‘Penny Dreadful’ season 3, episode 4 entitled “A Blade of Grass” will see Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) under hypnosis with the help of Dr. Seward (Patti LuPone) in order to access her past experiences. The previous episode, “Good and Evil Braider Be”, highlighted Vanessa and Dr. Alexander Sweet’s (Christian Camargo) intensifying relationship.
According to Den of Geek, a highly emotionally vulnerable Vanessa remains oblivious to Dr. Sweet’s true identity and continues to engage in a relationship with him. Although vampires as well as their master Count Dracula made their presence known since the beginning of the series, Dracula’s human incarnation was never really revealed until Season 3 – specifically in the episode “Predators Far and Near”.
It seemed clear enough that Dr. Sweet had hidden intentions for Vanessa since their first meeting. Vanessa’s growing interest in the vampire posing as a zoologist may be placing her in the gravest of dangers.
Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton) and Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) had long since left Vanessa on her own devices since pursuing their individual adventures. The question of who would aid Vanessa in an eventual confrontation with Count Dracula remains. It was speculated that Green’s heroine would return to the practice of the Dark Arts in order to defeat him when she finally puts two and two together.
In episode 4, Vanessa requests for Dr. Seward’s help with hypnotism in order for her to go back in the past. The sneak peak video posted by Spoiler TV opened to a scene of Vanessa lying inside a cushioned cell as she is desperately clinging to the warmth of a blanket. After the blanket is purposefully taken away from her, she proceeds to attack the asylum help and is flung on the floor.
It may seem that the upcoming episode would examine Vanessa’s struggle to fight off her inner demons in the sanctity of a psychiatric institution. Green’s impeccable acting prowess will be a treat to watch out for.
‘Penny Dreadful’ airs Sunday on Showtime. Episode 4 of Season 3 is scheduled to premiere on May 22, 2016.