Penny Dreadful (TV Series) A Blade of Grass (2016) User Reviews

Remarkable Episode

[deltaop · 10/10 · 23 May 2016]

In a TV world centering around action, pyrotechnics, and intrigue, for entertainment value, this episode of Penny Dreadful was a breath of fresh air. Essentially involving two people in a monotonous white room with their acting skills and some poignant dialogue. It had me hooked right from the start.

While Eva Green excels at portraying a tormented individual, it is Rory Kinnear who shines throughout the episode through his acting prowess. He was great as the soft-hearted orderly and then played the manifestations of Lucifer and Dracula to perfection. I really hope he gets more mainstream roles because his acting range deserves it.

Finally, this episode introduced us to an important concept that has been doing rounds for quite some time now. That Lucifer and Dracula are in fact brothers. While the former lingers around the spiritual plane, the latter walks the Earth in flesh. Both have their eyes set on Vanessa, and from what can be seen in this episode, the show-runners have set up a probable conflict between the two down the line.

All in all, this episode was a refreshing change from all the blood and gore we have been subjected to this season. I would love to see how Vanessa carries on in the next episode with all the information that she has gleaned from the hypnosis session.

Deep,dark and powerful

[BlackCatStyle · 10/10 · 24 May 2016]

This episode was truly beautiful ,astonishingly powerful and genuine.Eva Green is an amazing actress!She offers Vanessa more depth and humanity than ever and captures our eyes and breaths for an hour! I love how we get to see Vanessa truly lost and vulnerable only to have her back in control at the end of the episode. Best episode of this show and maybe best episode of a TV series ever! It would have been perfect without the last line.I feel that the Dracula story is a little forced into the show,there are many myths out there more believable than this. Also,I don't think the relationship between Lucifer and Dracula is believable but at this point with Green's acting everything else fades in a plain background and gets forgotten. Brilliant episode !

The most captivating and thrilling moment in history of television

[angelidisf · 10/10 · 24 May 2016]

Wow - just.....WOW!

If you're a fan of this series for any reason, whether it is the genre, the actors, the atmosphere, if you love art in all forms, if you enjoy watching amazing and memorable acting performances, well, then you're in for a hell of a ride with this episode!

Penny Dreadful is a very high quality TV series in most, if not all, aspects. It might not be as glamorous or impressive as Game of Thrones for example, but IMHO it is equally stunning, although for different reasons. At the very least, it is definitely a delight to watch and a great way to travel into the realms of fantasy and horror in front of a TV screen.

Well, up until this episode at least.

This is not just a regular Penny Dreadful episode, even by the high standards this series lives by - it is much, much more. It is an absolutely amazing tribute to acting, cinematography, lighting, dialogues, makeup, and all those elements that compose a memorable on-screen viewing experience. In fact, it is THE single most captivating viewing experience I've enjoyed in all my years watching (and binge-watching) popular TV series and blockbuster movies, among others. Granted, there were some great moments (or even seasons) in some of the shows I've watched like Boardwalk Empire or American Horror Story that I personally consider as magnificent, but this episode surpasses them all, nothing comes remotely close - it is a masterpiece, a poetic acting dance between two astounding actors in the thrilling realms of mind, fantasy, and horror; it is an extraordinary piece of work that leaves you with this specific aftertaste that you've just had an experience that you will never forget...

I was completely blown away by the award-winning performances of two phenomenal actors, Rory Kinnear and Eva Green, and their one-of-a- kind chemistry on screen. I was completely drawn to the screen and detached from the world around me waiting for the next line, the next facial expression, the next move of either of these actors. The sensational yet disturbing atmosphere created by the inspired cinematography and the convincing lighting/scenery played an important role; however, you really don't need anything else - expensive costumes, dragons, nazguls, superheroes, thousands of background actors, camera shots from a helicopter in a deserted Pacific island, exploding ships, whatever.

It turns out that in order to create a horrifying yet enjoyable experience, a stunning point of reference on screen that will keep the viewers on their toes holding their breath in anticipation of the next seconds all you need is a small room and actors like these two. Actors like Rory Kinnear and Eva Green who have -and give- everything that takes to stand the test of time and become legends in their generation.

Outstanding Performance

[hisham-ahai · 10/10 · 26 May 2016]

Let me be honest, the previous episode (3) wasn't that wooow as the whole show trend. But in episode 4 "A Blade of Grass" things returned to its right direction with the astonishing acting by both Eva and Rory. On one hand Eva as the miserable Vanessa who has a very dark past and trying unsuccessfully all the time to not remember it; which leads her to this so called mental ward cell suffering the inhuman therapy methods of the 19th century starting by inducing her to eat up to letting her to sleep without a blanket after a deadly unwanted shower and finally the attempts to open her skull. But she was able to handle all these moments and scenes with her natural beauty even under the terrifying makeup. On the other hand, Rory showed unexpected face of John Clare; and the smooth transition he'd been performing between the good and noble orderly to the completely opposite side as the villain Dracula and Lucifer. All of these scenes were in the enclosed white padded room. Shortly the best episode up to now.

amazing

[knezmikula · 10/10 · 18 June 2016]

Without a doubt the most amazing episode of Penny Dreadful (A blade of grass), and one of the best episodes of any show lately. Eva G. surprised me so much i couldn't believe it. So much effort in one episode.. The only thing i was thinking the whole episode was "why is there no Oscar reward for outstanding performance in a television show". Bravo miss Ives! It was dark, sublime, serious, full of great philosophical and theological questions. The movement of the camera was just perfect. Jumps between consciousness and unconsciousness were done without any disruption of the story. It's just a great episode, period. I hope the show continues the good work.

Turn the Rating up to 11!!!

[homercles11 · 10/10 · 19 March 2021]

Not very often are tv viewers blessed with watching acting at it's highest caliber. Eva and Rory give it in spades in this episode. Eva, with her mask of infinite expression, revealing all her pain and turmoil in subtle facial movements and those eyes!!! Oh to be lost in them! Ms. Green adeptly draws the viewer into the hell she is in, lost, without faith, tormented by literal demons, tortured by unthinking "doctors", makes the empathetic experience each difficult emotion as if it were our own.

And Mr. Kinear more than matches Ms. Green in the acting. His character's warmth and humanity and simple human decency shine through without so much of a word need be spoken. And he is able to say so much with the tilt of a head or nervous gesture that hints and the class difference between the two yet showing a caring human feeling for another in pain and taking the simple action that are in his control.

In weaker hands this episode would have been maudlin or fallen into trope but Eva and Rory bring such life and humanity to the 2 characters, their loneliness and pain that one can only empathize with them. Oh how I wish this series went longer than 3 seasons!

Outstanding

[shamrock075 · 10/10 · 9 April 2019]

This episode was totally gripping. It was like a play and I was enthralled. Eva Green and Rory Kinnear should have won awards for this episode. Maybe they did! Amazing work from both actors.

Brilliant

[faridat-91789 · 10/10 · 1 August 2016]

Penny dreadful is always "entertaining." The end of 2nd season was a bit indulgent and finished off the story where you could just leave it there. But Kudos to the writers, the 3rd season suddenly throws you into many story lines each so rich and exciting, and then lets them collide beautifully. Each sub-story is innovative and the elaborations on characters' paths only add up to the grand plot at work.

This very episode is especially captivating. It starts slowly and builds up to perplexing developments; The mental representations, well versed with psychology, segue into believable supernatural situations without a blink. By every standard, it is quite a course in production and acting. And sure as heck fun to watch. Just bring your wits.

Brilliant Storytelling

[jetkot · 10/10 · 14 December 2017]

I had enjoyed the chemistry and conversations of John claire and Ms ives in the previous seasons because both actors spoke their dialouges with effortless ease. This episode takes it to the next level. Rory Kinnear puts up a breath taking act where he plays Lucifer and Dracula together. Eva Green is no doubt the star of this show and she looks enigmatic as the suffering captivated and helpless soul. The tormentor and kind caretaking act by Rory Kinnear steals the cake though.

Epic, touching, moving

[gdukeg · 10/10 · 28 April 2020]

A really paramount episode !! Eva Green and Rory Kinnear are far beyond spectacular, amazing, humane, touching !! A far-beyond-words-to-describe this episode !!

Powerful and unexpectedly moving episode

[adrian-22620 · 9/10 · 3 May 2021]

A very powerful and unexpectedly moving episode. Advances the plot and enriches the characters.

The worst episode ever!!!

[andrewuna · 1/10 · 22 August 2018]

When I saw this episode I knew that the Penny Dreadful series has lost the plot, I was literally bored to death, film students and movie critics might enjoy this episode because of dialogue and darkness but ultimately this episode adds nothing to season and defeats the concept of Penny dreadful, Vanessa in a room at a psychiatrist ward throughout having a mental breakdown and confrontation with Lucifer and Dracula. After I watched this I knew that the series won't last another season, maybe the creators of shows should learn from this and stay true to the core values of their show which is to entertain their audiences and rather than try to make boring art projects that will only please film students and critics.

Dreary but good

[supermaggie · 9/10 · 6 June 2016]

This episode brought my hopes back. Even if it is dreary and sad, it was a great dialogue and better than the sloppy, kind of plagiarized first episodes of this season. I always saw Dracula and Lucifer as being pretty much to be the same (okay, or brothers), but to portray them as one brother who is about the souls and one who is about the flesh - this was one of the (many) highlights of this episode's script for me! I also think it's daring to split up the episodes into stories merely about Vanessa and then about the rest of the characters, (but) I like it! I always like when people steer away from the obvious and make original approaches, and even the better if these approaches are for the better ;-), and this one is. Looks like Penny Dreadful is back!