How to watch

Created by John Logan for Showtime, Penny Dreadful brings Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, werewolves and vampires together in the fog-soaked streets of 1890s London. Eva Green's haunting turn as the clairvoyant Vanessa Ives anchors three seasons of dark horror, while the 2020 follow-up, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, trades London for 1938 Los Angeles with an all-new cast and story.

🕐 Release Order

Release order is the simplest way through the franchise, following the original series from its first chapter to its final curtain before moving on to the spin-off.

1. Penny Dreadful Season 1 (2014)
2. Penny Dreadful Season 2 (2015)
3. Penny Dreadful Season 3 (2016)
4. Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (2020)

Because City of Angels is set decades after the original series and shares only its themes, the story chronology lines up neatly with the release schedule.

📖 Story Chronology

The original three seasons unfold in Victorian London, while City of Angels moves the action to Los Angeles on the eve of the Second World War.

1. Penny Dreadful Season 1 – set in 1891 London (2014)
2. Penny Dreadful Season 2 (2015)
3. Penny Dreadful Season 3 (2016)
4. Penny Dreadful: City of Angels – set in 1938 Los Angeles (2020)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Start with the original Penny Dreadful and watch all three seasons in order; the character arcs, especially Vanessa's, build steadily to a deliberate ending. City of Angels works best as a bonus round. You can skip it without missing anything from the main story, but fans of Natalie Dormer's shape-shifting villain and period noir will find plenty to enjoy.

🔗 Related Guides

• Universal Monsters Watch OrderGuide
• Frankenstein Watch OrderGuide
• American Horror Story Watch OrderGuide

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