Penny Dreadful - The Complete Second Season

The Showtime series about Victorian-era classic literature characters and the London backdrop they live in returned for its sophomore season this past summer. "Penny Dreadful - The Complete Second Season" can now be bought as a 3-disc Blu-ray package and will put a dent in your wallet for another costly purchase, similar to Season One.

Back for another go-round in Showtime's at-times risqu� and violent show are main non-literary characters Vanessa Ives (Eva Green), Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett), and Sir Malcolm (Timothy Dalton). They band together to fight the demons of London and also demons in their lives, forming an unlikely alliance. Depth has been added to the character of Vanessa; in episode 3 "The Nightcomers" we learn how her past experiences with a witch (special guest star Patti LuPone) helped shape her life.

Meanwhile, Dorian Gray (handsome Reeve Carney) has a scandalous dalliance with a transsexual and beds many other people, further elevating the nudity witnessed in the first season.

Most compelling in the second season continues to be the Dr. Frankenstein and his monster (otherwise referred to as The Creature) storyline, where the Creature lands a job at a local wax museum and falls in love.

It all makes for an intriguing 10-episode story arc. And bonus features have been upgraded in Season Two, making the $50 Blu-ray cost mostly worth it. Several video production blogs appear on disc 3 and basically contain behind-the-scenes footage for 6 out of the 10 episodes.

If you're new to "Penny Dreadful," 8 character profiles will get you up to speed. "History of the Occult" and a Reeve Carney (Dorian Gray) question and answer Round Table finish out the generous supplement features.

"Penny Dreadful - The Complete Second Season"
Blu-ray
$49.99
www.paramountblu.com