'Penny Dreadful: City of Angels' Episode 6: Lewis makes a big decision, fans are unsettled by his dark choice
Spoilers for 'Penny Dreadful: City of Angels' Season 1, Episode 6 'How It Is With Brothers'
'Penny Dreadful: City of Angels' is all about moral compromise, as the mire of the city draws people deeper and deeper into filth and corruption. Lewis Michner (Nathan Lane) is the latest to be drawn into the muck, as a difficult decision during an interrogation scene has made fans uncomfortable.
When he finds out that Tiago Vega's (Daneil Zovatto) brother is responsible for a murder that Diego Lopez (Adan Rocha) is being interrogated for, Lewis pins not only the current murder on Diego but the Haslet murder as well - tying up loose ends rather neatly, getting suspicious eyes off of Tiago and giving Diego the compromise of a life in prison - but one as a legend, not a rat.
Fans were disappointed in the actions of the show's leads. "The end of #PennyDreadfulCityofAngels is bulls**t man! Tiago man...at this point I don't like you. Diego didn't do shiz nik! I'm pissed!" says a fan, on Twitter. "Right y’all are sending a kid to jail for life how excited are you. Deal with that guilt," says another. "Feel very unsettled with how they forced that confession. These guys have so far been the 'heroes' so to speak, but felt really sick with what was done here," writes a viewer on Reddit.
"I really feel for the kid having to take the blame for police politics and Mateo. **** both that ****," says this viewer. "The racists cops kinda remind me of whats happening today. Crazy timing, or I guess it's not so crazy because it's been always happening," wrote a fan.
A few fans expressed their discomfort with the decision, but understand where Lewis is coming from. "Tiago owes Lewis big time for what he just did. With their backs against the wall, hands tied, waist-deep in shit, Lewis did what had to be done," wrote a fan. "It actually wasnt surprising to me that Lewis hadn't been more remorseful, because he had been a cop for so long, and yeah, i do think he is far from the other corrupted cops, but imo I honestly doubt that this was the first time he had ever done something like this. Idk," wrote another conflicted viewer.
Fans appreciated the performance of Nathan Lane in this episode. "Holy shit, Nathan Lane is amazing in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. Just ****ing amazing," says a fan. "I really loved the suspense in this episode, and think this is good character development for Lewis, the fact that he feels Tiago's conflict and is willing to break the rules, although in the process loses his dignity. I love the scene where he says, "You did the right thing", while gazing into the distance. He is a corrupt police officer now," noted a viewer.
This episode marks a real turning point in the relationship between Lewis and Tiago - though what comes of it remains to be seen.
The next episode of 'Penny Dreadful: City of Angels' airs June 7, on Showtime.