Whenever I’m in between writing projects, I’m absorbed by books and TV and movies. If my brain isn’t occupied by some dreary dark tale, I’m miserable. And I fall for shows HARD. Like cry for days and weeks when they end or my favorite character dies.

So the other day I cruised the various streaming platforms for something that I could devour. Which delivered me to my new favorite obsession: Penny Dreadful.

For the uninitiated, Penny Dreadfuls were serial magazines that told a story over a couple weeks. And the best part? They only cost (you guessed it!) a penny. The subject matter was horrific and bloody. But Penny Dreadfuls were a huge part of Victorian society and really underpinned how obsessed everyone was with the grotesque and the bizarre back then. It’s why so many gothic books today still take place then, because it makes for FANTASTIC body horror. Which *spoiler alert* is the premise of my forthcoming novel.

Now back in the mid-2010’s there was a little show called Penny Dreadful. I had always meant to watch it, just never got around to it. So when I saw it was available on Prime…

Now I’m onto the third and final season…and I just started a few days ago.

This show is AMAZING! The set pieces are gorgeous. The acting is phenomenal. Holy crap Eva Green deserves all the awards! They tackle the grey areas of humanity beautifully. They have perfected body horror. My jaw hit the floor at least once an episode. Beware, however, this show is certainly NSFW. Like not even a little.

Yes, Penny Dreadful the TV show is a loving homage to all the grisly, grotesque, and horrific gothic tales of the past. It’s one big monster mash of all your favorite creatures of the night. OMG get off the internet and watch it right now!

I will say this. There was one thing I hated about this show, besides the fact that it’s only three seasons long. This show was so inspiring that I walked away with at least two new novel ideas. Damn. Now my quiet late summer has turned into a barrage of ideas trying to ramrod themselves into my brain.

At least I’ve got three more months until my next novel writing session to decide which idea is the best. In the meantime, it’s time to watch the exciting conclusion of Penny Dreadful!