"Penny Dreadful" season 3 shocked its fans when the final episode aired and revealed to be the official end of the series. Showtime did not advertise season 3 as the series' end, and because of this, fans have been clamoring for a fourth season or a spin-off, both of which Showtime CEO David Nevins claims will not happen.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Nevins explained that it was a conscious decision with series creator John Logan to end the show by the third season and that the show's life ended with the death of the main character, Vanessa Ives (Eva Green). With her death, Logan had completed the story and had no reason to push forward.
"I think Logan always envisioned a three-season arc for her and that character," he explained. "It became clear that the combination of that character and John as a writer were the heart of the show, so it seemed like it was going to be foolhardy to continue going."
He further explained that "Penny Dreadful" had always been about Vanessa Ives and that when she died, finding peace when she came back to God in the moments of her death, the show had received the rightful ending it deserved.
Nevins also explained that they did ask themselves if there was a life for the show without Vanessa Ives and creator John Logan but as the final season was being produced it became apparent that there wasn't and trying to move forward with a spin-off or fourth season would not do the show justice.
Fans have still attempted to get the fourth season moving and there have been petitions online aiming to gain traction to alert the studios that there are fans waiting for a continuation or at least a spin-off focusing on related characters set in the same world as the original show. Showtime has not addressed these petitions and it appears the decision to end the show is final.
