Penny Dreadful

Season 3 (2016) — Lily & Justine; sexual and emotionally charged alliance with a coercive power imbalance

Completed2014United Kingdom, United States3 seasons · 27 episodes60 min

Victorian London becomes a meeting place for familiar figures from Gothic fiction and people pursued by private demons. Their alliances form…Read more +Read less −

Victorian London becomes a meeting place for familiar figures from Gothic fiction and people pursued by private demons. Their alliances form around threats that cannot be explained by ordinary life, bringing questions of faith, desire and human cruelty into contact with supernatural horror. In the third season, Lily and Justine develop a sexually and emotionally charged alliance within Lily's struggle over power and autonomy. Their connection involves unequal influence and coercive dynamics, making a straightforward romantic description misleading. This entry recognises that specific sapphic strand while retaining its disturbing context. It does not classify the whole series, or every part of Lily's story, as a central romance.

Supporting sapphic storylineHorror Thriller Supernatural

Sapphic characters & cast

Billie Piper

as Lily

Main sapphic character

Jessica Barden

as Justine

Supporting sapphic character

BEHIND THE SCENES

Details & credits

Country: United Kingdom, United States
Language: English
Premiere: 2014-05-11
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 27
Runtime: 60 minutes
Broadcaster: Paramount+ with Showtime

Image credits

Poster: Series key art catalogued by TVmaze; studio/rightsholder rights · Source
Billie Piper: Performer publicity portrait catalogued by TVmaze; original photographer/rightsholder not verified · Source
Jessica Barden: Performer publicity portrait catalogued by TVmaze; original photographer/rightsholder not verified · Source

Sources & editorial notes (3)

Last researched 2026-11-02. Editorially approved.

year: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
genres: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
status: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
country: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
language: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
description: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
watch links: Official series destination; playback and territory not tested
broadcasters: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
season count: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
western cast: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
cast complete: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
episode count: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
premiere date: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
runtime minutes: TVmaze: series identity, release metadata and cast
sapphic storyline: EDGE: Lily, Justine and Dorian’s season-three relationship dynamic
classification note: EDGE: Lily, Justine and Dorian’s season-three relationship dynamic
representation type: EDGE: Lily, Justine and Dorian’s season-three relationship dynamic