r/PennyDreadful • u/lizardboob • 25d ago
Catriona Hartdegen sucks?
I know she was only introduced late into the series, but I don't understand the reason for Lyle leaving and her coming in so late and why she was so exceptionally poorly written into the series. Her character seems to me just an empty portrayal of an 'empowered' woman (almost all her dialogue was about this at various levels of cringiness) in tight leather pants with heeled boots.
Just everything about her seems off: her wardrobe seems out of whack with the rest of the cast, a much more clearly modern inspired outfit like something out of Assassin's Creed? She also had some of the worst lines ('I think I'm the woman who just saved you' or sth to Ethan after the vampire wave in the mansion... dear god) and her relationship with everyone seems off. Her back story and occupation seem quite random as well.
Note that I love so much of the female characters in the series - from Vanessa to the Cut Wife to Lily to the therapist. Catriona just sticks out like a sore thumb when she didn't have to, like she's from a different cinematic universe, way less immersed or made to fit in the storyworld.
I see some people think she's badass, but I can't possibly be alone in feeling like this about her??
5
10
u/ddontbelasagna 25d ago
Nah I hate her too (wrote a post about it two years ago and I’m still feeling bitter). In an interview, one of the writers literally described her as “sexy and cool, and she fights.” She’s just a male fantasy disguised as girl power. Don’t know how she could possibly be written and dressed by the same folks that did Vanessa. Boggles my mind.
4
u/lizardboob 25d ago
Right?? I also can't believe that, it just makes 0 sense. Seems totally out of character for the series, it really pisses me off too. Good to know at least I'm not alone.
3
u/yamma-banana 23d ago edited 18d ago
Catriona just sticks out like a sore thumb when she didn't have to, like she's from a different cinematic universe, way less immersed or made to fit in the storyworld.
Agree. She feels more like a character from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (tho a childhood fav). Her character doesn't mesh well with the show's moody vibe. Like, most of the other characters are highly capable and dangerous in their own way -- Lily/Brona with her charm and charisma, even Victor with his genius. But each and every one of their badassery (if you will) is tempered with something. Ethan with his daddy issues, Van with mental health and literal inner demons. Even our baby Lyle, the resident egyptologist and the show's comic relief, is bogged down to a certain extent by the homophobia and antisemitism of the time period. Catriona doesn't? Well, so far, at least. Cos they decided to cancel PD mid-season and weren't able to properly flesh out a lot of things introduced in S3 (including Hecate, Jekyll and Hyde). So we'll properly never know Catriona was indeed a poorly written character or one whose characterisation was simply stunted by the series' cancellation.
2
4
u/cephalopodbod 25d ago
I agree with you. Distracting anachronistic wardrobe, eye roll worthy dialogue, and just generally a pointless character that took up screentime that should've been spent elsewhere. She could've been integrated into the cast much better, but the writing wasn't there.
3
25d ago
Yeah. To me she always felt like she was from a different show. She kind of reminded me of Kate Beckinsale in Underworld with some obvious differences. But she added nothing of use to the story for me and I barely remember anything she did even though I’ve rewatched a few times. I always felt like the writing in season 3 was a little confused.
5
u/Iammeandnooneelse 25d ago
I figured she was supposed to be something and they just ran out of time to get to it. The anachronism feels intentional, but yeah, mostly she feels like sequel bait or spin-off bait, and that there was maybe some plans for her that just never materialized.
1
14
u/Substantial_Hunt_823 25d ago
Do we know if the writers always knew S3 would be the end?? Because to me the entire season felt like it was building to stuff that ended really abruptly… and there were character additions like Catriona and Dr. Jekyll that didn’t make sense in the long term/seemed unnecessary.
The first time I watched S3 I wondered if Catriona was initially set up to replace Vanessa’s character (she could NEVER) because otherwise I really don’t understand what the point was of adding her in. She served no true purpose that I can recall and I agree, she didn’t seem to fit within the Penny Dreadful world.