Earlier today it was revealed that ‘Penny Dreadful’ would not be returning for a fourth season next year. Which is disappointing given that I like many was enjoying the story centred around Vanessa and her crew of monster hunters.
The series, which for me as been just as good as ‘Game Of Thrones’ came to a dramatic conclusion with its series finale, which aired in the US over weekend. The finale, which sees Vanessa’s final showdown with Dracula will be shown on UK television later tonight on Sky Atlantic.
The cancellation makes sense given that the finale sees Vanessa killed off during her final fight against evil.
As fans will know. Much of the story has always centred around Eva Green’s character. Even Sir Malcolm and Ethan were always second banana to Vanessa who for many of us was the hart and soul of the series.
When asked about the decision to end the series. The shows creator John Logan said the following.
“[The decision] was made a while ago. The show, to me, has always been about Vanessa Ives and her struggle with faith. I knew, sooner or later, it would get to a point of apotheosis, where she would either accept her God or deny her God. Midway through [Season 2] – so, two years ago — as I was planning a third season, I realized, “Oh, I see exactly where this is heading. She’s going to have that moment, and the only way she can truly have it is at the moment of her death.” So, in my mind, I began shaping the third season thinking about all the characters and how I could lead them to a place that felt like a fitting conclusion. And it was very difficult to do as a writer. I’m deeply attached to these characters. I feel like I created them, even the ones I didn’t, like Victor Frankenstein and the Creature; they’re real parts of me. That’s particularly the case with Vanessa Ives. I felt like it was the graceful, perfect way to end her story and therefore the story of all the characters.”
As someone who has been a huge fan of ‘Penny Dreadful’ for the last three years. I’m very sad to see the series end, but understand why John Logan and his team made the decision. I think the series would have struggled to have run for seven seasons given the amount of trauma that the characters had gone through in just three years.
And continuing the series without Vanessa Ive’s would not have really worked. Given that so much of the shows narrative was driven by her story.
On the bright side. ‘Penny Dreadful’ for me is likely to be a topic of conversation in the years to come and will most likely be a show that is remembered at horror and science fiction conventions of the future.
(Via TV Line)
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