Sing Sing Sing Episode Review
Penny Dreadful: City of Angels
It’s time for our Sing Sing Sing episode review. In the penultimate episode of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels is it possible that the bonds of family can be stronger than Magda’s schemes? If you’ve not seen the episode yet, check out our spoiler free preview.
Content warning: This piece mentions character death.
Synopsis
In danger, Tiago (Daniel Zovatto) and Lewis (Nathan Lane) must make bold decisions. With Townsend (Michael Gladis) at the end of his rope, he’s forced to turn to a last resort. Spurred by Elsa (Natalie Dormer), Peter (Rory Kinnear) decides to take Tom (Julian Hilliard), Trevor (Hudson West) and Frank (Santino Barnard) to the movies. Lewis oversees the prison transfer of Diego Lopez (Adan Rocha) as Tiago and Molly (Kerry Bishé) go dancing at the Crimson Cat, where they confront the rest of the Vega family.
At the Crimson Cat
This episode centres on the Vega family as fate conspires to bring them all together for one night at the Crimson Cat. Maria is accompanied by Raul for a night out after a tough time at work. Tiago takes Molly there as he says it’s somewhere they won’t be recognised. Josefina is out dancing with her friends (and her fabulous new red hair). Mateo arrives with his Pachuco crew rocking his brand new Zoot Suit. It’s a recipe for disaster, or at least that seems to be what Rio is hoping for. Tempers flare as Maria recognises Molly, as Mateo and Tiago clash, and even as Josefina gets angry that Molly is dating Tiago. But it seems like family is stronger.
Daniel Zovatto gives a speech as Tiago that felt like the entire show thus far had been building up to. He gives voice to the warring parts of his personality; Chicano, cop, brother, son, lover, and seems to finally have found some peace in himself. It’s wonderful to see the entire family (plus Molly and Rico) so happy together.
Once again the dancing scenes, especially Mateo, Rico and Rio’s entrance to the club, are outstanding. The Crimson Cat was the beating heart of the episode with so many of the characters ending up there. The scenes were filled with joy and passion, but also that ever present danger in the form of Rio.
Not all happy families
Across town at the Craft house, Peter is not sure moving Elsa and Frank in so fast was the best idea. She says that she wants them to be a proper family, and do things together. After suggesting a trip to see Robin Hood at the movies Peter goes to tell the boys, leaving Elsa alone with Maria. They have another brief clash, leading me to think that when the time comes it will be Maria who figures out that they are all being manipulated by the demon. The only one of Magda’s incarnations that the erstwhile old Coyote hasn’t met yet is Alex.
We don’t see much more of the Craft/Branson family until nearer the end of the episode. They are stuck in traffic and Tom is worried they are going to miss the movie. To distract the boys Peter tells them about the first thing he saw at the movies, a documentary about the world that made him realise he could do something different in life. It’s a sweet moment but tinged with apprehension. I have a feeling that them being downtown is going to be extremely important in the finale.
In his Shadow
They are far from being the least dysfunctional family portrayed in this episode though. That distinction goes to the Townsends. Feeling utterly defeated Charlton Townsend is ready to quit but at the urging of Alex he goes to see his father. The late, great Brian Dennehy makes an imposing figure, even seated at his desk, and it’s easy to see why the councilman is so daunted by him. Townsend implores his father for help to stay on the council, saying that his plans for the motorway are building on his father’s work as one of the founders of the city (Mulholland brought the water, Doheny the oil and Townsend the roads). If you’ve been paying attention you might have noticed that all the buses and streetcars in the show have his name on the side.
Jerome has nothing but disdain for his son, both for his lifestyle and his career ambitions. He refuses to help although he does give one glimmer of hope. He says that if the Mexicans start rioting and killing people then he will probably get his way. I can’t help but feel that is some major foreshadowing for the finale.
Dangerous Games
The final part of the puzzle this week is Lewis. After getting shot at at the climax of the previous episode he has had enough. He suspects that Goss (Thomas Kretschmann) was behind it and goes to confront him. Very publically. Lewis intrudes on Goss having lunch with associates at at “exclusive” club. Lewis pulls no punches, immediately declaring that Goss is a Nazi. He even goes so far as to put his gun on the table and tell Goss that if he wants him dead to just do it. Goss, of course, is far too restrained for that, and Lewis leaves alive and infuriated.
His next stop is to see Benny Berman (Guest star Brad Garrett) with whom he finally agrees terms. No doubt those will come back around to haunt him, but for now it means that Dottie (Lin Shaye) and Brian (Kyle McArthur) are kept safe from the hitman lurking in the shadows.
On his return to the station Vanderhoff (Brent Spiner) summons him. It’s time for Diego to be transferred up to San Quentin and Lewis is in charge. The squad room is crowded with other cops, and something feels dangerously off. It all becomes clear when later the van transporting them suddenly stops. Lewis is handcuffed in the back and can only watch on helpless as uniformed officers then drag Diego out and lynch him in the middle of his neighbourhood. This will no doubt have explosive consequences in the finale when it’s discovered.
Watch It Now
That’s it for our Sing Sing Sing episode review. Episodes 1-9 of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels are streaming now on the SHOWTIME website (subscription required). We will be back on Sunday with a spoiler free look at the season finale.
