Photo: Pat Redmond / Showtime
Two episodes in, Penny Dreadful is already rivaling its network-mate, Dexter, in goriness: I mean, as impressive as the room full of blood-drenched corpses was in the series premiere, the Brona/Dorian Gray "love" scene in the latest episode, featuring TB blood-play, was somehow even more unsettling. So I appreciate the fact that the show's producers have also leavened the grisly proceedings with a little sweetness in the person of Frankenstein's monster. Or, I guess I should say, that they DID leaven the grisly proceedings with a little sweetness in the person of Frankenstein's NEWEST monster...but I guess that's over now.
If you follow me or my esteemed colleague David T. Cole on Twitter, you know that about around this time last year, after about a half-decade's standoff, I finally relented and agreed to get a dog -- this goof, Gordon Lightfoot. And I think my time with Gordon is what made me so kindly disposed toward Proteus. Though some might liken the Victor/Proteus relationship to that of a father and son, Proteus seemed much more puppylike to me: he certainly picked up important skills -- eating, speech -- much faster than a stupid baby can. And this look is pretty much exactly the one Gordon gives us whenever we go anywhere without him.
A baby won't give you a look like that because you can't leave a baby alone. Babies are real inconsiderate jerks like that.
When Victor takes the day off to give Proteus a chance to check out London's docklands, he has to keep a ready hand on Proteus -- keep him on a short leash, you might say -- lest Proteus get overcome by the sensory overload and wander off or otherwise get himself into trouble. But from what we see, Proteus is a good boy who stays close and respects the limitations on what he's allowed to sniff or taste or, in one particularly heart-stomping moment, touch.
That's Proteus meeting his first horse. ...I KNOW. Later, as Victor and Proteus find their way to the waterfront, Proteus demonstrates mastery that suggests his emotional reaction to the whaling illustration wasn't a fluke (no pun intended), as he points to all the different kinds of boats in the harbour and (I assume) correctly identifies them. Proteus learned a few things in his old life. Just like a rescue dog!
And I have to say, whoever found Alex Price for this role is a genius of casting. Those eyes are made to convey awe and wonderment, and his slight overbite gives his face a softness and pathos that pretty much force the viewer onto his side. Unlike the monster in the original Frankenstein novel, there's no bitterness or malice in Proteus...so far. Perhaps the glimmers he seems to be getting of his old life ("Wife?") could, in time, lead him to resentment or even violence against Victor for bringing back a corrupted version of him that can't return to his old life or family. But for now, Proteus is just excited to be in a world full of so many exciting sights and smells to see and sniff, and to have such a nice man taking care of him and letting him safely experience it.
WELL THAT WAS NICE WHILE IT LASTED. Thanks a lot for killing the only purely good character on this show, Original Frankenstein's Monster, YOU DICK. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go hug Dave's dog.