Penny Dreadful: Above the Vaulted Sky
June 1, 2015 4:24 PM - Season 2, Episode 5 - Subscribe
Vanessa, Ethan, Sir Malcolm, Sembene and Lyle protect the mansion from another attack; Angelique is humiliated; the Creature grows more impatient; Evelyn works on a new totem.
lily and victor's relationship is fundamentally gross but i guess at least he's giving her a choice? sort of? idk? it's less revolting than caliban's whiny entitled MAKE ME A FUCKDOLL OR I'LL KILL EVERYONE bullshit, at least.
posted by poffin boffin at 5:38 PM on June 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 5:38 PM on June 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
Also I'm a little tired of Ethan's mysterious past, but presumably it will be the season finale reveal. otherwise i will set fires.
posted by poffin boffin at 5:40 PM on June 1, 2015
posted by poffin boffin at 5:40 PM on June 1, 2015
I find the A plot SO BORING. I love Dorian and Angelique. While I find the whole Lily, Victor, Caliban triangle very disturbing, it's also...entertaining and it was nice to see that moment with the hand played off in so many sub plots.
I find Caliban's attitude understandable-Victor selfishly created him, just like Victor is being selfish with Lily/Brona (let's not forget what happens if Ethan discovers all this). Caliban is, in some ways, a child as he was not given the care to achieve emotional maturity. This is his equivalent of throwing a tantrum to get what he wants as his other strategies didn't work.
Basically I'm less disturbed by Caliban's threats motivated from pain than Victor's...weird passion for his creation.
posted by miss-lapin at 7:58 PM on June 1, 2015
I find Caliban's attitude understandable-Victor selfishly created him, just like Victor is being selfish with Lily/Brona (let's not forget what happens if Ethan discovers all this). Caliban is, in some ways, a child as he was not given the care to achieve emotional maturity. This is his equivalent of throwing a tantrum to get what he wants as his other strategies didn't work.
Basically I'm less disturbed by Caliban's threats motivated from pain than Victor's...weird passion for his creation.
posted by miss-lapin at 7:58 PM on June 1, 2015
Vanessa is so marvelously charmed by everyone else's plotlines, it's so cute
posted by vibratory manner of working at 10:28 PM on June 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by vibratory manner of working at 10:28 PM on June 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
Well, wasn't that quite a good deal of thrusting! Though tinged with a certain sadness... melancholy thrusting, if you will.
If this were a show which subtitled its seasons, I'd cast my vote for Penny Dreadful: Thrusting into the Void.
(Actually, that subtitle could work for a lot of shows I love or once loved... True Blood, Game of Thrones... Community after season 4...)
posted by susoka at 10:41 PM on June 1, 2015
If this were a show which subtitled its seasons, I'd cast my vote for Penny Dreadful: Thrusting into the Void.
(Actually, that subtitle could work for a lot of shows I love or once loved... True Blood, Game of Thrones... Community after season 4...)
posted by susoka at 10:41 PM on June 1, 2015
The whole Creature/Lily/Victor thing - I would like to think that Lily is a lot more aware of the situation than she's letting on and is basically playing Victor and the Creature, but I'm not sure. But the whole situation is so damn creepy in all ways - far worse than poor Mrs Murray.
I loved the Dorian/Angelique stuff, but I have a horrible feeling Angelique is going to find the portrait.
posted by along came the crocodile at 11:51 PM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
I loved the Dorian/Angelique stuff, but I have a horrible feeling Angelique is going to find the portrait.
posted by along came the crocodile at 11:51 PM on June 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
Vanessa is so marvelously charmed by everyone else's plotlines, it's so cute
YES she was practically clapping like a giddy seal while watching Lily and Victor, which I think goes a long way to me being less revolted by their relationship than I feel I should be. Also if I can ever bring myself to care about Caliban's plot line it will be because of how well she draws him out and rehumanizes him.
why doesn't eva green have all the emmys
posted by poffin boffin at 6:06 AM on June 2, 2015 [6 favorites]
YES she was practically clapping like a giddy seal while watching Lily and Victor, which I think goes a long way to me being less revolted by their relationship than I feel I should be. Also if I can ever bring myself to care about Caliban's plot line it will be because of how well she draws him out and rehumanizes him.
why doesn't eva green have all the emmys
posted by poffin boffin at 6:06 AM on June 2, 2015 [6 favorites]
Lyle knows that Mrs Poole/Mme Kali is an actual bad witch, doesn't he? Has he been ensorceled or is he just keeping that secret because of reasons?
also i was predictably delighted by his furtive tallis snuggling in the basement
posted by poffin boffin at 6:08 AM on June 2, 2015
also i was predictably delighted by his furtive tallis snuggling in the basement
posted by poffin boffin at 6:08 AM on June 2, 2015
Lyle has to know they're evil – they're blackmailing him to spy for them, right? He's in a really precarious position caught between the two camps; I get the sense he'd much rather help the Scoobies (or whatever we're calling them), but fears what exquisite tortures the witches might inflict. I fear for his long-term position among the living & hale.
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 6:33 AM on June 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 6:33 AM on June 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
I WILL BE VERY UPSET IF HE DIES HORRIBLY.
Also I just realized that the woman Mme Kali drove mad in the last episode is Malcolm's estranged wife.
posted by poffin boffin at 7:05 AM on June 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also I just realized that the woman Mme Kali drove mad in the last episode is Malcolm's estranged wife.
posted by poffin boffin at 7:05 AM on June 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
I found myself waking up in the middle of the night, going "Oh god, Madame Kali is going to be able to waltz right in with an invite because of Sir Malcolm's horny ass. DAMMIT."
posted by Kitteh at 10:36 AM on June 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 10:36 AM on June 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
It wasn't consensual though, was it? Didn't she enchant Sir Malcolm into it?
posted by along came the crocodile at 12:03 PM on June 2, 2015
posted by along came the crocodile at 12:03 PM on June 2, 2015
She did enchant him so under said enchantment--as methinks Madame Kali doesn't half-ass things, if her nightmare doll factory is anything to go by--he is probably going to be the unwitting hen who lets in the fox.
posted by Kitteh at 12:06 PM on June 2, 2015
posted by Kitteh at 12:06 PM on June 2, 2015
Didn't she enchant Sir Malcolm into it?
I thought the whole point of seducing him was so she could get some blood for a fetish.
The point of killing off his wife is so she can continue to seduce and manipulate him without having to deal with any guilt on his part for cheating on his estranged wife.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:52 PM on June 2, 2015
I thought the whole point of seducing him was so she could get some blood for a fetish.
The point of killing off his wife is so she can continue to seduce and manipulate him without having to deal with any guilt on his part for cheating on his estranged wife.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:52 PM on June 2, 2015
I think it did start out consensual, though, no? Wasn't he attracted to her when they met at the seance? I didn't get the impression that she engineered that entire meeting, I thought she was surprised to see ("meet") Vanessa there. but then again that was last season so who knows.
posted by poffin boffin at 5:31 PM on June 2, 2015
posted by poffin boffin at 5:31 PM on June 2, 2015
I think it did start out consensual, though, no? Wasn't he attracted to her when they met at the seance?
He might have been interested/intrigued back at the S1 seance, but he only got shot into hyperdrive horniness this season after she got him to smell her perfume and whispered some spell in his ear while he was distracted.
The point of killing off his wife is so she can continue to seduce and manipulate him without having to deal with any guilt on his part for cheating on his estranged wife.
I don't know, I thought she did it to increase his guilt - when he realizes he was having sex when his wife was suffering a horrible death? And, she's bound to taunt him with it being all his fault eventually, when she reveals herself and starts monologue-ing her Evil Speech of Evil.
posted by oh yeah! at 6:17 PM on June 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
He might have been interested/intrigued back at the S1 seance, but he only got shot into hyperdrive horniness this season after she got him to smell her perfume and whispered some spell in his ear while he was distracted.
The point of killing off his wife is so she can continue to seduce and manipulate him without having to deal with any guilt on his part for cheating on his estranged wife.
I don't know, I thought she did it to increase his guilt - when he realizes he was having sex when his wife was suffering a horrible death? And, she's bound to taunt him with it being all his fault eventually, when she reveals herself and starts monologue-ing her Evil Speech of Evil.
posted by oh yeah! at 6:17 PM on June 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
ooh, i forgot about the perfume thing.
posted by poffin boffin at 6:29 PM on June 2, 2015
posted by poffin boffin at 6:29 PM on June 2, 2015
So what was Vanessa doing on the stairs at the end? Was she possessed or something?
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:33 PM on June 3, 2015
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:33 PM on June 3, 2015
So what was Vanessa doing on the stairs at the end? Was she possessed or something?
Her hair was curly again, so I'm going to say yes.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:22 PM on June 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
Her hair was curly again, so I'm going to say yes.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:22 PM on June 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
Yeah, she looked really fabulous, so I figured she was back on that dark side.
I have never been happier that they kept Dorian in the show. That scene was amazing! That was one sex-ay thunderstorm! Could have done without Victor's diaper-butt, but I suppose that's the cost of admission.
I only hope Vanessa's kindness to John Clare doesn't turn him into a stalker fedora-misogynist who feels betrayed when she doesn't reciprocate his crush.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 4:42 PM on June 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have never been happier that they kept Dorian in the show. That scene was amazing! That was one sex-ay thunderstorm! Could have done without Victor's diaper-butt, but I suppose that's the cost of admission.
I only hope Vanessa's kindness to John Clare doesn't turn him into a stalker fedora-misogynist who feels betrayed when she doesn't reciprocate his crush.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 4:42 PM on June 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
I only hope Vanessa's kindness to John Clare doesn't turn him into a stalker fedora-misogynist who feels betrayed when she doesn't reciprocate his crush.
But that's his only move!
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:50 PM on June 3, 2015 [10 favorites]
But that's his only move!
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:50 PM on June 3, 2015 [10 favorites]
I'm with everyone on the YOWZA of the Dorian/Angelique sex. I was disappointed that Dalton didn't show any skin, but maybe the AV Club recapper has it right:
"It’s interesting to see how director Damon Thomas presents the various sex scenes visually: the more comfortable the characters are in their own skin and with their sexuality, the closer the camera and the more explicit the scene. In the case of Gray and Angelique, it’s about as graphic as Showtime gets. At the other end of the spectrum we get a high overhead shot of a fully-clothed Victor humping spasmodically atop Lily. Evelyn Poole and the mind-clouded Sir Malcolm are somewhere in between."
That, or Dalton & Treadway both got one look at the glory of Beauchamp & Carney and asked if they could keep their pants on this episode.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:38 PM on June 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
"It’s interesting to see how director Damon Thomas presents the various sex scenes visually: the more comfortable the characters are in their own skin and with their sexuality, the closer the camera and the more explicit the scene. In the case of Gray and Angelique, it’s about as graphic as Showtime gets. At the other end of the spectrum we get a high overhead shot of a fully-clothed Victor humping spasmodically atop Lily. Evelyn Poole and the mind-clouded Sir Malcolm are somewhere in between."
That, or Dalton & Treadway both got one look at the glory of Beauchamp & Carney and asked if they could keep their pants on this episode.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:38 PM on June 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
Why doesn't Vanessa remember meeting Brona? I seem to recall them meeting at a theater in season one?
I love this show for it's writing though. It's just superb. I loved the Scotland Yard inspector's scene with Ethan. I also love any scene with Lyle, but honestly, that who sacred writing macguffin make me giggle every time they trot it out.
Also, can't wait to get Sembene's full backstory. Not to ship this show up too much, I honestly expected him and Sir Malcolm to be secretly shacking up.
posted by Catblack at 8:28 PM on June 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
I love this show for it's writing though. It's just superb. I loved the Scotland Yard inspector's scene with Ethan. I also love any scene with Lyle, but honestly, that who sacred writing macguffin make me giggle every time they trot it out.
Also, can't wait to get Sembene's full backstory. Not to ship this show up too much, I honestly expected him and Sir Malcolm to be secretly shacking up.
posted by Catblack at 8:28 PM on June 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
They totally did, but Brona had dark hair and a really terrible "irish" accent and was kind of, well. Slovenly. And tubercular. But yeah, it is ridiculously illogical to imagine that someone as perceptive and intelligent as Vanessa could be so wholly tricked by a dye job and a genteel accent.
posted by poffin boffin at 9:50 PM on June 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 9:50 PM on June 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
Why doesn't Vanessa remember meeting Brona? I seem to recall them meeting at a theater in season one?
Oh, gods, I forgot that. Well, I suppose that the meeting was only for a moment, and with the dye job and the accent, well...
But if wolfboy doesn't recognise the ambulant corpse of his former lover, then I will be miffed.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:13 PM on June 3, 2015 [4 favorites]
Oh, gods, I forgot that. Well, I suppose that the meeting was only for a moment, and with the dye job and the accent, well...
But if wolfboy doesn't recognise the ambulant corpse of his former lover, then I will be miffed.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:13 PM on June 3, 2015 [4 favorites]
Vanessa saw Mrs Poole/Mme Kali twice too, first in the cut-wife flashback episode, then later at the séance. She just seems to have a bad memory for faces.
posted by pipeski at 2:41 PM on June 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by pipeski at 2:41 PM on June 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm inclined to forgive Vanessa for forgetting Kali from her time with the cutwife as she was mostly watching that exchange from a bit of a distance in the pouring rain. Easy mistake to make.
But Van missing Brona in Lilly....dunno about that. I was so hoping that the world would end a bit for Victor. Because he irritates the shit out of me.
posted by Jilder at 9:45 PM on June 11, 2015
But Van missing Brona in Lilly....dunno about that. I was so hoping that the world would end a bit for Victor. Because he irritates the shit out of me.
posted by Jilder at 9:45 PM on June 11, 2015
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by Kitteh at 5:14 PM on June 1, 2015 [5 favorites]