The recurring phrase and apparently also the theme of this show is "There's something in all of us", which explains many people and events featured in this show. All characters are not as they seem or as you know them. To add, an important feature to know about Penny Dreadful is that it twists or rather offers a different perspective on the classic characters and creatures that this world already knows; Doctor Frankenstein, his "monsters", Dorian Gray, werewolves, witches and vampires. It's almost as if it provides the twisted psychological perspective on why these people are the way they are. A character who provides a great example of this is "Brona Croft" aka "Lily Frankenstein" played by Billie Piper, who seemed to be the opposite of who she once was before becoming "Bride of Frankenstein", but still relatively good person. , which viewers of this show eventually discover is not true and that she has quite a bit of evil buried inside. Another character that provides an example of the show's theme quote, but also an interesting insight into how the characters will bond together is "Vanessa Ives" who connects to everything and everyone and is played by actresses Eva Green; Mrs. Ives, as she is called on the show, is supposed to have the most evil buried inside her of everyone on the show, she tries to suppress it and not give up. But he knows pretty much every character on this show, he's the person who connects. For this reason and others, he is also the most important character