Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Season 1/Episode 4 – “Josefina and the Holy Spirit”
Air Date: Sunday, May 17, 2020 at 10PM E/P on Showtime
Reviewer Rating: 4 Stars
“I’m not who you want me to be. Well, I’ll tell you friend, I’m not who anyone wants me to be. I am only who I am… ”
– Sister Molly Finnister
The fourth episode of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, “Josefina and the Holy Spirit,” will anger you and surprise you. At the beginning of the episode, we are taken to Ensenda, Mexico where Santa Muerte (Lorenza Izzo) roams the streets with purpose. A young girl looks at her and smiles. Then, a car pulls up and two men with machine guns open fire at an outdoor café, killing everyone there, including the young girl. As Santa Muerte walks away, carrying the body of the young girl, it’s clear that the prophecy is coming true.
Beach House Love Nest?
Det. Santiago “Tiago” Vega (Daniel Zovatto) is getting pressure from Chief Vanderhoff (Brent Spiner) to find a speedy resolution to the murders of the Hazlet Family. And now that Molly Finnister (Kerry Bishé) is linked to Mr. Hazlet (no actor credited), Tiago finds himself in an awkward position, especially after their date in episode three, “Wicked Old World.”
Tiago goes to the beach house and learns that Molly and Mr. Hazlet had a much more involved relationship. Her shoes, clothes, and other personal items paint a vivid picture of the secret life she had with a married man. Molly arrives at the beach house and is surprised to see Tiago there. She has explained before that she never gets a day off, that Joyful Voices Ministry is her entire life, ruled by her suffocating and controlling mother Miss Adelaide (Amy Madigan).
Tiago’s feelings for Molly are clouding his judgement. He wants to believe she is not the murderer, but I have a feeling she may know more than she’s letting on. I suspect her mother and hired bodyguard Randolph (David Figlioli) may have blood on their hands.
Violated
Officer Jimmy Reilly (Rod McLachlan) is a bigoted asshole, plain and simple. His tactics and blatant disregard for anyone who isn’t the same skin tone as he is has been front and center throughout the last three episodes. There are a few actors that do such an incredible job of making the audience loathe them, and McLachlan is one of them. The way he portrays this deplorable human being, it’s hard to find any redeeming qualities in Officer Reilly. He continues to abuse his power as a white police officer in a city polluted with racial inequality.
When the cops roll up on Mateo (Johnathan Nieves) and Josefina (Jessica Garza) who are on their way home with groceries, what Officer Reilly does to Josefina makes my blood boil. His violation of Josefina is barbaric and out of line. I couldn’t live in 1938 Los Angeles.
Mateo, enraged and fueled by idealized visions of the Pachuco lifestyle, decides to confide in Fly Rico (Sebastian Chacon) and Rio (Natalie Dormer). The actions that transpire in retaliation for Officer Reilly’s behavior is gruesome. Throwing his bloodied body in front of the police station definitely sends a message.
Secret Lovers?
Councilman Charlton Townsend (Michael Gladis) and Alex (Natalie Dormer) are met with opposition from Councilwoman Beverly Beck (Christine Estabrook). She proposes a revision to Townsend’s beloved Arroyo-Seco Motorway that bi-passes construction through the Hispanic neighborhood of Belvedere Heights and instead goes through the unoccupied hills of Pasadena. This new plan, that seems to have more approval from others on the council, throws a monkey-wrench in Townsend’s plans with his new German ally Richard Goss (Thomas Kretschmann).
This complication sends Townsend on a downward spiral that Alex is unable to contain. His nightly rendezvous with the young gay men about town intensifies, forcing Goss’ hand. And what happens next surprised me. Who knew Kurt (Dominic Sherwood), the quiet yet menacing driver would go to such lengths for Goss? I thought for sure when Kurt found Townsend in that seedy motel with that handsome young man Skip (Erik Altemus), he would kill them both, but that didn’t happen. R.I.P. Skip.
As Kurt pulls into what looks like Bates Motel, I thought he would torture Townsend to get him in line. Then Kurt kisses Townsend, asking him, “Top or bottom?” (WHAAAAT?) I think we all knew Townsend’s answer was going to be “bottom.” Although this new twist is quite intriguing, I knew Goss would use this sexual encounter to hold over Townsend’s head. Roll camera!
Birthday Party and An Afternoon Delight
Dr. Peter Craft (Rory Kinnear) invites Elsa (Natalie Dormer) and son Frank (Santino Barnard) to his son Trevor’s (Hudson West) birthday party and sleepover. This doesn’t sit too well with Mrs. Linda Craft (Piper Perabo). When Elsa asks where the bathroom is, Linda lets her suspicions be known. “My husband, your friend, Dr. Craft, he’s not who he pretends to be, dear. Ask him about Essen (Germany). Ask about his family. Just between us girls, before you start measuring the fucking drapes, find out who he really is; you know, just between us girls. My dear, I will not let you turn me into anything so banal as the rejected wife.”
The venomous tone in that last sentence leaves an icy trail and Elsa pretends to be shaken. We all know good and damn well Elsa is much stronger than her fragile pretense lets on.
As the afternoon progresses, Elsa’s presence is noticed by many, including Peter’s friend Herman Ackermann (Ethan Peck) which causes some jealousy. Herman is tall, dark, and handsome, but I think Elsa has specific plans in mind that involve Peter. And after their very brief romantic encounter in Peter’s house, it’s clear by Elsa’s proclamation, “This is the life I dream of.” Linda better watch her back.
And Elsa’s son Frank is beyond creepy. His retelling of a horrifying murder of a young girl who had her arms and legs severed, and the kidnapper left her eyes open using wire as to make her appear alive makes my skin crawl. The special effects of the reenactment as a little girl sits on the end of Peter’s youngest son Tom (Julian Hilliard) will definitely give people nightmares. (No, I didn’t have a nightmare…you did).
Jewish Gangsters
Det. Lewis Michener (Nathan Lane) talks with his friend Dottie (Lin Shaye) about calling a Jewish gangster named Benny Berman (Brad Garrett) to help him with the Nazis and avenge the death of their two friends.
Berman comes across as an extremely intimidating guy in “Josefina and the Holy Spirit,” but he seems reluctant to help Lewis. It’s not until he finds out one of his own guys has sold guns to Nazis in Mexico (see the first paragraph) that he chooses to help Lewis. I’m definitely curious to see how this story arc plays out.
Josefina and the Holy Spirit
And finally, poor Josefina. After being violated so publicly, and unable to speak to her mother about it, Josefina finds a flyer for Joyful Voices. The way that several storylines intersect each other is starting to become more complex. Tiago knows Molly who is the face of Joyful Voices. Molly is connected to the murders because of her relationship with Mr. Hazlet. And now Tiago’s sister seeks out guidance from Joyful Voices and Sister Molly who tells her audience, “The beast Satan is here…Lord, save us!”
I’m excited to see how the various inter-connected storylines will begin to merge and spill over into one another.
Tune into Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Sundays at 10PM E/P on Showtime.
For more, go to https://www.sho.com/penny-dreadful-city-of-angels
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Judy Manning
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