What to Make of 'Penny Dreadful'

"The monster is not in my face, but in my soul." — Caliban, "Penny Dreadful"

Showtime's gutsiest show, "Penny Dreadful," concluded its first season last night. In "The Grand Guginol," many stories were wrapped up, new questions arose, and new challenges took shape. The show has been renewed for a second, longer season already, so we know the story will continue. But what are we to make of the first eight-episode run?

Last night's finale was emblematic of the series — it was violent, dark, depraved, and often uncomfortable to watch. But, somewhat frustratingly, it was fascinating at times, too. The performances were good and some of the hard questions it asked and sought to explore were fascinating, too.

I remain torn on the show, as I was throughout much of the season. It is a horror show — full of many familiar literary monsters brought to life in gruesome new ways. It is never going to be pleasant or easy to watch. But the question is, will it be worth it?

This first season was frustrating. At times I thought it was worth considering and studying. At times, it didn't seem worth it at all. Certain episodes captured the magic of the performers and their performances, opening interesting doors and exploring interesting possibilities. In fact, just the idea of all these people populating the same sphere and the same time is somewhat fascinating.

But then there were the curious interludes when the show just went dark. Sometimes it was explained and became relevant to the ongoing story, other times it felt like and effect just to set the tone and scope of the show. I don't mind dark and unsettling sequences and stories, I just like there to be a larger point at the end.

Through its first eight episodes, "Penny Dreadful" succeeded merely in being unique and immune to being put in a box. That could be both a good and bad thing. There are a lot of possible ways for the story to unfold, but you have to wonder how palatable it will be for an audience moving forward.