Writer’s Note: Every Penny Dreadful episode review this season will involve spoilers of some kind so you have been warned. Additionally, this week needs a content warning for sexual assault content near the end of the episode.
!! Spoilers Start Now !!
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Quick Synopsis:
Santa Muerte (Lorenza Izzo) awaits as a gang style execution occurs Mexico. Tiago (Daniel Zavotto) confronts Reilly (Rod McLachlan) for beating on the Chicano prisoners from last episode as Vanderhoff (Brent Spiner) tries to guilt him into closing the case. Tiago meets with Molly (Kerry Bishe) in Haslett’s house where Lewis’ suspicions are confirmed about her affair; Molly warns off Tiago from seeing her again. Councilwoman Beck (Christine Estabrook) openly challenges Townsend’s (Michael Gladis) proposal with a new roadway plan that doesn’t disrupt the Mexican neighborhood. Lewis (Nathan Lane) meets with Benny Berman (Brad Garrett) and pleads with him to intervene against the rising Nazi threat, by appealing to his Jewish heritage, to Berman’s chagrin.
Townsend’s sexual partner is executed by Kurt (Dominic Sherwood) as he’s kidnapped and the pair later have sex, secretly taped by Alex/Magda (Natalie Dormer) and Goss (Thomas Kretschmann) who want insurance on Townsend. Elsa/Magda attends Dr. Craft’s (Rory Kinnear) party for Tom’s birthday and meets the rest of Craft’s German Bund group, catching the eye of Herman Ackermann (Ethan Peck). Craft’s wife, Linda, (Piper Perabo) understands what Elsa wants and warns her off; Craft and Elsa later have sex in his study.
Mateo (Johnathan Nieves) and Josefina (Jessica Garza) are attacked by police officers, led by Reilly , who sexually assaults Josefina. She asks Mateo not to tell their mother as they arrive home and an argument erupts regarding Mateo’s gang tattoo from last episode and he storms out. A traumatized Josefina makes her way to a taping of Joyful Voices and hears Molly speak (in a different, more erratic manner from her last appearance, to the concern of her onlooking mother). She walks down to receive Molly’s blessing.
Lewis is picked by Berman’s henchmen, and Berman introduces him to an associate that he wants executed because he carried out the hit in Mexico, securing arms for the LA Nazi’s; Lewis refuses as Berman carries out the hit himself. Mateo angrily asks Fly Rico (Sebastian Chacon), Rio/Magda and the rest of the gang to help him murder Reilly; Mateo kills him and they dump his body in front of his precinct. Tiago shows back up at Joyful Voices kitchen as Molly allows him to wash with her.
That Was Too Much
Okay…so we have to take about Josefina’s scene. That was completely unnecessary. There’s already a ton of sexual content in this show, and while it’s mild in comparison to so many other shows, that shouldn’t be a badge of honor and especially not at the expense of a barely fleshed out woman character like Josefina. Plus, it falls into the terrible trope of “noble, honorable men” needing a violent act like that to spring them into action. Mateo has already been in a street riot and harassed by Reilly on separate occasions so this wasn’t an action that was needed to spur him on, his engine was already running a mile a minute. Remember the problem with so many story-lines? I feel like they were running of places that Josefina could be useful to the narrative so they felt this would be the best way to motivate her forward. Shame on you John Logan, this is incredibly cheap.
I totally understand if new fans want to skip that scene and/or skip this episode and just read a recap.
Mateo’s revenge onReilly was the predictable outcome…which I rolled my eyes at. Sure, I figured taking out the top racist on the force would happen eventually, but I knew for sure it was happening this episode after Josefina’s scene. Hey writers, men can be self-motivated and don’t need their sisters to be assaulted to spring into action.
Tiago and Molly
The Josefina disaster almost made me forget the religious-based Popeye trauma from last episode. Phew, Molly may feel like a 180 this episode but trust me, I’m still betting on her mother’s influence as the reason she asked Tiago to leave her alone and eventually relented later when he showed up to the kitchen later; that last moment was pretty awesome and sweet. It still feels a bit quick in my estimation, I would have preferred to see this simmer a bit longer and learn more about Molly’s interactions, crippling mother issues, and the final details of the Haslett case. It’s possible the case will get wrapped up soon with a larger emphasis at the end towards involving Magda’s scheming (or I’m completely wrong this thread is more like Victor Frankenstein’s separate story-lines in the original series that had loose connections to the main story thrust? Who knows anymore?!)
The investigations is still curious though: what is Tiago going to do in order to wrap up this case especially now that Reilly’s dead body will make the captain ballistic and probably make a bad decision next episode.
Also, Tiago’s brother busting his chops for dating a white woman was hilarious. I’m pretty sure I’ve had a similar conversation with my older brother and it seems like a very natural, light banter between the two.
Townsend’s Weakness
I’m curious how much Kurt is being forced to pleasure Townsend or whether he volunteered himself. It might explain the eyes they gave each other in previous episodes. Regardless, this is simply showing how much the Nazi group is entangling themselves with Townsend and if they are willing to make this much of a commitment, it’s only a matter of time before they squeeze Townsend for something and/or take down Councilwoman Beck.
Few Positives
Like I said in my video review, I rated this lower, not only because of the major scene that irked me, but many story-lines felt a bit rushed. That said, I loved Brad Garrett as a Jewish gangster. I didn’t even know that was something that I wanted until it was happening and he did a fantastic job. Also, this timing and mob involvement parallels real-life examples of the American government enlisting mafia help in a few key military operations during the decade of World War 2.
Tiago and Molly’s conversation in that sun washed villa was fantastic cinematography. That’s an area I have touched on much in this series but those moments stood out well early in the episode.
Also, Magda’s hell-spawn telling a ghost story and scaring Tom in his sleep with realistic dreams was great. I called it last week that they both knew something was up with the other and here Magda confirmed it with a terrifying tale.
Conclusion
I’m completely disappointed in this episode, especially after the wonderful momentum and signature John Logan writing we got last week. His writing for this one was lazy in the best case, especially for Josefina, and now she’s unfortunately gonna carry that poor decision all season long. At least we got Brad Garrett’s best gangster impression to lessen the sour taste…slightly.
Score: 5/10
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Next Episode: Children of the Royal Sun