ives, and American gunslinger Ethan Chandler as they confront supernatural threats while battling their own inner demons.

Aired: Showtime, 2014-18, Three Seasons Totaling 27 Episodes

Starring: Reeve Carney, Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, Rory Kinnear, Billie Piper, Danny Sapani

Created By: John Logan

Why Watch It?

The odd little horror series appeared on Showtime in Spring of 2014 and slowly started to turn into a sleeper genre entry as it built up some positive buzz. It was noted as a richly atmospheric and visually striking show that was well-acted by a notable cast, with Eva Green particularly singled out for her performance as Vanessa Ives. The show was rather unique for television–even for the premium cable channels–combining gothic horror, psychological drama, and literary lore into a cohesive whole. And far from the lurid stories that its title invoked, it was a well-plotted-out series with good narrative direction.

The first season received high marks from critics and viewers, and each year those accolades increased. Penny Dreadful did end rather abruptly in its third season, but series creator John Logan claims that was planned. and the show does tie up its major arcs. A second Penny Dreadful series–subtitled City of Angels–would arrive in 2020, but even though that came from the same creator, it has no direct ties to the original.

Where Is It Streaming?

All three seasons of Penny Dreadful are now streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video. That service has quite a lot of sci fi and fantasy TV shows from past years available, and it has a good selection of originals as well (watch for an upcoming post with a rundown of those). The show is also still available for streaming on Paramount+, and you can buy it DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD from sellers like Amazon.com. Penny Dreadful: City of Angels is not included with Prime Video (nor is it on Paramount+), but it is available to purchase VOD.

Stream or Purchase VOD

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