‘Penny Dreadful’ season 1, episode 4 recap: Sex with everyone 

‘Penny Dreadful’ season 1, episode 4 recap: Sex with everyone

By Tariq Kyle (@TRQhz) at 11:02 pm, June 1, 2014

just aired the fourth episode of the season, leaving us utterly confused and a little bit in heat.

The episode starts with Dorian Grey in a brothel, sitting with a man and a woman. Later that evening, he reaches a secret room behind one of the paintings to find another large painting that he sits in front of.

Vanessa heads to a green house and meets Dorian Grey, and they get all flirtatious as she smells a flower and tells him what it’s saying to her. It said, to Vanessa, a pleasing thing, but Dorian points out it’s nightshade and very deadly. Dorian takes her to see the rarest orchid on earth, flirting again before leaving.

Victor talks with a hematologist, Professor Van Helsing, about the blood they procured from the corpse. Van Helsing says that the blood shows signs of something that will assist the person with the eating of blood. He knows about Malcolm’s search for the cure, and he understands the thing they’re trying to cure intimately.

Caliban arrives outside of Van Helsing’s, waiting for Victor and wanting him to make a female, but Victor says it will take time and money. Caliban then says his bride must be beautiful, and Victor gets sassy when Caliban pins him against a wall, pointing out how fragile he is compared to Caliban and his kind.

Ethan and Brona are in bed again, talking about how she was engaged to a man who wouldn’t look at her when they sexed. She explains that one night he got really violent and she went to her mother, but Brona’s mother said to marry him anyway. That’s when she ran away. He wants to make her happy, so he takes her to the theater to see a show.

Victor and Malcolm end up sedating the creature they have in the basement. Ethan is there and he doesn’t like the idea of experimenting on him, but Victor says they will start with transfusion. Victor asked Ethan to contribute his blood but he wouldn’t, so they took Malcolm’s.

When they are waiting for the experiment to work, Ethan gets upset that Malcolm and Victor are talking about the recent string of murders. Vanessa arrives, and then the creature wakes up. When he does, Vanessa offers him a fruit but he screams about how he needs blood. They wonder what to give him when Malcolm’s servant comes in with a live cat, twists his neck and gives it to him.

As Ethan and Brona are at the theater, it’s revealed to be the same theater that Caliban works at, and they’re showing something titled “The Transformed Beast.” And it turns out Dorian is also there, on the balcony. Across the balcony, as well, is Vanessa.

During intermission, Brona and Ethan meet Vanessa, and Dorian meets the three of them. It’s clearly an awkward moment for Brona, so she leaves and Ethan runs after her. She falls in the street and explains that they’re kidding themselves when they’re having a romance, and she wants him to wake up. From that moment on, she will only let him screw her after he’s paid, ending their romance.

Dorian shows up after Brona leaves, and Ethan asks if he’s ever wanted to be anyone else. Dorian says yes, and if he wants to be someone else he should follow him — so he does. Meanwhile, Brona falls over in the street, starts coughing and passes out.

Dorian takes Ethan to a betting place, where they bet on how many rats a dog can kill within six minutes. Everyone there is really, really into it, but Ethan can’t take it and goes to the bar. A bunch of Brits say that he’s in Britain now, so he’ll have to deal. But when they touch him, Ethan retaliates and starts attacking them.

Dorian takes Ethan back to his place to clean up and shows him his collection of colognes that make him feel like a different person. Dorian then starts concocting absinthe, and they toast to Vanessa.

Ethan explains his times in the Indian Wars. Dorian shows him some of his music, and Ethan starts remembering all of the events in the past few days. He then kisses Dorian and takes off his clothes.

In the middle of the night, the creature is singing to himself when his master arrives and lets him free, but out of our sight. He escapes the basement and Malcolm and Victor start hearing noises upstairs, but the creature follows them up. His master attacks them in the prayer room, but the creature tells him, “She’s not here!” so he leaves, but the creature gets thrown against the window and dies.

Vanessa comes back, and Malcolm tells her that the master arrived. Vanessa thinks Mina is manipulating her, but she’s not the only reason that his daughter would be playing them.

The episode starts with Dorian Grey in a brothel, sitting with a man and

a woman. Later that evening he reaches a secret room behind one of the

paintings to find another large painting that he sits in front of.

Tariq: We’ve been in that room before. See all the paintings? Not a brother. Dorian’s HOUSE. It’s why the painting is in the basement. It is the legendary Portrait of Dorian Grey.

Allison recently got a nice 6 month old Jaguar by working from a macbook.this website C­a­s­h­d­u­t­i­e­s­.­C­O­M­

I WILL NEVER WATCH PENNY DREADFUL AGAIN.

The Dorian/Ethan homosexual romp put me off!! — Men going from…… women to men… (sexually)….as if its no big deal …. sickens me as a female. Even though, anyone, with decent perception, can clearly see DORIAN is probably gay in real life (pretending to like women on screen)… The emasculation & feminizing men doesn’t seem right… NATURAL SEX BETWEEN MEN & WOMEN – has become close to obsolete in Hollywood. — Shudder to think what the world would be like without ‘true’ masculinity.

Having written all of that….. The Thespians of the MINI SERIES are intelligent, provocative, well spoken and beautiful to watch (larger-than-life)….Admittedly the DARKNESS of the characters is appealing!!! BUT ONE HAS TO DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE…. Hedonism and homosexuality is my cut off point.

Well considering the time period debauchery and sex were rife I think it is a fairly accurate. Also your whole thing about Dorian grey the character was written as bisexual or just interested in the passion side of things and not gender, despite his first love being a woman.

I would also say Ethan didn’t just turn gay, it’s meant to represent his inner beast, a savage side, because after all he is a werewolf and animals are purely instinctual and don’t really care about sexuality.

I’m also going to say this I agree with the last part of what you said, but the majority of your complaining reeks of homophobia or perhaps even xenophobia, not that phobia has anything to do with just being downright close minded. And besides don’t be ragging on Dorian Gray that man is all kinds of hot in nearly all his onscreen incarnations :P

Who give a crap if the Dorian Gray character is HOT or not….. Maybe a homosexual man like yourself…..But, trust me…. Women do not care….If a man is effeminate — doesn’t make a difference what he looks like!…. Only men are hung up on physical appearance….

One last thing….. I’m not close minded, only sick of homosexuality being pushed in my face on a daily basis!!… Your comment only proves that homosexual men care mainly about getting off…. not being connected to their emotions or love…

I think some one is secretly gay… and its not Ethan.. *coughnicholecough* … you’re a silly, silly little twit.. & Ethan is clearly not gay.. anyone with half their brain cells can see that this was strictly a sexual need of his character, a release of sorts.. He wanted to be “another person” & Dorian as an immortal, wanted to feel “human” and for Dorian, the best way to feel human is through pleasure & the best way for Ethan to feel like another person, is by doing things he would not normally do i.e. sex with another man.. I guess that just makes a fictional character on a fictional program, more open minded than a real person like you “Nichole”… *sighhhs* I’m done with thee — do not respond. Thanks & Great day being *not* gay…

p.s. if Ethan was actually bisexual, that would be pleasantly surprising.. & We ALL know you will continue watching, “pretending” not to like it..”Nichole”…

I think you mind is TOO OPEN…. as well as your legs…..No real man (straight man) would ever have gay sex with a another man– not even once…….ETHAN IS GAY (his character on the show that is)…..Closet Homosexual…. Get some values and morals – Might help you not destroy yourself in this life….

True Masculinity is intoxicating…. I’m sure you will never experience that…..Thank God I’m not in your generation because there are very few REAL MEN left.

lol ohhhhhh…. yes that explains it. You are an old rag whose “husband” diddles with other men on the side and now you’re a giant bigoted sour puss. ‘splains a lot miss’um…! I’m sorry for replying to you… This has been a true waste of my time. I’m a silly bugger for doing so – I will be praying for you – that God will forgive you for tainted thoughts and soul.. So sad, such a waste… ONCE again do not reply. I will not respond this time if you do.. Hope you have a great day… ! :~D !

SINCE WHEN HAS BEING UNDER THE AGE OF 30 MAKES A PERSON GERIATRIC??? – BUT YES I’M OLDER…. OVER 25

Such a disingenuous, fake hypocrite — “Hope you have a great day” — TYPING THINGS YOU DO NOT MEAN — As for my sour puss…. Maybe you are confusing me….. with the girl who turned you gay– the one with bad hygiene….Too bad you can’t afford or attract squeaky clean girls…. Clean enough to eat!…..

TRUST ME ON THIS ONE THING….. GOD… MAY BE LISTENING TO YOU …. BECAUSE HE IS OMNISCIENT….. BUT YOUR PRAYERS IS FALLING ON DEAF EARS….

Tainted thoughts and soul??? (makes no logical sense at all)

I am a Catholic and I don’t like gay stuff it makes me uncomfortable but I also get uncomfortable when I read stuff like you posted. A lot of times hate masquerades as someone doing “God’s work.” There is a lot of hatred in what you posted. That’s exactly the point of John 7:53, about throwing the first stone. Don’t condemn others for what you see as their failings, for you are just as imperfect as whom you condemn. THAT, sir, is the litmus test by which you must judge if your purpose is truly God’s work.

For example, here’ s a failing you may have: Leviticus, the same book which refers to homosexuality being a sin – also says that when a woman has her period you need to isolate her for 2 weeks and sacrifice a turtledove or a pigeon. And also thoroughly wash all bedding and everything she has touched. Do you have a wife/daughters and a pigeon pen? If not you might just wanna drop the stone.

Yep, she really is. But don’t sweat her Emma – I’m down with the old bag. We can only hope that God forgives her for her evil ways.

Yes youre right. Its just so hard sometimes because people like her give actual straight people such a bad name. but yes, I am done with the bitch as well.

You need to remove GOD from your vocabulary – Hypocritical Twit Fairy Boy…..What is so evil about NATURAL SEX?

GOD & HOMOSEXUALITY (which goes against nature) will never be connected or intertwined!!

oh shut up.. don’t watch then. but don’t find a site that is posting about a show that you are now disgusted by and comment like a little troll..

My comment clearly stated I was NOT going to watch…. Guess your ADD is kicking in…. Pay attention! Anyone using the word TROLL is definitely a gay man under 25 usually…. LoL ….. All you seem to understand is sex… I won’t waste my time trying to appeal to your human side. There are very few REAL MEN in your generation…. Just a bunch of fairies…. Who only think about feeling good any way possible.

I totally agree. Can we have one great show without the homosexuality. I’m no homophobe, but dammit, I’m sick of it being in every show nowadays. From GOT to House of Cards. For whatever reason, these writers insist on writing it in. I understand these things happened, but damn.

You don’t want to see gay people any more in tv and I’m assuming film, cus you are “sick of it”, but yet you aren’t a homophobe???? L O L … yeah, buddy you are. Gay people exist, just like black people, and Asians and latinos and women, so they are going to be represented in many, many, many different tv shows & films…! get over it. Thanks, byeeeee!

News Flash: BLACK PEOPLE were born the color they are!

Not debatable….. The civil rights era and Homosexuality ARE NOT synonymous…. SCHISMS APART.

Its insulting to black people every time the two are associated.

Homosexuality is a sexual preference…. There has never been any concrete, evidence humans are BORN that way – or have a gay trait/gene.

You are obviously a crazy bible thumping homophobe. If gay people are not born that way then how come some of them stay in the closet or commit suicide bc they don’t want to be gay, if they weren’t born that way wouldn’t they just stop being gay instead of killing themselves? Were you born strait or did you have to become strait? Because if there is no evidence saying people are born gay then there can’t be evidence saying people are born strait either. Bottom line if you naturally get a boner looking at the same sex your gay, if you get a boner looking at the opposite sex your strait, if both give you a boner you’re bi and last time I checked boners are pretty natural with the exception of the little blue pill. Maybe not every gay person was born that way, but I think it’s obvious by some characteristics and mannerisms that some people are naturally gay. Who are you to say it’s not natural. I have had annal sex with females plenty of times, does that make me unnatural? Lastly homosexuality is not being shoved in your face, you chose to watch it, if you don’t want to see it don’t turn on your TV, especially premium channels. No bodies forcing you to watch TV. Go to your church and continue to play Santa Clause for grow ups instead and listen to your pastor/priest/reverend/minister whatever preach hate from his little story book. It’s 2014, grow up, and just except some people are naturally gay or move along children, we are all adults here.

EVIDENCE IS THE KEY WORD — THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE ANY HUMAN BEING IS BORN HOMOSEXUAL — NONE!!! SCIENTISTS HAVE NEVER COME ACROSS A GAY GENE OR TRAIT EVER!!! NEVER WILL….

And… Uh.. I’m completely against organized religion – as it stands – in our generation….Catholic Priests are amongst the sickest, evil CREATURES in the world – promoting and espousing homosexuality – molesting BOYS….. (before they can even think clearly)…. Turning boys into effeminate MEN like the ones on this WEBSITE. RUINING LIVES!!! Depriving women of the pleasure of TRUE MASCULINITY….

Anal sex with a female is sodomy! Which is also unnatural.

Anal sex with M or F is against nature….The ANUS is made for waste elimination only (removing toxins from the human body)……A DISPOSAL CHUTE….. Not for penetration!

It shouldn’t bother you if you are not homophobic, no one is making you watch. There is plenty of great shoes without it, I could think of atleast 10 of the top of my head, if you are no watching them then you have to get your TV game up. Breaking Bad, Hell on Wheels, Boardwalk Empire, Justified, Fargo, Walking Dead, Newsroom, Turn, The Americans, Lost, Once upon a time, Newsroom, Banshee, Homeland, Ray Donavon, Under the Dome, True Detective.

THANKS FOR THE INFO AND HEADS UP ON SHOW WITHOUT DEVIANT SEX….

Speak for yourself hun! I’m a heterosexual female & while I may not watch gay porn, I think its completely hot when two hot guys make out, just like when two straight guys like it when two hot girls make out..! You are just a prude & give us straight people a bad name..smfh.. You may not like it, but to spread vile comments like this is disgusting. I came here talk about a show I love & you ruin it with your bigoted agenda.. You should be ashamed of yourself.. I feel sorry for you.. May God forgive you..

If you think heterosexual women are into viewing men banging each others putrid, feces holes and sucking off each other….. YOU ARE SO WRONG… Odd how people who sink into moral turpitude — going against NATURE itself — preach about GOD… Hypocritical …

I hope with fear and trembling …. GoD via his Christ has forgiven me.

So bisexuality sickens you. It seems to me it’s YOU who’s got some issues. And bisexuality IS natural. The Bible isn’t a biology textbook. I feel sorry for you.

THERE IS NOTHING NATURAL ABOUT BISEXUALITY or HOMOSEXUALITY – ……IN FACT …..IT GOES AGAINST WHAT NATURE INTENDED……… (MAN/WOMAN/CHILDREN/FAMILY)……MEN ALWAYS WANT TO HAVE THEIR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO…DRAGGING WOMEN INTO THEIR DEMENTED, SADISTIC SEXUAL DEVIATIONS….

PSYCHOLOGICALLY MEN FEEL BETTER WHEN WOMEN ARE DOING EVIL WITH THEM….THEY FEEL LESS HOMOSEXUAL.

It doesn’t make me feel SPECIAL to be included in the sickness some men choose to immerse themselves in!!! Women need to fight and turn against men convincing them demonic, unnatural behavior/conduct is OK!!!

How do you know nature intended for us to all breed and have families, because we can make babies? A guy can stick his dick in another guys rectum to, it’s fits, how do you know nature didn’t intend that too. Did nature intend us to destroy the planet? Because the more of us, the more we destroy this planet and if everyone had families and children then it would mean more cars, more gas emissions, more trash, and more destruction of the planet. Maybe nature intended some people to be gay to help keep population down. Who are you to say what nature intends and doesn’t intend? You should just worry about yourself and stop being a feminist and blaming everything on men. Some of the most sexual deviant people I know are females. How do you explain lesbians? Is that the fought of men to? One thing I have learned in life is that women who blame everything on men and speak out against sexual expression and promiscuous people are usually either fat or ugly and just jealous that they don’t have the same good looks and sexual flare.

A MAN WILL PUT HIS COCK IN ANYTHING…. A CHILD, ANIMAL…. SOCK, PIE HOLE…. ANY DAMN THING….FOR THE LIFE OF ME… NOT SURE WHY GOD EVEN CREATED MEN….

(should have sewn their anuses shut)… lol

All SERIAL KILLERS … men! …..MASS SHOOTINGS… men! Child molesters….. men! …. Sexual Predators…..men!….

However….Straight, heterosexual men with morals and values are a different breed….

YOU HAVE NOT LEARNED ANYTHING IN THIS LIFE SIR…

We need a new term for jumping the shark due to bashing people over the head with preposterous and gratuitous gay agenda pumping, i.e. episode 4.

oh eff you closet case looser — lol –keep watching your gay porn in the closet..! arsehole… you know you loved every minute of that man on man kiss.. I did & I’m a girl.

I doubt if you are a girl – typing such idiotic BS. Gay/Bi/Tranny men always pretend to be female.

HAHAHA! Sounds like you are speaking from experience, Nic..hole. Ass..hole. Wow. Are you truly a closeted white “Christian” republican man pretending to be a girl because that would make a lot of sense?? So you are Nichole the Asshole??! Makes perf sense now. Change your name now! Bitch. & For the record I’m 14 AND female, not that it matters, but the fact that I am more civilized than you, an old woman, is so pathetic. No grown woman would use the word “Tranny”.. My little brother used it while playing video games & my mother made him get off his games because she knew that that word was disrespectful. YOU are the idiot here.

UNEDUCATED PEOPLE WITH NO CLASS (especially gay men) ALWAYS RESORT TO VULGARITY!!! —- EXHIBITING YOUR TRUE NATURE, PERSONALITY, CHARACTER.

Someone elsewhere suggested that Ethan (werewolf, if you didnt figure that out yet) uses sex to stem his beastial killing desires, thats why he went straight for dorian. Better gay sex than murder. And frankly before reading that explaination I was ready to dump the show. Still not sold on it, but I will give it one more episode.

First let me say – I’m not a big fan of sex in TV shows or movies – its not prudity – I just find it incredibly boring. I mean here you have a good 5-10 minute segment that we all know how it’s going to go, there is no surprise…I’d almost say it’s a visual cliche and w/ Showtime and HBO its pretty much just gratuitous nudity. Better to spend that time advancing the plot! If you want to make the point two characters are having sex fine, but keep it short, don’t waste ten minutes of my viewing time on it! I feel the same way about births on TV too. Already on this “horror” show there is too little horror, too little gore, and too little of the primary characters going on with their mission.

And frankly homosexual scenes make me very uncomfortable. Sorry, its just the way it is. I could care less about who someone sleeps with but seeing it in front of me is, well, there is no way to say it but uncomfortable.

I also find Dorian to be insanely dull. Every time he hits the screen we can expect him to go on an on about nothing particularly interesting or intelligent. Flowers for example, or that chat w/ Ives at the party. I tend to find myself dozing when he comes on.

The Chandler-Grey convo was a little better.. but then Chandlers seeing blood. blood. blood. and then he goes and starts making out. WTF non-sequitor!

At least sex or murder theory brings some sense back into the mix. But I really don’t like the idea. That just promises more 10 minute sex scenes b/c now sex is not only filler but a key trait of the satyro-maniacal homicidal werewolf (great band name!).

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