A Horror-Filled Weekend

Prepare yourself for some new and returning "monsters" this weekend.  First, we have the second season of BBC America's In the Flesh returning for its second season tonight (May 10).  You may remember this England-based tale of the cured zombies that are now being reintegrated into society.  But as we soon find out, not everyone is willing to accept the suffers of Partially Deceased Syndrome, or PDS, back as their neighbors or family members again.  The second season picks up the story nine months later.  The main character, Kieren, is played by actor Luke Newberry who walks you through the new season in this clip.  Although the first season had only three one-hour episodes, the second season will be covered in six episodes. 

NBC will be showing a two-part remake of Rosemary's Baby beginning on Sunday night (May 11) and finishing on Thursday night (May 15).  If you have seen the 1968 film then you may be pleased or disappointed with the variations in this story, but you have to admit it is a good story overall.  If you have not seen the earlier film, then sit back and enjoy the television show.  Then go back and watch the film to see what you missed the first time around. 

Finally, Showtime is premiering the 8-part new series Penny Dreadful on Sunday night (May 11).  This monster mash-up takes place in Victorian England (yes, two this week set in England) and involves characters from popular past horror tales, including Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dorian Gray.  While this is not exactly three monsters in an apartment, like Britain's Being Human, or America's superhero S.H.I.E.L.D, it tries to bring together well-known characters in a new way.  Starring Timothy Dalton and Josh Hartnett among others, it should be a good story if you can stand the gore.  However, Variety magazine gave the show weak praise, noting:

If there’s a drawback here, it’s the slightly uneven production values. The monsters feel a trifle generic — more “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” than anything else — which doesn’t blunt the brooding atmosphere or the grisliness of their handiwork.

Plenty of shows to try out and add to an already full slate of TV viewing.