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- SHOWTIME
- Apr 23, 2020
- SHOWTIME
- Apr 23, 2020
Summary Set in 1938 Los Angeles, detective Tiago Vega (Daniel Zovatto) and his partner Lewis Michener (Nathan Lane) investigate a shocking murder and soon find themselves facing strange and powerful forces like Magda (Natalie Dormer) in this next (but unrelated) chapter of John Logan's Penny Dreadful.
Created By: John Logan
- SHOWTIME
- Apr 23, 2020
- SHOWTIME
- Apr 23, 2020
Summary Set in 1938 Los Angeles, detective Tiago Vega (Daniel Zovatto) and his partner Lewis Michener (Nathan Lane) investigate a shocking murder and soon find themselves facing strange and powerful forces like Magda (Natalie Dormer) in this next (but unrelated) chapter of John Logan's Penny Dreadful.
Created By: John Logan
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Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
60
38% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
63% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
60
38% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
63% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
City of Angels is fascinating to watch, set in a world that’s richly imagined and beautifully brought to life, populated by sharply drawn characters who consistently wrestle with ideas of right, wrong and everything in between.
In setting, tone, and several fine and evocative performances, “City of Angels” cements itself as a fine entrant in the horror-on-TV genre.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 33 User Ratings
4.9
39% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
15% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
45% Negative
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 33 User Ratings
4.9
39% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
15% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
45% Negative
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
People are being way too hard on this show. The first episode is pretty underwhelming, but the show improves with subsequent episodes. The less you compare this show to the original, the more you will probably enjoy it. The only cast member from the original who is also in this one is Rory Kinnear. This might be the first TV show to depict Chicano culture in the 1930s. It is reminiscent of HBO's The Plot Against America as well as the second season of AMC's The Terror. While the second season of The Terror portrayed the horrific racism faced by Japanese Americans during World War II, City of Angels portrays the horrific racism faced by Chicanos in Los Angeles in the 1930s. Also, Natalie Dormer's performance is award-worthy.
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SEASON 1
There’s a LOT going on in each episode of “City of Angels,” and some storylines aren’t as compelling as others. Still, this is an appropriately terrifying next chapter in the “Penny Dreadful” series.
Style is this Showtime series' strongest point, but it can only work its magic to a certain point. Beyond that threshold "City of Angels" is mostly an excellent, well-meaning concept that doesn't quite live up to the grandeur of its intent.
Other than a few fun scenes and a scene-stealing performance from Natalie Dormer, it’s just too inconsistent and flat overall to connect as anything but a footnote to the first series for now.
Nathan Lane adds a bit of zing as Vega’s partner, an old hand with a big heart. But Dormer’s Magda should rule proceedings as an agent of chaos, whispering evil into the ears of men. Instead, she’s underpowered. A show like this needs to commit either to being a horror or a riot, and it does neither.
City of Angels is so scattershot. Bouncing around between separate character studies isn’t inherently a bad thing—early Game of Thrones turned it into a phenomenon—but City of Angels stretches itself so thin you can’t really care about any place it lands.
Loved the first episode and definitely looking forward to the rest of the season!
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SEASON 1
Well, first of all, this version of Penny Dreadful is nowhere near as fascinating as the original was. I mean the characters in this one just didn't have it. Nathan Lane as the tough old crusty private ****?! Yikes! I kept thinking of Birdcage. I did like the **** doctor who was also in the original series. Anyway, only saw the 1st episode. Maybe it will get better. Early score....? I'll be generous and give it a 6. OK, after two more episodes things are starting to pick up. Some interesting character development and some expanding story lines have upped the ante and I look forward to the next episode... I'm bumping it up to a 7. UPDATE: After 7 more episodes the show has really picked up. Further developments of the characters have been interesting. Nathan Lane has really grown on me after some early skepticism. Molly was haunting. The **** are chilling. Can't wait to see what happens next. Moving up to a solid 8.
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SEASON 1
Judging from the first episode this show has some potential. I mean the story seems promising but what made me love the original penny dreadful was the atmosphere which is clearly missing in City of Angels. Also, I dont know why but the dialogue felt a little off. I hope it gets better.
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SEASON 1
Saying City of Angels is a pale imitation of the original Penny Dreadful, would imply that it shared any quality with it. City of Angels does not. City of Angels is missing all of the intrigue, charisma, and quality storytelling found in the original show.
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SEASON 1