Ep 2. Seance

In Penny Dreadful season 1 episode 2, "Seance," we see the continuation of the dark and eerie world of Victorian-era London. The episode opens with a seance being held by the spiritualist, Madame Kali, at the home of Sir Malcolm Murray. They are attempting to contact Murray's deceased daughter, Mina. Vanessa Ives, the mysterious and powerful medium we met in the first episode, is also in attendance. The seance quickly takes a dark turn, leaving everyone shaken and slightly disturbed.

We then see Ethan Chandler, the charming American sharpshooter, recruited by Murray to help with his search for Mina. Chandler is taken to the underground lair of a group of vampires. They offer him a deal to become one of them, but he quickly realizes the true nature of their intentions and fights his way out.

Back at the mansion, Murray and Vanessa have a conversation about their past and their connection to the supernatural. Vanessa reveals that she has experienced seizures since she was a child and believes that she has a connection to something powerful and dark. She also reveals that she knows more than she's letting on about Murray's true motives for finding his daughter.

We then see the return of Dorian Gray, the enigmatic and seductive gentleman we met in the first episode. He attends a lavish party and quickly becomes enamored with Vanessa. They engage in a heated discussion about the nature of desire and power.

Throughout the episode, we see various relationships develop and unravel. Murray and Vanessa's connection deepens, while Chandler and Murray's daughter, Mina's friend Brona, share a brief but intense moment of intimacy. The looming threat of the supernatural also continues to grow, culminating in a shocking and gruesome final scene that leaves us eagerly anticipating what's to come.

Overall, "Seance" is an intense and gripping installment in the Penny Dreadful series. It delves deeper into the complex characters and their motivations, while also introducing new elements of horror and intrigue. The cinematography and set design continue to impress, creating a fully immersive world that feels both familiar and unsettling. Fans of gothic horror and supernatural drama won't want to miss this episode.