Penny Dreadful: City of Angels

Set in the late 1930s, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels follows two families and a group of outsiders as myths and danger mingle on the streets of a sprawling Los Angeles. A spectral matriarch named Magda pulls strings behind the scenes while public fear collides with organized crime and political corruption. Across a city fractured by ethnic tension, the boundary between folklore and crime becomes increasingly blurred as supernatural forces surface during a time of upheaval. Tiago Vega, a determined detective, and his sister Josefina get drawn into a sect devoted to Santa Muerte, pulling them into a dangerous web that tests loyalty and belief. The series fuses noir mood with uncanny dread without leaning on familiar horror clichés.

Released in 2020 on Showtime, the series expands John Logan's Penny Dreadful universe. It builds a moody Los Angeles tableau rooted in folklore around Santa Muerte and the Devil, inviting a fresh cast to explore new mythic strands and stakes.

Reception was mixed, with critics praising the performances and the audacious blend of noir mood with folklore, while some found the pacing uneven. The show wrestles with identity under pressure and the social costs of bigotry, using 1938 Los Angeles to explore immigration, crime, and myth for viewers.

Cultural impact was modest but visible in fan discussions around Santa Muerte mythos and the show's portrayal of a diverse city under strain. A few scenes and character dynamics left a mark on the franchise, fueling debates about representation in fantasy crime drama.