Elegant and erotic in its savage yet sordid beauty, the third season of John Logan's stylishly literate monster mashup never loses focus despite being, quite literally, all over the map. [9-22 May 2016, p.18]

The best horror show on television returns with a season that feels flush with heightened ambition, visual artistry, dramatic energy, and - of course - fresh blood.

Season 3's American-set storyline breaks things up nicely with some classic western elements mixed in with the show's established creature horrors, and the aesthetics of the production have never looked better.

Fresh blood and sharp ideas make for delicious, smart-pulp fangoria. [22/29 Apr 2016, p.105]

Dreadful creator John Logan has firm control over the series’ mordantly witty, dry tone. He has me hooked again.

When it gets to the meat of the dark source material that gives the show its name, the action is kinetic and satisfying in a manner previous seasons occasionally struggled to provide.

Penny Dreadful’s set work is unparalleled, and this season the bright oranges and yellows of the Old West make for a welcome contrast to the washed-out blues and grays of Old London. Oh, there is action here.

This show has grown so much over the last few years. Everything got bigger and better. Season 3 starts slowly, but promising. New characters, new enemies, a growing personal drama. It is not scared to be gross, sick, but this add more to the title, to the dreadfulness. We've seen how depression installs over some of them. The dialogue and direction of each scene is better than ever, it makes you think, deeply. All in all, a great, fresh, sick and gorgeous start. I cannot wait for the rest of the show to be released. But, I think, after that intense hour, I am still having some questions over it: what happened with Dorian? Where's the daughter of the evil puppeteer, where's Lily ? We have seen everything, but not Dorian. I am really excited for his part, I am sure it will be something grand and amazing. Great show, great season start. I hope it attracts more people than it actually did over the last 2 seasons.

The title says it all, this is a penny dreadful. What does that mean? Well, for one it is sensational, a bit cheesy and over-the-top, but that is part of its DNA. It does not hide it, nor it is ashamed of it, but embraces it fully. By having this in mind you can enjoy the show fully. The third season adds Dr. Jekyll to the fold and expands the world of Victorian London to America, where our dashing were-wolf is set to face his terrifying father. Vanessa is sublimely depressed, as well as doctor Frankenstein who has resorted to heroin after the conniving Lily betrayed him. While we are at it, Lilly reigns supreme with Dorian Gray as her immortal mate bound to wreak havoc. Finally, the Creature and Sir Malcolm are at the end of the world, the first in the Arctic and the second in Africa, both of them in search of memories long gone... The production remains as aesthetically sublime as ever. The dialogues are woven with divine lyricism and the stories remain dreadfully compelling as ever. The new villain in particular is set to be the most terrifying one yet! Enjoy, the fright-fest, my dear dreadfuls!

They let this show fall apart and obviously had no plan after the first 2 seasons. Then they just ended it. Terrible way to treat a show that had so much going for it.

Seasons one and two were absolutely wonderful! Loved loved loved. Season 3 is beyond bad. Such a huge disappointment. If you haven't seen S3 yet... do yourself a favor and DON'T. Let Penny remain a good memory for you. S3 - RIP

It's a tragic thing - watch this show's steady decline into pointless fluff. Season 1 was fantastic - great writing, engaging characters, magnificent setting and a premise with almost limitless potential. Season 2 did not measure up to season 1 but it was eminently watchable, even if it did begin to show signs of incoherence creeping in. Well. Season 3 has been a train wreck from the get go. The quality of the writing, the dialogue, the plot - has simply nose dived. Its almost as if they got rid of the writing talent who breathed life into brilliant characters in season 1 and replaced them with a team of narcissistic, self indulgent women's studies graduates. The show has become a farce - a directionless, boring caricature of the engaged adventure it started out as. Now we have increasing levels of hip and edgy scenes with fluffy dialogue supported by pointless and contradictory plot points. The timeless themes and anchoring touch points with historical realism are gone - replaced with feminist Mary Sue characters and man-hating subtext. All class and subtlety has been thrown out, replaced with ham fisted bluntness and cringe worthy character arcs that suggest they were produced by hormonal teenagers filled with sooky angst. Viewers know when they stop being entertained and start being preached at. In Season 3 - Penny Dreadful made an unmistakable transition from rip roaring adventure to merely a vehicle for superficial social justice propaganda and feminist dogma. No thanks. Penny Dreadful - it was good while it lasted; but I'm one to unplug the life support when the patient is brain dead. A sad demise.