The BEST episodes of Penny Dreadful

Every episode of Penny Dreadful ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Penny Dreadful!

Penny Dreadful is a frightening psychological thriller that weaves together the monsters of classic stories. The explorer Sir Malcolm Murray, American gunslinger Ethan Chandler, Miss Vanessa Ives and others unite to combat supernatural threats in Victorian London. They encounter some of literature's most terrifying characters, including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, the Wolfman and iconic figures from the novel Dracula.

Last Updated: 2/15/2024Network: ShowtimeStatus: Ended
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And They Were Enemies
star
8.16
2319 votes

#1 - And They Were Enemies

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 7/5/2015

Vanessa has to use all of her strength to try and defeat the demon.

Directors: Brian Kirk
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Nightcomers
star
8.14
2368 votes

#2 - The Nightcomers

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/17/2015

In a flashback, Vanessa meets The Cut-Wife, who teaches her how to harness her powers. Isolated at her lonely cottage on the moors, The Cut-Wife quickly realizes the extent of Vanessa’s powers and warns her of the danger that lies ahead and the evil that pursues her.

Directors: Brian Kirk
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
And Hell Itself My Only Foe
star
8.13
2201 votes

#3 - And Hell Itself My Only Foe

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/28/2015

Back in London, Vanessa and Ethan learn that Sir Malcolm is in danger. Desperate to save him, Vanessa goes alone to battle Evelyn. Ethan heads out to Evelyn’s mansion with Frankenstein, Sembene and Lyle. Lily reveals her true self to Dorian.

Directors: Brian Kirk
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Blade of Grass
star
8.08
2759 votes

#4 - A Blade of Grass

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/22/2016

Vanessa convinces Dr. Seward to use hypnosis to take her back in time, and discovers what really happened to her during her time at the Banning Institute.

Directors: Toa Fraser
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Blessed Dark
star
8.06
2755 votes

#5 - The Blessed Dark

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/19/2016

Series finale. Ethan learns the shocking truth about Kaetenay. Dr. Seward uses hypnosis on Renfield. Meanwhile, The Creature must make a moral decision as Sir Malcolm, Ethan, Kaetenay, Dr. Seward and Catriona battle to save Vanessa.

Directors: Paco Cabezas
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Possession
star
8.06
3016 votes

#6 - Possession

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/22/2014

Sir Malcolm, Ethan and Sembene must deal with the aftermath of Vanessa's night of passion with Dorian, when she is possessed by the demon that haunts them... and who has ties to the Master who controls Mina.

Directors: James Hawes
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Perpetual Night
star
8.04
2644 votes

#7 - Perpetual Night

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/19/2016

Ethan, Sir Malcolm and Kaetenay return to London. Dr. Seward discovers Renfield's secret. Meanwhile, Ethan heads out in search of Dr. Frankenstein. And Lily reveals a heartbreaking story from Brona Croft's past.

Directors: Damon Thomas
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Grand Guignol
star
8.02
3027 votes

#8 - Grand Guignol

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/29/2014

After a vision of the Grand Guignol, Vanessa, Sir Malcolm, Ethan, Dr. Frankenstein and Sembene explore an empty theater - only to be confronted by their worst nightmares.

Directors: James Hawes
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Day Tennyson Died
star
7.99
2846 votes

#9 - The Day Tennyson Died

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/1/2016

Feeling abandoned and alienated by her faith, a shattered and despondent Vanessa seeks the help of Dr. Seward, an American therapist who has an unconventional way of treatment. Meanwhile, now a prisoner under the watchful eye of Scotland Yard Inspector Rusk, Ethan Chandler is on a train speeding through the desert of the American West. Halfway around the world, in Zanzibar, Sir Malcolm is confronted by a mysterious Native American man named Kaetenay who shares a deep connection with Ethan. Back in London, Dr. Frankenstein seeks out his old friend Dr. Jekyll. With all of her friends scattered around the world facing their own demons, Vanessa is left alone to battle a new evil that has emerged from the shadows.

Directors: Damon Thomas
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
No Beast So Fierce
star
7.98
2668 votes

#10 - No Beast So Fierce

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/5/2016

Vanessa turns to an old friend for help, who introduces her to a new ally. Jared has dinner with Ethan, Hecate, Malcolm, Rusk, and Oslow, and invites his son Ethan to do his worse. Meanwhile, Vanessa takes Seward's advice and forms a closer bond with Sweet, while Victor pays Lily and Dorian a visit.

Directors: Paco Cabezas
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Glorious Horrors
star
7.96
2261 votes

#11 - Glorious Horrors

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/7/2015

Vanessa and Ethan give Sir Malcolm tragic news; Lavinia Putney is disturbed by an encounter with the Creature; Roper hunts down Ethan; Dorian hosts a lavish ball in Angelique's honor; a glorious night turns to horror for Vanessa.

Directors: James Hawes
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Predators Far and Near
star
7.93
2804 votes

#12 - Predators Far and Near

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/8/2016

Lily and Dorian rescue a young woman. Sir Malcolm continues on his journey with the enigmatic Kaetenay. Meanwhile, Ethan gets some unexpected help from Hecate. Dr. Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll hatch a plan. Vanessa’s relationship with Dr. Sweet grows but, unbeknownst to her, evil forces are tracking her every move.

Directors: Damon Thomas
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ebb Tide
star
7.92
2682 votes

#13 - Ebb Tide

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/12/2016

Kaetenay returns to London with Ethan and Malcolm to prevent the darkness that he has foreseen. Meanwhile, Vanessa realizes who Sweet really is, while Caliban is reunited with his family. Elsewhere, Dorian grows bored with Lily's revolution and makes his own plans.

Directors: Paco Cabezas
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Memento Mori
star
7.91
2281 votes

#14 - Memento Mori

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/21/2015

The Creature unleashes his rage on Frankenstein over Lily. Inspector Rusk discovers Sir Malcolm’s connection to Ethan Chandler. Malcolm goes to confront Evelyn but quickly finds himself assaulted by another one of her deadly enchantments.

Directors: Kari Skogland
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Good and Evil Braided Be
star
7.86
2687 votes

#15 - Good and Evil Braided Be

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/15/2016

Ethan and Hecate race across the desert with Sir Malcolm and Kaetenay hot on his trail. The Creature returns to London desperately trying to piece his former life back together. After Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Frankenstein’s plan fails, they come up with a new strategy. Lily and Dorian’s young acolyte, Justine, demonstrate useful skills. A clue about her past is revealed to Vanessa.

Directors: Damon Thomas
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Closer Than Sisters
star
7.85
3295 votes

#16 - Closer Than Sisters

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/8/2014

Vanessa recalls her past and the events that ultimately lead to Mina's disappearance.

Directors: Coky Giedroyc
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Little Scorpion
star
7.84
2213 votes

#17 - Little Scorpion

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/14/2015

Not feeling safe in London, Vanessa and Ethan flee to the Cut-Wife’s cottage on the lonely moors. While there, Vanessa and Ethan settle into a domestic life as they draw closer together until a figure from her dark past resurfaces. Meanwhile back in London, Lyle and Frankenstein uncover even more disturbing information from the Verbis Diablo relics. We soon discover that Lily isn’t what she appears to be.

Directors: Brian Kirk
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Evil Spirits in Heavenly Places
star
7.83
2295 votes

#18 - Evil Spirits in Heavenly Places

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/24/2015

Lyle reveals that the Verbis Diablo relics tell a very dark and disturbing story that affects Vanessa; Rusk interviews the survivor of the attack at the Mariner's Inn; Hecate tries to get closer to Ethan; Angelique and Dorian's romance grows. Back at Sir Malcolm's mansion, Vanessa, Ethan, Sir Malcolm, Sembene and Lyle carry on their evening as something evil lurks within, ready to strike.

Directors: Damon Thomas
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fresh Hell
star
7.83
2582 votes

#19 - Fresh Hell

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/3/2015

Vanessa Ives is barraged by an onslaught of disturbing occult images brought on by the mysterious Evelyn Poole. Because of the massacre he committed in the Mariner’s Inn, Ethan Chandler decides to leave London. Under pressure from The Creature, Dr. Frankenstein works to bring Brona back to life. After Mina’s funeral, Sir Malcolm returns to London to discover that a whole new evil is hunting Vanessa.

Directors: James Hawes
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
What Death Can Join Together
star
7.82
3023 votes

#20 - What Death Can Join Together

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/15/2014

Vanessa's latest vision leads Sir Malcolm, Ethan and Sembene to explore a plague ship in search of Mina. Meanwhile, Van Helsing reveals to Dr. Frankenstein more details about the creature that has taken Mina. Later, Vanessa's night with Dorian unlocks something dark within her.

Directors: Coky Giedroyc
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Verbis Diablo
star
7.80
2260 votes

#21 - Verbis Diablo

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/10/2015

Haunted by the witches, Vanessa seeks solace from Sir Malcolm. Scotland Yard Inspector Rusk searches for the sole survivor of the Mariner’s Inn Massacre. Evelyn Poole enchants Sir Malcolm. Dr. Frankenstein gives the re-born Brona a new identity. The Creature gets a new job. Dorian Gray meets an intriguing woman with a secret. Ferdinand Lyle reveals the disturbing backstory of the Verbis Diablo. Evelyn’s daughter, Hecate, hunts down a prize for her mother.

Directors: James Hawes
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Night Work
star
7.78
4997 votes

#22 - Night Work

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/11/2014

London 1891. As the police investigate a series of gruesome murders, renowned explorer Sir Malcolm Murray and the strangely beautiful Vanessa Ives know there's something darker at play. In search of someone close to them who has been lost, they recruit American sharp-shooter Ethan Chandler and Dr. Victor Frankenstein to help them on their journey.

Directors: J.A. Bayona
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
This World Is Our Hell
star
7.77
2735 votes

#23 - This World Is Our Hell

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/29/2016

Hecate and Ethan travel across the desert, struggling to survive, while the marshals follow them and Malcolm and Kaetenay follow the marshals. In London, Victor and Henry continue their experiments to perfect Henry's serum.

Directors: Paco Cabezas
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Séance
star
7.77
4153 votes

#24 - Séance

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/18/2014

In pursuit of answers, Vanessa and Sir Malcolm attend a party at Egyptologist Sir Ferdinand Lyle's home where they encounter the mysteriously beautiful Dorian Gray. The party takes a turn, however, when renowned medium Madame Kali hosts a séance. Meanwhile, Ethan befriends Ms. Brona Croft, a young Irish immigrant

Directors: J.A. Bayona
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:Apple TV
Resurrection
star
7.62
3669 votes

#25 - Resurrection

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/25/2014

Dr. Frankenstein is confronted by the consequences of his past. Vanessa has a vision of Mina, which leads her, Sir Malcolm, Ethan and Sembene to a strange discovery at the London Zoo.

Directors: Dearbhla Walsh
Writer: John Logan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV