Penny Dreadful’s Jekyll: A Monstrous Makeover Gone Wrong?

Penny Dreadful, a Victorian horror romp through London’s underbelly, threw a monstrous curveball at fans of classic horror. This show, inspired by the lurid penny dreadful pamphlets of the era, featured a mashup of iconic characters – Frankenstein, Dorian Gray and Dracula, just to name a few. Season 3 added Dr. Henry Jekyll (played by Shazad Latif) to the creepy crew, but this Jekyll wasn’t quite the Hyde-y fellow audiences expected.

The OG Jekyll And Hyde:

For the uninitiated, Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella tells the tale of a skilled doctor who concocts a potion unleashing his dark side – the monstrous Mr. Hyde. Jekyll loses control, and the story ends with a bang (or should we say, a potion-induced suicide) for both Jekyll and Hyde.

Penny Dreadful’s Jekyll:

This version took a sharp turn. Instead of a potion-powered monster, Jekyll brewed a serum that calmed the raging minds of the criminally insane. This twist hinted at a dark past – an abandoned childhood marked by racism due to his Indian heritage that fuelled Jekyll’s inner demons. However, instead of transforming into a rampaging Hyde, he learned to manage his anger.

Also Read: Exploring Literary Allusions And Inspirations in ‘Penny Dreadful’

So Where’s The Hyde?

Here’s the shocker: the ‘Hyde’ twist came in the finale. It turned out Dr. Jekyll was actually the heir to the title ‘Lord Hyde’ after his father’s death. This inheritance was a far cry from the monstrous alter ego fans craved.

The Unfinished Story:

Many fans blame the show’s abrupt cancellation for the lacklustre Jekyll arc. Show creator John Logan intended the ending, but rumours swirl about declining ratings and funding cuts forcing a premature finale. Perhaps, with another season or two, we might have finally seen a full-blown monstrous transformation. For now, fans are stuck with a ‘Lord Hyde’ title – a pale shadow of the expected horror.

–Silviya.Y