Penny Dreadful: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Penny Dreadful: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 3, 2017

CBS/Showtime/Paramount have released the entirety of 'Penny Dreadful' -- all three seasons -- in one package that replicates the previous three season releases in terms of video, audio, and supplemental presentations. It's a bit different from other "complete collection" TV releases from CBS in terms of packaging, though. Read on below in the supplements section for more information.

For full reviews of each season, please click through the links below:

• Season One
• Season Two
• Season Three

Penny Dreadful: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For video quality reviews, please click the appropriate links above.

Penny Dreadful: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For audio quality reviews, please click the appropriate links above.

Penny Dreadful: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Penny Dreadful: The Complete Series ran only three seasons and filled only nine discs. It's not a surprise, then, given its much smaller footprint and disc count, that the studio has shipped the product in a standard Blu-ray case, thicker to be sure but the same height and width as any old release. That's in stark contrast to the much larger (and clear) Epik Pak cases that the studio shipped some of its other recent complete series releases in, such as Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Enterprise, and Dexter.

Otherwise, it's pretty straightforward. The set comes housed in an embossed slipcover that merely replicates the case artwork underneath. The back of the package offers the basics: a text blurb, a cast photo, a special features listing, and the technical specs cluster box. The inner print includes a little artwork on the edges and breaks down episodes and special features by season and by disc. Unlike the Epik Pak cases, discs are not stacked-staggered. Instead, they each earn their own leaf, with the final disc situated on the back of the case. Please see the photos for a better look, and apologies for the dinged slipcover; it arrived damaged.

Penny Dreadful: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Penny Dreadful was a pretty good show, smart and edgy, dark, original, well acted, and dramatically engaging. The series ended far too early but continued to dazzle right up until the end. CBS/Showtime/Paramount's Blu-ray complete collection release carries over the three individual seasons' technical and supplemental specs but bundles it all in a single Blu-ray case. For fans who already own the three seasons, there's no reason to buy; this is just a lateral movement. For newcomers, though, this is the right time and the right item to purchase. Highly recommended.