The end of Vanessa Ives story will also serve as the end ofPenny Dreadful.
I realized thats where the third season was going to head, Logan tells EW.
It was going to head to Vanessa sacrificing herself and reuniting with God.
Credit: Patrick Redmond/SHOWTIME
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did the decision come about to endPenny Dreadfulnow?
I know exactly how I want to end it.
And when Vanessa Ives, when that character, is done, I think the show is done.
you could keep going.
I told him, You have to promise me that youre going to make an incredibly satisfying ending.
And I think he really has.
Then the question was: At what point do we announce it to the world?
Just to sort of ease the pain, ease the surprise?
Thats not how the world works.
Who wants to be warned that theres going to be a surprise to come?
It just seemed like the not-bold choice.
And thats the end of the story, when that title card comes up.
I realized thats where the third season was going to head.
It was going to head to Vanessa sacrificing herself and reuniting with God.
And that had to be the apotheosis for the character, the end of the character.
So I had the discussion with Eva, and then finally it just became apparent.
I talked to David about it, and here we are.
John, I know youve said before that David was instrumental in helping you shape the show.
Can you speak to that?
LOGAN:This is the first time Ive ever done anything with television other than watch it.
I mean, we talk about every script.
We talk about every edit.
Hes got skin in the game withPenny Dreadful.
It used to be literally a business failure if you didnt get a certain number of episodes.
You couldnt go into syndication; youre not going to have any afterlife.
Thats no longer the case.
This show is going to have an incredibly rich afterlife.
Its not going to go anywhere.
you might have satisfaction and closure in 27 episodes.
John, you called this the story of a womans journey to faith.
Why could returning to her faith only happen for Vanessa as she died?
LOGAN:Because Vanessa, like all characters that are interesting to me, is broken.
And it became a sacrifice that she had to enact for the good of mankind.
It was a generous act that she did in dying and going to God, as well.
The Creature is not.
Were their similar responses to death an intentional counterpoint?
LOGAN:Of course.
Those two characters do a pas de deux the entire series for me.
Im Irish, so its like different sides of my personality.
Half the time I want to go to Mass; half the time I want to walk away.
The story around Lily [Billie Piper] has been one of my favorites this year.
LOGAN:Yeah, me too.
That monologue about her daughter in episode 8 was just stunning.
I chose to write about women in Victorian society thats the stealth thing this show is actually about.
What stands out to you both when you look back on the show?
Every day, I would start on the set, Id spend time with her.
I think Ill remember some of the moments with Eva most.
NEVINS:I remember some of the Eva Green performance pieces.
The seance in season 1.
Her performance on the moors in the flashback.
Those are the scenes that resonate with me.
Was there anything else that either of you wanted to say?
But the level of commitment that our Dreadfuls have is deeply moving to me.
I hope weve treated them fairly, and I hope weve treated them with honor.
