Ep 4. Demimonde

In the fourth episode of Penny Dreadful season 1, titled Demimonde, the dark and twisted world of Victorian London gets even more complex as secrets and dangerous intrigues unfold. The episode opens with Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) visiting Dorian Gray's (Reeve Carney) decadent mansion, where she's dazzled by his collection of art and curiosities. Meanwhile, Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) is growing more suspicious of Sir Malcolm (Timothy Dalton) and his true intentions, even as they continue to search for Malcolm's missing daughter Mina (Olivia Llewellyn).

As the investigation into Mina's disappearance deepens, Vanessa and Malcolm's young companion Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) begin to suspect that her disappearance may be linked to a sinister group known as the Demimonde. This shadowy underworld of London is inhabited by those who lurk in the shadows and revel in the darker aspects of human nature, and it's clear that they have designs on Mina that are far from benevolent.

As the episode progresses, we also see Vanessa grappling with her own demons, both figuratively and literally. She's still haunted by visions of a terrifying creature that are starting to affect her mental and emotional health, and we glimpse some of her past traumas that have left her vulnerable to such terrors.

Meanwhile, Ethan is drawn deeper into the underworld of London when he meets a beautiful and mysterious woman named Brona (Billie Piper). She's a prostitute who's had a hard life, but there's a spark between them that's hard to ignore. As Ethan tries to figure out what he really wants, he's also forced to confront some hard truths about his own past and the darkness that lurks within him.

All of this, of course, is set against the backdrop of a London that's both beautiful and terrifying, a place where the veneer of civilization is thin and danger lurks around every corner. The production design and cinematography in Penny Dreadful are truly stunning, and in Demimonde we see even more of the seedy underbelly of this world, from opium dens to brothels to secret societies.

Ultimately, this episode sets up even more questions and intrigues that will keep viewers coming back for more. Who are the Demimonde, and what do they want with Mina? What is the creature that haunts Vanessa, and how can it be defeated? And what role will Ethan and Brona play in the larger story that's unfolding? With its rich characters, dark mysteries, and sumptuous visuals, Penny Dreadful remains a must-watch for fans of horror, Gothic literature, and Victorian melodrama.